By Greg Gunter
In a familiar nod to Charlie Rich, the closed doors of San Miguel de Allende can hide amazing homes—sometimes even entire communities—whose designs are seldom seen by public eyes. That’s the mystical allure of San Miguel. It even led late local writer Robert DeGast to create one of his better-known books, “Behind the Doors of San Miguel de Allende.”
The gated community of La Fuente on Zacateros in Centro likely remains a mystery to much of San Miguel, especially the gated homes inside. The observant passerby may pause long enough to peer down the open doors of the public foyer to see the astoundingly elegant and very formal Spanish Colonial architecture of the row of facades just barely visible from the sidewalk, but seldom does one have the opportunity to see the designs behind the locked gate, whether the remaining public facades of this eventually-to-be an 18-home community or the actual homes themselves.
You’re in for a treat with today’s column! Here you’ll see not only the stunning architecture of the public facades of La Fuente but the recently built—and available for sale—Casa la Fuente inside. Completed in 2019, the home offers all the modern amenities expected—elevator, radiant-heat flooring, mini-splits in every bedroom, whole-house filtration, roof kitchen, and firepit—nestled among elements of what we call Mexican Contemporary design: marble stone floors, cantera fireplaces, fountains, window surrounds, highly-detailed wrought-iron work, and beamed ceilings with stenciled terra cotta tiles, all complimented with solid-surface countertops, neutral colors, and clean lines.
The roof terrace photo adjacent demonstrates the real estate adage that home values in San Miguel de Allende are driven by both walking distance and sightline to the Parroquia. Casa La Fuente—a six-minute stroll to the Jardin—boasts stunning city views from the roof terrace, designed to maximize rooftop entertaining with a full kitchen and firepit. Enjoy the photos, readers. It’s the only way—besides buying the home—to find what’s designed behind closed doors!
