by Lauren Beale Contributor for Forbes Global Properties
Contributor Group Forbes Global Properties
Lauren Beale is an editor-at-large for Forbes Global Properties.
A pair of ornately carved doors only hint at what lies in store at Casa Ladrillera, a five-bedroom home set on a quiet street in lively San Miguel de Allende in the central Mexico state of Guanajuato.
Inside, quality finishes, skilled workmanship and high-end style combine to reveal a sophisticated house in a class by itself. Outside, quatrefoil windows, draping greenery and wrought-iron railings add to the effect.
Designed by architect Nicole Bisgaard, the house is entered through a well-lit, double-height foyer.
Sheltered under a wood beam ceiling, the formal living room centers on a stone fireplace, one of nine in the house. Bricks within the tall firebox are arranged in a chevron pattern, adding a touch of elegance. An artistic blown-glass chandelier hangs above.
Glass doors open to a tranquil lower courtyard where a stone walled waterfall fountain creates a focal point. An outdoor barbecue center with a sink is tucked under a second-floor balcony.
A gently curved staircase with an iron railing leads up to a second courtyard awash in plantings.
A blue-tile swimming pool, lawn and a covered loggia with a fireplace create additional outdoor living space.
The pool room opens to a temperature-controlled wine cellar and an office area.
The marble and granite kitchen features an expansive eat-at island, a Wolf double range, and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. Thick beams line the ceiling.
The adjacent breakfast room has a fireplace. Doors conceal the breakfast room from the dining room and butler’s pantries.
A series of arch-topped glass doors separated by columns bring light into one side of the dining room, which is entered through a pair of ornate metal and wooden doors.
The five bedrooms feature fireplaces, tall ceilings, beams and electric blinds. There are five bathrooms.
The primary suite sits off the upper courtyard. Its freestanding bathtub looks out on a private garden. A mature mesquite tree add character to the yard.
Solar panels provide power to the house and the pool.
Jessica Patterson of CDR San Miguel is the listing agent for the property, priced at US $2.75 million.
Nearby downtown San Miguel de Allende is filled with restaurants, galleries and boutiques, as well as historic sites. Baroque and Neoclassical colonial buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries fill the town’s well-preserved historic center and contribute to its designation as a United Nations’ World Heritage Site.
