There was a time not so long ago when new residents found it almost impossible to furnish and decorate a home without having things they wanted shipped from elsewhere. Some of the beauty of the Stanford home is that Cindy decided to shop Los Cabos to create warmth and sophistication in this residence. She could have called in designers from any number of places and could have had furnishings and accessories shipped in from all over the world. Instead, she researched and discovered what was locally available, resulting in a wonderful eclectic mix of furnishings.
The 4,200 square foot home has two levels and contains four bedrooms and four and one-half baths. The lot itself presented a bit of a challenge being semi-surrounded by mountain slopes. Surprising, very little excavation was actually necessary when ground was broken. They took advantage of the mountain location and raised the main living area and master bedroom to the second level affording a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean. The three additional bedrooms are located below, each opening to the terraced pool area, another splendid feature of this house.
Particular guidelines to their architect/builder were to create a space with an airy open floor plan. To accomplish this, a combined L-shaped living room, dining room and kitchen was planned and successfully shaped as a great room. In the large entry hall is a unique wrought-iron chandelier. This object d’arte was discovered at Tienda 17, a consignment store in San Jose de Cabo. From the entry, a graceful and inviting curved staircase leads up to the second level great room. The use of dark woods contrasts with the neutral tones throughout, while the color comes from the bold artwork, hand-woven fabrics, and unique accessories carefully positioned throughout the house.
High ceilings in the living room, kitchen and master bedroom have brick domes that are typical of Mexican architecture. If one were pressed to give a style to the home, it might be “Mexican Modern.” However, many of the pieces of furnishings have a Balinese design, such as the tall hand-carved cabinet on 4-foot legs situated behind the living room sofa. Antigua de Mexico at Las Tiendas de Palmilla furnished the large dining table that easily seats ten people. The efficient gourmet kitchen boasts a large square granite-topped island that required ten men to hoist up to the second level. The faux-finished turquoise-painted island base is surrounded by wooden hand-painted stools in a Frieda Kahlo style, purchased from Artesania Magica, also in Las Tiendas de Palmilla. These stools create bursts of color and engaging conversation pieces. Of course, as in many homes, gatherings always seem to end up in the kitchen, and this combination of counter and stools provides a particularly functional center of activity. An enthusiastic host, Cindy installed a dumb waiter (elevator) to transport groceries and parcels from the garage up to the kitchen. State-of-the art appliances contribute to Cindy’s obvious joy of cooking.
From the master suite, the Stanfords’ four-poster bed is positioned so that they can bask in the glow of the moon and the stars under the vast sky of the hushed Cabo nights. In the luxuriating spa-like amenities of the perfectly private bath, a glass wall backs up to the mountainside bringing in beautiful natural light.
Cindy’s search for decorations, furnishings and accessories generated fresh ideas. Special pieces that add visual interest, such as Indonesian-style hand-carved wooden panels on both entry wall and a handsome hand-carved frame for the plasma television in the living room, can be purchased locally. A whimsical wooden bench mimicking an animal shape came from Artesano’s. Black clay pottery from Oaxaca, found at FonArt in Plaza Puerto Paraiso, blends nicely with the exotic look of the Indochina furnishings. Some light fixtures came from Ambienta, a store that specializes in marble and onyx for kitchens and baths. The color scheme of fabrics for the bed and window coverings in each individual room complements its art. El Callejón and Marilu at Osprey did much of the fabric work, creating the bed and window treatments in a Spanish-Colonial motif that blends well with the bold pieces of distressed antique-finished furnishings. The effect is a dramatic mix of styles.
The wrap-around balcony overlooks the private pool area where outdoor cooking and dining is enjoyed. Comfortable patio furniture came from Rattan Peninsula. The built-in barbeque and refrigerator make entertaining outdoors a pleasure. Citrus fruit trees and drought-tolerant plantings intermingle with the natural landscaping surrounding the property, all environmentally maintained.
When Terry was asked what his favorite area of the house is, without hesitation he replied that he loves the fact that the house backs up to the mountainside, giving it a Zen quality. “It’s like bringing nature into the home, creating a sense of tranquility,” he says. “It’s even better than I originally thought it would be.” Cindy and Terry are extremely pleased with their life-changing move to Cabo. It was just right for them. Stories have been told about all the problems encountered when building and decorating a home in Mexico. This story says differently. It seems that Los Cabos provides a variety of options to suit all tastes in a spectrum of color, style and price. Searching and finding your perfect pieces is half the fun. Results can be especially satisfying as you craft the home you want to have.
RESOURCES:
Ambienta:
(624) 143-2059
Antigua de Mexico:
(624) 144-6122
Artesania Magica:
(624) 144-6046
Artesano’s:
(624) 143-3850
Casa Bonita:
(624) 105-1439
DM Design:
(624) 105-9328
El Alebrije:
(624) 105-2030
El Callejón:
(624) 143-3188
Fon Art:
(624) 105-0403
La Hacienda:
(624) 105-1686
La Palma:
(624) 144-3599
Rattan Peninsula:
(624) 143-4688
Tienda 17:
(624) 104-2323
Treasures:
(624) 144-6411
