House & Garden Tour
By Jennifer Hamilton
February 13, 2009 San Miguel de Allende

God of Fire, Chinese opium bed and Rizzoli Haciendas

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

1. This magnificent home nestled among the softly rolling hillsides of Candelaria is an outstanding fusion of Moroccan, Art Deco and Indian design and decoration. High church-vaulted ceilings, cantera columns and arches underscore its early twenties look and feel. Tall glass doors and windows stream light to the indoors. Upon entering, one is struck by the view from the front door through the hallway, which divides the dining from the living rooms, over the 4.9 acres of land upon which the property lies. Most striking is the fireplace in the living room to the left, representing the God of Fire. Two arched nichos backing it are filled with an extraordinary collection of art deco pieces mounted on triangular wood shelves. Ceiling cornices are artfully designed and painted in gold leaf. A fully outfitted theater is filled with luxurious, deep leather chairs and sofas. At the end of the passageway is a circular bathtub made of shiny bright blue glass stones with matching blue lights placed in the floor around it. The bedroom is very deco with its overstuffed bed, Moroccan bedside tables and camel reading lamps. Curvilinear burled maple chairs front the fireplace. Three guest bedrooms are on the opposite side of the house, two “jewel-boxes” with sensually draped beds and one with a Chinese opium bed which leads into a “volcano,” red stone and glass-beaded bathroom, all leading into a private garden also used for bocce ball. Outside are many water features and a long, narrow channel of water to the ponds and pool. The spacious rooftop affords dazzling views over the countryside. 



2. This beautiful property has undergone several reconstructions and additions over the last 10 years and was featured in the Rizzoli book Haciendas published in October 2008. The entranceway is tiled from floor to ceiling with blue and white tiles from Dolores Hidalgo. The spacious dining room, finished in 2008, features an incredible handcarved wood fireplace with a map of the world in the 1560s. The fireplace and new carved doors and over-mantles were created locally. The beamed ceiling “floats” with skylights on all sides. An elegant living room features unusual double-height carved corbels and leads out to a grand outdoor sala with an enormous chandelier, fireplace and comfortable seating areas overlooking the walled-in garden, pool and guest casita. Antique Mexican doors in the bedroom and Dutch doors leading into the kitchen were brought in from Lagos de Moreno. The guest casita was built around a huge pepper tree and features distinctive marble mosaic work with a Moroccan flavor. The kitchen is highlighted by a dramatic canyon bóveda (arched) brick ceiling. Nichos for the refrigerator and the cook’s pantry were constructed from tile and masonry. Several Mexican artists are featured throughout the home, as are textiles from South America, inherited antiques and custom furniture. The oldest part of the house is in the front and contains offices which open to the patio.