Hacienda Palo Blanco

hed, construction of pathways, construction of shade palapa in the orchard, construction of terrace and shade palapa outside the apartment, construction of stone wall. After the home was purchased by its current owners in 2008, they built the pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen, traditional Mexican horno and outdoor palapa. PROPERTY DETAILS
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Rich in architectural detail
Outdoor pool, hot tub, palapa and hammock, outdoor kitchen and grill
Spacious indoor and outdoor entertaining areas
Air conditioned
Almost one acre with room for expansion
Magnificent ocean and mountain views
Close to beaches and the town of Los Barriles
Ample parking with enclosed two car garage and covered parking for four other vehicles
Storage space for kite and surf boards and fishing equipment; workshop
Located in one of the most desirable, quiet and secure neighbourhoods of Palo Blanco
Room by room specifics
KITCHEN
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The stove and cast iron sink are circa 1940’s and stand proud in their own right. Extra steel was to support the sink which took 4 men to install because of the weight. Extra steel was also added to the roof pour to support the iron pot rack. The grate is a relic from the Colorado gold mining era and was used along with a crusher to separate the gold-laden ore. The cabinet fronts are made from un-galvanized tin, allowed to rust and then sealed with oil to prevent flaking. The sheets are then backed with 1/4” plywood for rigidity. The only arch in the hacienda is a ‘stepped’ arch reminiscent of the traditional Spanish/Moorish influence and it defines the spaces. This along with an ‘arroyo treasure’ – found after a hurricane – of a chunk of mesquite wood embedded in the floor defines the two spaces and notes a change in floor materials from pulido to mosaic. DINING ROOM
The cornice molding is a replica of a Frank Lloyd Wright design used in one of his homes. These moldings can be reproduced by the local ‘yeso’ man – he uses a gypsum compound and carves the pices to the desired shape.IMG_2603
The contemporary halogen chandelier is one of a collection of award-winning designs produced by Tech Lighting, originally from San Francisco. The arms can be configured in any shape you wish. The Moorish mosaic floor tiles are 1” thick. It takes 4 steel molds to produce the two interlocking shapes of star and rosetta. First spotted in an entryway floor of an 1890’s hotel in La Paz,the designer set out on a mission to find the molds. It took her three months of searching but they were finally found in the backyard junk pile of a marble headstone carver. He recognized the patterns and it took another two months for him to finally find the four pieces in his pile. Each tile is custom-coloured and hand pressed in the molds, released and left to dry for 2 weeks in the shade. All of the floors in the hacienda are cement – either pulido (polished) or mosaic. They are sealed and the interior floors are additionally waxed and buffed with a 1,000 rpm commercial buffer to bring out the rich patina. LIVING ROOM
Fireplace at Hacienda Palo BlancoThe beehive-style gas fireplace in the corner throws sufficient heat to heat the entire room. The 24, 12’ x 6” x 10” Mexican pine ceiling beams come from the mountainous state of Durango on the mainland and were so wet when they arrived that it took 4 men to carry each one. The delivery truck dumped them banded in bundles in the middle of the street. The crew cut them apart, stickered them (to allow air to circulate between and reduce the drying time) re-stacked and re-banded them (to prevent twisting) in the shade for use 1-1/2 years later. When they were ready to be installed, they were cut apart and it only took 2 men to carry each one – that’s how much they had dried out. The interior plasters in all the rooms (except the pulidoed shower walls) are a custom mix of white cement, marble dust and powdered cement color using a different trowel technique in each room, some new to the workers. One advantage to this formula is that any soil marks can be sandpapered off. GUEST BEDROOM AND BATHGuest bath and bedroom
The hand-woven grass mats on the ceiling is one successful technique used in deadening the echoes prevalent in hard-surfaced or cement construction. Ceiling beams are another method used to stop sound bounce. The periwinkle blue sink in the bathroom is a 1950’s hair salon salvage piece that sits on a steel irrigation pipe and ultimately on a truck brake drum. The mosaic glass 1” tiles used to decorate this sink are the same types used in making the shower floor dragon, named Celeste. The metal air vent set into the north wall was originally used as a hot air vent in an 1890’s Denver, Colorado hotel and the towel shelf was used as a luggage rack in a train – note the slant to it so the baggage wouldn’t bounce off. The striated wall texture was new for the workers and they tried many times to perfect it before the final product satisfied them. We had many a laugh especially when one of the men tried to make the vertical ribs using a toothpick. There is a tile inset into one of these walls given to the casa as a present from the contractor, Sara, who made it. I asked the workmen to each sign their name and one of them declined. It turned out that he didn’t know how to write and so with a little help, Abelardo’s name was added. BATHROOM
Another Frank Lloyd Wright molding adorns this 5’ x 5’ x 10’ room. The chandelier is a 1910 vintage from an old house in Central City, Colorado. The 1950’s Kohler sink is called a ‘peg leg’ for obvious reasons. The trompe-l’oeil tiled floor was a first for the tile setter. He studied the pattern for several days before he would tackle it – he had to visualize it first, he told me. BODEGITA
There are 4 storage rooms in the main house, each with a Mexican antique wood door and American antique hardware. It’s kind of like bookshelves and exterior showers – more is better! MASTER BEDROOM
Large tree-top patio, beams, grass mats, Spanish mosaic tiles, flowing silk curtains, ‘crane’ type rods and a big closet with a laundry drop in the floor that exactly deposits the clothing into the top of the washing machine below. Now that’s romantic! CARACOL SHOWER & MASTER BATHROOM
An exterior shower with views! There is also an interior shower for those cold days. French tile with lavender-blue pulidoes walls and window views in all direction. Mature palo blanco trees offer total privacy. Apartment for sale
APARTMENT
Recently renovated one large bedroom, bathroom, kitchen all plumbed, wired and gassed, its own laundry facilities and private entrance. CASITA
We have had many friends and renters staying in the casita over the years and everyone finds it comfortable with plenty of patio space and a great advantage point for bird watching.