House & Garden Tour
By Jennifer Hamilton

Pineapples on rooftops, a gallery full of treats

House & Garden Tour Sun, Feb 8, tour departs at noon Biblioteca Pública Insurgentes 25 US$15 or 150 pesos Breakfast at Café Santa Ana starts at 9am

1. Pineapples right inside the entrance hall, atop roofs, fountains and throughout the house—it’s all such fun! Entering the large living room by way of a long bóveda-ceilinged hallway is outstanding. Two Turkish copper-based ottomans and pañuelo ceilings face out to the spectacular gardens containing a Bocce court. For outside entertaining, the ramada is filled with equipale seating areas facing a long rectangular pond with pebbles at its base and two fountains in its center framing 20,000 square meters of land dotted with trees, cacti, shrubs and plants. Another pebble-based pond below is backed by an English rose garden. The spacious and romantic master suite is accessed by another tunneled bóveda hallway and also faces the gardens with its antique desk, more artwork, a separate seating area at the far end and a beautiful fireplace. Outside, an undulating bridge traverses another pond and small island with palm trees, leading to the spa with hot tub, Jacuzzi nestled against huge windows facing the countryside, and a trickling, two-story water wall. Here even the glass is etched with pineapples, accenting a zebra seating area, a massage chair by the bar, sauna and steam room, and fully-equipped exercise room. A guest casita at the far end of the property offers friends and family complete privacy. 



2. This home is full of wonders—a riot of color, a plethora of sensual and undulating shapes, a flood of design treats await visitors as they enter under a curvaceous canopy separating the main house from the studio/gallery. A water wall flows gently to its pebbled base, leading to the entranceway where an abundance of delights greets visitors once they are inside. Windows are curvaceous, as are the lighting fixtures, kitchen islands and walls. Soft colors blend in concert from wall to wall, room to room, and while large in size, every room emanates coziness and warmth. The master suite encircles and is open to part of the garden, with both indoor and outdoor showers encased in colorful tile mosaics. Don’t miss the bathroom sinks in the four guest bedrooms; each is diverse in concept and mostly unrecognizable as sinks! The home is comfortably furnished and you will view numerous collections from Japanese ikebana baskets and antique teapots to contemporary ceramics and glass to excellent Mexican folk art. The dogs even have their own private dog-washing bathroom! Impossible to describe it all here, it is worth a return visit for a private and detailed tour. With eight acres of land hugging the Rio Laja, the owners are still working on details outside, but of special note is the infinity pool with its Jerry Rothman sculpture. The Santuario de Atotonilco can be seen from the rooftop deck. A gallery is choc-a-bloc full of treats, including 100 vintage Mexican textiles, antique Mexican furniture, historic photographs and distinctive folk art.