 |
|
|
 News from Around Banderas Bay | January 2006 
Napa Designer Thomas Bartlett Goes South Of The Border
 Kathleen Dreessen - Napa Valley Register
| | Hacienda La Penita, the Mexican hacienda of Napa designer Thomas Bartlett, is seen from the south side of the gardens that surround the ocean-side estate near Puerto Vallarta. (Thomas Bartlett) |
The floodwaters are receding, but it's still January - gray, lifeless and cold. That is, unless you're Napa interior designer Thomas Bartlett, who can escape the dreary month with a quick plane trip and drive to his hacienda in La Penita de Jaltemba, Mexico.
"I looked around for 12 years for a vacation home in a warm climate," said Bartlett. "I don't like cold weather. I'd explored most of Hawaii when friends suggested Mexico."
Not one to act in haste, Bartlett took the time to become familiar with the country. "I drove all over and discovered I enjoyed different areas, especially the ocean. The area around Puerto Vallarta was beautiful and I eventually made an offer on a house. It was a complicated property with four owners and when one countered with an drastically raised price I said I had to think about it and drove north up the coast for an hour."
That was to be a fortuitous drive.
When he reached the village of La Penita, population 30,000, he liked what he saw and contacted a local real estate agent. The last house he was shown would be transformed into Bartlett's Hacienda La Penita. "It was in bad condition and hadn't been used in five years. I went home to think about it. With two and a half acres, gardens and a house that needed work, it could be a frightening undertaking. I talked to my daughter Melina about it and brought her down to see if she'd use the place. It was a complicated escrow because the property is actually 16 parcels. It took two years."
The evolution from the run-down building and landscaping Bartlett saw in 1998 to the stylish home with lush vegetation it is today took effort. "There was vast remodeling and repair, but the results were worth it. It's peaceful and quiet. There are no televisions in the main house. Usually, the weather is warm days with cool nights. In the summer, it rains and can get humid, otherwise, it's very comfortable."
Beyond the structural repairs, designer Bartlett expressed himself in the choice of furnishings and color in the three bedroom, three bath home. "The dominant color is blue in several shades that is soothing, cool and reminiscent of the Pacific Ocean that you can see from the house. Shades of yellow with white are the main accent colors."
Most of the furniture is indigenous to Mexico, mixed with pieces reflecting Bartlett's signature European flair. "I was inspired by Mexico with a cross of Italian and Portuguese style. I use a lot of traditional 'equipal' furniture, leather stretched over wood, although it was custom made in a larger size for my (6 foot, 4 inch) frame."
Puerto Vallarta artisans sewed the intricately embroidered wall hangings throughout the house. Elaborate Huichol yarn art with the colors specified by Bartlett hangs in a round silver frame above the sofa, flanked by Mexican tin crosses. A large basket of sea shells completes the beach house look, although Bartlett says most of them came from somewhere other than the eight and a half mile long beach that fronts his estate.
The colors and style spill out from the house to the immaculate landscaping. Oversized painted talavera pots, 80 in all, line the walkways filling the areas with greenery. Interspersed are 13 species of palm trees and 48 citrus trees. "I enjoy the plantings," said Bartlett. "While I do work a little (in the garden), I like directing a lot more. The tropical vegetation attracts many varieties of birds. I love to hear them chirping along with the ocean waves. It's so peaceful."
It's not entirely cut off from civilization. "Although the only televisions are in the casitas, we do have a DSL line so I can stay in touch with the office."
Roughly translated, La Penita de Jaltemba means the point of the island, which was settled by the Jaltemba family.
Hacinda La Penita employs a staff of four, including a full time manager who lives on the estate. "While I only speak a little Spanish, the staff speaks English," said Bartlett. "It's never been difficult to get work done on the property. I talk to the manager by phone and explain what I want."
Other residents include two Chihuahuas, Romeo and Seorita Quatro, whom Bartlett happily spoils. "The real boss of the place is Blanca the cat," said Bartlett about his large white feline.
The unique hand-carved and painted doors and the gated entrance were a collaborative effort between Bartlett and two of his friends, muralist Antoinette, the Baroness von Grone, and artist Carole Lansdown. "I had the idea and design for the carved doors and Antoinette sized it to scale I wanted. They were carved in Mexico and (Lansdown) came down and painted them."
Bartlett said he loves to entertain and often hosts luncheons and dinners al fresco. "We rarely dine inside. The food is wonderful. There's a large street market on Thursday mornings where we can select from lots of produce and fresh fish."
A typical day starts with breakfast on the balcony or patio, followed by a long walk on the beach. After lunch is served around two o'clock, guests amuse themselves with reading, drawing or taking naps. Dinner may be at one of the areas fine restaurants.
"In the evenings, we'll play board games or cards. La Penita isn't particularly tourist-oriented, although there are many nice shops on the main street. High season is November through April and many of the visitors have second homes there. The area has a good medical facility and police force."
He estimates he takes 12 to 14 trips a year. "We always go for Thanksgiving and Melina's birthday. It's a three hour, 20 minute non-stop flight from San Francisco to Puerto Vallarta, then an hour's drive, so it's very convenient."
Bartlett will relocate his furniture manufacturing to Mexico and open a wholesale design showroom there in the next year.
Does he have any plans to move to his hacienda permanently? "People always ask me that," said Bartlett, an inscrutable look on his face. "I have no intentions of living there permanently. I enjoy what I'm doing (in Napa)."
He does admit, though, that it's nice to escape on a rainy winter day to enjoy the balmy Mexican breezes. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us