Casa Midy: A Home Rich in Story
The talented couple Anne-Marie Midy and Jorge Almada design furniture with eclectic influences and showcase it in the unique homes they've designed together, one being Casa Midy in San Miguel de Allende which I had the pleasure of touring.
{DISCLAIMER: These images were captured on an old iPhone during a spontaneous home tour. The home's charm and enchanting aesthetic translate despite the image quality.}
The bright foyer reveals quickly upon entry that we have landed somewhere special, where an eclectic mix of old-world traditional and cheeky hipster reigns supreme. Bright cool blues in a Casamidy Bokkusu Metal Sofa and complimentary textiles create an enticing reading lounge.
Casa Midy has a meandering layout. This hallway stores cooking essentials outside the combined kitchen dining area in custom-fitted cabinets made of reclaimed materials that lend a rustic, cottage vibe. They are a preview of what's to come for new visitors.
Stepping into the kitchen solidifies a love of pattern and bold experimentation, where fresh greens tie it all together. The backsplash is an aged, reflective aluminum that resembles an antiqued mirror. These beautiful ceramic floor tiles are typical of the San Miguel area.
One entire dining area wall opens to a courtyard that does not disappoint, with plenty of Casamidy lounging options for afternoon siestas, casual eating areas, and a stone fireplace for long evening conversations. The Delphine Tres Metal Sofa and two Louis XIV Waxed Canvas Armchairs are Pictured here.
The preview tradition continues in this stairway, with this glimpse of what's to come, passing by these paper mache stars that were likely carried through the Jardín Allende in one of San Miguel's colorful parades that celebrate the people and history of this vibrant city. Its large scale in this narrow passageway is such a delight!
As promised, the paper mache stars lead us somewhere magical, with their triangles carried onto the ceiling of the children's room. Primary colors paired with traditional pinstriped upholstery on a set of antique bucket chairs, it's as if we've stumbled into a circus tent. What a place to nurture the wonder and imagination of a child!
And still, we remain rooted in history and tradition, with clay tile floors and the warmth of natural wood intentionally left worn and unfinished. These can be tricky elements to combine, but the juxtaposition of earthy and bright is refreshing and dynamically balanced here.
The sitting room has an air of relaxed sophistication, with collected antiques and curiosities that convey a life well-traveled and a reverence for history, handcrafted objects, and architectural design. Casamidy furnishings include two SPV Armchairs, an Indochine Daybed, and AM Nesting Tables.
Plenty of casual elements keep it anything but stuffy; bright bohemian woven rugs, patio furniture, pillow-packed daybeds, and wispy curtains. The broad eclecticism of this space is precisely what I love about it. Also, the aptly named green Tequila Cabinet peeking out of the lower right corner.
Same room, opposite side. Anyone who takes inspiration from nature and immortalizes it in sculpture has my attention. That gold leaf mesquite branch, framed under a metal and leather Display Coffee Table, is expanded in Casamidy's Hiver Consoles. And we must appreciate those scalloped, recessed shelves typical of San Miguel's Spanish Baroque architecture.
Take a stroll down any street in San Miguel, and you'll likely pass by an artist's studio full of bold contemporary art like that crinkled black acrylic on the wall. The Tuerca Occasional Table is another Casamidy sculptural feat, composed of gold foil welded nuts with a glass top.
A small guest bedroom is not overlooked, and feels inspired by rural cottage life somewhere in France or Italy's picturesque wine country. It’s a little quieter and more homogenized than the other rooms, which I imagine the Grandparents appreciate.
Here the adjoining bathroom reinforces a European Countryside flavor, infused with modern, global eclectic elements.
I was taken with the roomy division of space and thoughtful appointment of art and object in a room where basic function often overrides design, like that bright red chinoiserie room divider.
And these antique medicine bottles atop a rustic wood pedestal relate back to the sink area boasting a large mural of farm life. By this point the cultural reference are blurring; perhaps the geographically diverse influences have more similarities than differences.
Moving to the master bedroom, there are fewer but equally interesting wow factors; as suiting for a space to begin and end the day.
Still, a weathered curio cabinet holds objects of interest that invites the imagination to wander to faraway places and moments in time.
The juxtaposition of industrial, metal framed wingback chairs with a traditional caned sofa and a set of posh side tables gets me. A saturated red tile floor connects all these elements into a proudly diverse, if perhaps a bit eccentric, family.
If this mix of traditional elements and eclectic, modern design gets you like Whoa, I recommend their coffee table book, 'The Artisanal Home' where Casa Midy is featured among eight striking homes the design duo has completed.