House & Garden Tour

Bonus discount!
House & Garden Tour ticket-holders receive a bonus 10-percent discount at La Tienda, applicable to certain items on Sunday purchases.

House & Garden Tour
Sun, Nov 1, tour departs at noon
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
US$15 or 200 pesos
Breakfast at Café Santa Ana starts at 9am

House & Garden Tour
By Jennifer Hamilton

An oversized aviary, a hilltop home and the world in the 1560s

1. Many believe this is one of the first homes, if not the first, to be built in the Atascadero area over 50 years ago. After many months of remodeling the house and a huge garden, lots of light emanates through every room.

The entry path is bordered by countless plants and flowers and an enchanting cantera fountain. The decor throughout the house reflects countless years of collecting. The master bathroom sports an outstanding beveled glass mirror that was made locally, as were most of the lighting fixtures and ironwork. All the bedrooms open onto either a flower-filled front patio or garden. The studio was crafted with concrete walls, exquisitely shaped lamps, soft golden-hued colors and special shelves made to exhibit outstanding jewelry. An oversized aviary in the garden was designed for many birds, and the fountain in the center of the garden was made locally by hand. An Aztec sculpture, originally in the foyer of the original house 50 years ago, was carefully and lovingly taken apart, piece by piece, to be placed on a garden wall.

2. This hillside home was merely an empty lot when it was purchased; the owners integrated their own plans with the architect, resulting in a wide open, light-filled hilltop home full of antiques and paintings, soft, sensual colors, and tasteful embellishments.

The arresting curved stairs topped by a beautiful bóveda ceiling lead to the living quarters, which were planned for upstairs to take advantage of the fantastic views. French doors were placed on all sides, for light as well as access to both the back and front gardens, which are filled with bougainvillea, geraniums, herb gardens, fruit trees, palms and other colorful plants. Vines cling to the outside walls. One of its most alluring features is the amount of cantera used for columns, counter tops, fireplaces, shelves and fountains. All rooms are open and spacious; the cozy living room opens to the dazzling kitchen, which subsequently leads into the elegant dining room. The master suite contains a sitting / library / office area, bedroom and separate his a
nd hers baths and dressing rooms divided by a shared shower. All the flooring throughout the lower level is polished cement for a dramatic, warm look. On the lower level is a sizeable wine cellar and large game room with its billiard table and dartboard.

3. This property has undergone several reconstructions and additions over the last 10 years and was featured in the newly published Rizzoli book Haciendas in October 2008.

The entranceway is tiled from floor to ceiling with blue and white tiles from Dolores Hidalgo. The spacious dining room was finished in 2008. It features an incredible hand-carved 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. Art from several Mexican artists is 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 that open to the patio.



THE HOUSE & GARDEN TOUR THANKS THE FOLLOWING FOR OPENING THEIR BEAUTIFUL HOMES 
On Sunday, October 25, 2009

David Gano

Myron Nelson

Sylvia & Richard Trumbull

“Sam” Ippolite



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4th Sunday in October for 2008 194 visitors on tour 

4th Sunday in October for 2009 92 visitors on tour

Year To Date 2008  7,484 visitors on tour 

Year To Date 2009 5,847 visitors on tour