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    • Homes

    Interior designer Michelle Nussbaumer showcases her charming home in Mexico

    MAY 4, 2020 | By Aneesha Bhadri
    A vintage 50s Mexican table covered in an Indian tablecloth sits in the courtyard
    The Nile bed frame by Michelle Nussbaumer offsets the walls covered in hand painted wallpaper. A 19th century dhurrie from India is placed on Michelle Nussbaumer design tiling
    Michelle Nussbaumer tableware is placed on a table from Ceylon Et Cie, surrounded by antique chairs
    Bed linen from Pandora de Baltazar compements the Persian textile headboard by Michelle Nussbaumer. The carved chipped 2 tier side tables, along with the curtians, cushions and chairs are Michelle Nussbaumer Design. Several accessories from the 19th century such as talevera vases, Bokhora rug, Indian silver seaters, Arabic tray coffee table and Moroccan hanging light decorate the chamber, while the walls showcase Mexican ecclesiastic art from the 17th to the 19th century set in antique frames

    Restored to suit modern day needs yet staying true to the Mexican-Spanish colonial architecture characteristic of San Miguel de Allende, interior designer Michelle Nussbaumer’s home in this Mexican city reflects her design sensibilities. Known for bold use of colour and an eclectic yet classic mix of striking patterns and influences from around the globe, the Dallas based creative employed custom made furnishings, vintage artefacts, indigenous materials and vibrant textiles to bring her home to life.

    “When we bought it, most of the hacienda had been destroyed, but the stables and bodegas remained. I had to change all of the spaces to make it liveable. I didn’t change the size of the spaces but I refurbished it and added a few structures,” says Nussbaumer. “I wanted to keep an authentic version of a Mexican hacienda, adapted to the modern world.”

    An art deco Mexican chair and 1920’s Mexican chest side table sit along the wall in the bedroom

     

    The taps below the antique Italian mirror as well as the tiling and wall scones are Michelle Nussbaumer custom design. The shelving is 19th century Moroccan, whereas the stool is upholstered in 19th century English Schumacher fabric

    The house opens up in layers, with each belonging to a different century, unfolding like a fluid narrative from the pages of history. To the right of the foyer lies the guest bedroom, the 19th century part of the structure, while its left houses the family chapel and dates back to the 18th century. The main courtyard holds an outdoor sala and to its left is the library. Beyond that, a Moorish arch leads to the breakfast room. As you traverse under two more Moorish arches, you reach the kitchen. A long hallway leads to the dining and living areas. Originally granaries, these belong to the 16th century part of the abode. A trio of bedrooms opens onto the courtyard, from where you can access the gardens, pool, stables and outhouses beyond.

    In the living room, the sofa, cushions and lampshades are custom Michelle Nussbaumer designs. The hanging light is 19th century Turkish. The Donghia vintage pouffes sit on a 19th-century Persian rug, while the Billy Baldwin vintage chairs are seen in the backdrop

    Accessories such as talevera and Swiss hunting mounts from Nussbaumer family frame the door, with a Mexican Gurrero pot on one side and a 19th century Baroque console on another

     

    An outdoor seating area enveloped in lush greens

     

    The pool area is furnished with Michelle Nussbaumer design sun loungers, along with a parasol and hanging light from Ceylon et cie

    The garden and pool area predominantly feature furnishings from the interior designer’s brand called Ceylon Et Cie.“Many of the techniques used in Mexican haciendas are the same in India. San Miguel is very similar to India, especially Rajasthan, in climate. Such earthy, natural colours abound that it’s important to intersperse the neutral expanse with bright hues such as blue, red and pink.,” says Nussbaumer.

    Antique accessories are seen in the dining area, where an 18th century hacienda table is framed by Mexican chairs from the 1940’s. 18th century rancho benches are placed along the walls, while a Michelle Nussbaumer custom “fete” decorates the ceiling

    The material palette, like the vernacular architecture, is a rich, historical medley, with handmade talavera tiles, terracotta tiled roofs, original 18th century doors, salvaged beams from other hacienda demolitions, handmade plaster walls, 19th century accents and 17th and 18th century cantera fireplaces, to name a few.

    The ceilings are made with a keystone in the bovedas. Baroque and Moorish arches punctuate the space, the entire flooring features original stone, whilst the renovated ceiling displays 17th and 18th century salvaged beams. “I also incorporated the Mudejar architecture, which is prominent in haciendas. When people come to my house they think it’s Moroccan, but actually it’s Hispanic as it came from Africa and the Moors to Spain, and then from Spain to Mexico,” smiles Nussbaumer.

    Mexican “iznik” tiling by Michelle Nussbaumer decorates the bathroom, with 19th century Chinese stools and oriental accessories, set against hand painted walls