Location: Centro Historico, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Central Mexico, Mexico (Great Location: 3 Flat Blocks To Jardin, Near Artisan Market)
Accommodations: House, 2 Bedrooms + Den, 2.5 Baths (Sleeps 4-5)
Casita Laurita, built in 2008, is an architectural gem on one of San Miguel’s oldest and best loved streets, Calle Loreto. The three-story townhouse, designed by prominent Mexican/Norwegian architect Anja Fauske, has been called a "jewelbox" by architects and designers who have stayed here. Open the modest door and be amazed at the cool, spacious, airy, sophisticated house.
"Absolutely, the PERFECT place to stay in San Miguel for those who appreciate modern design and convenience! Truly a beautiful home. Feels like an oasis in the center of town.." --Emily Chan, recent guest at Casita Laurita
The 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath house is an easy and flat walk to the jardin, and steps away from the town’s famous artisan market. The house is Mexican modern style, built around a central courtyard, with clean design and exquisite details. The top terrace has a lovely 360-degree view of San Miguel and its famous Parroquia church. A second patio is private and cozy, perfect for dreaming, surrounded with lavender, jasmine, and other scented potted plants.
A sunny studio with a 13-foot wooden desk makes Casita Laurita a wonderful retreat for a writer. The gourmet kitchen is a splendid spot for a cook who wants to explore Mexico’s cuisine.
The house is modern but respecting historic style and materials. The entryway shimmers with patinaed glass and Moroccan-style lamps. The kitchen was designed by an award-winning food writer, with an island, toaster oven, French press and drip coffeemakers, good knives and cutting boards, and artisan plates. The kitchen table pulls out to accommodate nine; the island has stools for people who like to watch the cook. There's also a wine cabinet and lots of storage.
The stairs lead up to an airy office with a huge desk and napping couch, along with ergonomic keyboard and 2 comefortable and adjustable task chairs. Wireless Internet (and a cable modem in the closet if you need cable). This is also where you can find a great book to read on the terrace.
A passage over the courtyard (open to the sky) leads to the master bedroom, with its full bath, Queen bed, and two reading lights. Plenty of closet space. Artisan-made bed and furnishings. High thread-count sheets, sophisticated palette, spare design. Modern bath has shower and artisan tiles with concrete shelves, modern fixtures, and baskets for personal items. Organic soap.
The second bedroom doubles as a media center, with a cozy Moroccan pillowed nook for viewing films on the flat-screen TV. There is an extensive DVD library of films. The second bedroom has a double bed, also with good linens and a comfy, firm mattress.
Across from the second bedroom is a laundry area as well as a private terrace with scented potted plants. The top terrace has a teak sitting area with a sun umbrella and a wet bar.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Gas Fireplace (3) : Gas heaters in every room.
- Beds
- Queen Bed
- Double Bed
- Convertible Bed
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV: Flat screen TV with basic cable.
- DVD
- Video Library: Excellent film library
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: Gourmet kitchen with excellent cooking pots, utensils, knives; coffeemaker, toaster oven, microwave, conventional oven, blender, teapot, french press, etc.
- Cooking Utensils Provided: High quality
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Catering Available
- Outdoor Features
- Deck/Patio: Roof terrace with dining table and sun umbrella
- Balcony
- View/Location
- Monument View: Very, very central location for San Miguel
- Communications
- Cell Phone: Cell phone loaded with 100 pesos, pay as you go with a card.
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Maid service 2x/week. Wonderful office with 13-ft desk, ergonomic keyboard drawer, task chair; you may just finish your novel. Courtyard, two terraces, architectural gem.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Not Suitable for Children: Open-air atrium not suitable for children under 10
- Smoking Not Allowed: Absolutely no smoking inside the house
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Antiquing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Live Theatre
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Other Activities
- Artisan market, cafes, arboretum, nearby Spanish schools and art schools, dance classes in salsa, tango, African dance, modern, and others.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Regular Season ............. $ 800/week .. $2200/month..$150/night
Christmas, Thanksgiving, Day of the Dead, and Easter .. $1000/week
Usually available for a week or longer; inquire about weekends.
Payment for rent accepted by Paypal or personal check.6% tax added to total.
$500 US Refundable Security Deposit collected at time of booking, along
with 50% of down payment/balance due 30 days before rental.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 2008
Laura first came to San Miguel de Allende with her family when she was ten years old, to learn a little Spanish and a different culture (smart parents!). It was a wonderful childhood experience that made her forever interested in languages and travel. When she returned to SMA in 2007, she fell back in love with the magical town and bought a run-down lot in the Centro on an impulse. Everyone thought she was crazy, until a year later, when they saw the amazing house she'd built with her architect and friend, Anja Fauske.
Why the Owner Chose Centro Historico
Casita Laurita is on one of San Miguel's best streets--Calle Loreto. It runs through the artisan market, is convenient to the design center, and three blocks to the jardin in the center of town. It's a great location, and yet retains an authentic feeling of Mexico. It's wonderful to be right near the market and to live on a small, curving street with little traffic.
The Unique Benefits of this House
The house is comfortable and relaxing, with three terraces, and the top has a splendid view of all of San Miguel. The office is beautiful, and a wonderful place to work. I love how the plants drip down the atrium, everything is simple and elegant, and the kitchen has everything a cook could desire. I like to go up to the Morrocan-style media room, which doubles as a guest room, and be cozy watching movies on the flat-screen TV. The neighbors are friendly and there has not been a robbery on my street in 30 years. I always feel safe walking around by myself at night.
Property Photos
- Entryway--powder room tucked under the stairs - San Miguel, Mexico Vacation Home, near Artisan Market
- Casita Laurita/Calle Loreto - San Miguel, Mexico Vacation Home, near Artisan Market
- Central open atrium flows into kitchen/dining room - San Miguel, Mexico Vacation Home, near Artisan Market
- Gourmet kitchen/island, dining area, couch in front
- master bedroom with en suite full bath
- Office with 13' foot desk, ergonomic chair and keyboard, WIRELESS, napping couch
- Second bedroom/media room/flat screen TV/en suite full bath
- Geraniums and open-air atrium
- Three terraces with lovely spots to read and sit in the sun
- Geraniums, lavender, cactus, and potted plants (2nd to 3rd floor stairs)
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #206814
There have been 4175 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2008.
This listing was first published here in 2008.
Date last modified - November 12, 2009
