Mexico is a land of vibrant colors, rich textures, and soulful design. The sun-drenched hues of burnt ochre and red ignite massive walls, bringing stone-chinked surface patterns to life. Antique wooden doors, adorned with hand-forged iron clavos, open to reveal cool, tiled salas with lofty, wood-beamed ceilings and rustic colonial furniture. Brightly-tiled kitchens beckon with well-worn tables, glazed ceramics, and utilitarian objects in stone, wood, and copper. Mexican design elements reflect a rich cultural history and the creativity of the hands that made them.
For decades, the intricate details and soulful nature of Mexican furniture, architectural elements, and handcrafted accents have captivated us with their beauty and ingenuity. From painted tables and chip-carved benches to hand-hewn corbels and stone-carved columns, Mexican design elements are like mirrors reflecting a rich cultural history and the creativity of the hands that made them.
Mexican Design & Style: Overview
Our exploration of Mexican design and living has spanned many years and regions, including the remote mountains of Mexico and the mesquite mesas of the American Southwest. We have connected to the strength and imagination of these handwrought objects and have relished living with them on a daily basis. On countless design pilgrimages, we have documented the antiques in their original contexts. From mercados and coffee plantations to remote haciendas and artists' studios, we have witnessed the beauty and ingenuity of Mexican design.
The Mexican design style has transcended its rural beginnings and taken root in elegant ranch homes in Montana, illustrious lofts in New York, luxe hotels and eco-conscious spas, tropical retreats, and contemporary homes throughout the U.S. and Mexico. A spirited mix of native Indian and Spanish influences, the Mexican design style heralds the use of natural materials, rich-hued colors, and textures. Minimally-furnished interiors blend handcrafted antiques with contemporary art and furniture, creating a pared-down elegance with an intriguing mix of old and new.
Choice antiques feature hand-hewn hardwoods, pleasing proportions, original hardware, rare joinery, and innovative techniques of the craftsmen. Architectural elements like old doors and gates, exposed beams, corbels and lintels, carved stone columns, moldings and doorway surrounds, and stucco details adorn rooms with authenticity and charm.
Unlike traditional American antiques, which are sought for their pristine condition, Mexican antiques are coveted for their imperfections. The self-taught carpenters who crafted them used the natural aberrations of beautiful woods to make individual statements. Knot holes become the punctuation of a table's story, and wear marks and age add multiple layers of character to each piece. The imperfect surfaces bear witness to years of use, with old paint layers, cattle brands, candle burn marks, native repairs done with tin or rawhide straps, old nails, and worn edges. Each piece tells a unique tale of craftsmanship and history.
Mexican antiques have found new life in contemporary interiors and gardens. Sturdy cypress jail doors have been transformed into unique console tables, old coffee mortars now serve as decorative vessels for fruit or firewood, and corral gates are mounted into headboards. Even storage trunks, long separated from their original wooden bases, are returned to function with custom wrought-iron bases.
Mexican design is deeply rooted in the traditions and the diverse landscape of the country. The craftsmanship of Mexican artisans and the beauty of their creations continue to inspire designers and homeowners worldwide. The uniqueness and timeless appeal of Mexican design elements remind us of simpler times and the pride that craftsmen took in their work. Let the rich history of Mexican design infuse your space with warmth, character, and a touch of soulful beauty.
Design Pilgrimages
For centuries, Mexican craftsmen have combined beauty with function, using the materials provided by nature to create furniture, culinary vessels, architectural elements, implements, and religious objects. These functional and noble elements reflect Mexico's wildly diverse landscape and her pre-Columbian, European, and Indian influences.
Fascinating and amusing hours have been spent with innovative village craftsmen, farmers, and antique dealers, learning about the subtleties of local hardwoods, construction methods, hardware styles, and original uses. From unique dovetail joinery on furniture to hand-wrought iron hardware, from old colonial wall stencils to stucco finishes, the variety of innovations is astounding.
Mexican Tables
The Mexican table is cherished for what it represents - a warm hearth, sustaining food, and a sense of nurturing and nourishment that goes far beyond the kitchen. Since colonial times, display tables, butcher tables, and even altar tables have played a central role in homes and marketplaces. The mesas, or tables, come in a tremendous range of shapes and sizes, each with its own unique design characteristics.
Visits to the marketplace reveal a smorgasbord of design styles. The most prolific are the simple dining tables and benches found at market-stall restaurants. These handcrafted pieces feature mortise-and-tenon construction and often beautiful legs - turned, painted, square, or carved. Each kind of leg carries its own subtle design characteristics.
Regional styles are distinct, with tables from Queretaro featuring conservatively turned legs, while tables from coastal farming towns in Guerrero have simple squared legs with stretchers. Chip-carving decorates the benches and cabinets in Oaxaca, and Michoacán's Lake Pátzcuaro region is known for its prolific chip-carving styles. Ranch-style tables feature square legs, A-frame construction, and high-end stretchers. The simple yet functional design of these tables can be easily adapted for modern interiors.
The Mexican table is not just a piece of furniture; it is a piece of history, a gathering place for family meals, and a symbol of the warmth and hospitality that Mexican culture embraces.
Woods
The woods used in Mexican country furniture range from mesquite and sabino to pine, cedar, parota, and occasional walnut, mahogany, and cottonwood. Mesquite, one of the most durable hardwoods, is widely used for its strength and ability to repel insects. These natural materials add warmth, character, and a connection to nature to Mexican design.
Furniture Areas
Different states in Mexico have their own unique furniture styles. In Chihuahua, furniture is usually made from pine and painted for preservation. Zacatecas is known for benches with undulating scallop designs, while Jalisco, Aguascalientes, and Guanajuato feature heavier styles crafted from mesquite and sabino, influenced by Colonial furniture traditions. Oaxaca showcases chip-carving on benches and cabinets, and Michoacán is known for its chip-carving styles and pine furniture.
Throughout rural areas, carpinteros craft elements using their own traditions and resources. They interpret Spanish-influenced styles, simplifying them while maintaining practicality and durability. Each piece tells a story of regional craftsmanship and reflects the rich heritage of Mexican design.
Carved Elements
Mexican design is characterized by a wide variety of utilitarian vessels and carved wooden objects. From old grain-measure boxes and tortilla presses to sugar molds, dough bowls, and stone mortars, these objects have found new life in modern homes. Even unassuming objects beautifully ornament their surroundings when placed in new contexts. The adaptability of Mexican design elements adds a refreshing flavor to personal spaces, with old pieces playing thought-provoking roles as both sculptures and functional furniture.
Trunks
The storage trunk, or baúl, is a treasured piece in Mexican homes. Crafted from Spanish cedar, sabino, and mesquite, these trunks feature rounded or domed tops, detailed chapas (lockplates), and matching bases with turned legs. Inside, they bear the personal signature of their owners, lined with decorative paper or prayer cards, small photographs, and paintings.
Armoires
Armarios, or armoires, are used in homes and businesses to store valuables, records, and clothing. These enormous cabinets feature built-in drawers and carved or raised-panel doors. Armarios were often the most important and valuable pieces of furniture in a home, adorned with decorative floral designs, religious icons, or city scenes. They are a testament to the craftsmanship and skill of Mexican artisans.
Doors
Mexican doors come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. Most doors are held together by iron braces and large round-headed clavos. The design and size of the doors depend on their purpose, with larger doors featuring ornate clavos. The grandest entrance doors, called záguan doors, were built large enough to admit wagons into a home's inner courtyard. Mexican doors have found new life in contemporary interiors, serving as doors on entertainment units, headboards, and tables, blending old-world charm with modern design.
Color & Texture
Mexico's compelling colors have provided a vibrant and powerful presence in its architecture and traditional arts for centuries. Interior walls bathed in vibrant hues are given texture with stencil patterns or contrasting wainscots. Exterior stone walls are stuccoed and painted with traditional lime-based recipes, featuring ornate stucco and stone details. Mexican architects and preservationists continue to embrace the use of natural color pigments and lime-based paints, which not only add beauty but also allow the walls to breathe and withstand the test of time.
As our world becomes increasingly complex and technology-driven, Mexican design reminds us of the beauty and artistic power of handmade creations. The imperfections, wear marks, and age of Mexican antiques tell stories of craftsmanship and history. Mexican design elements add warmth, character, and a touch of soulful beauty to any space. Embrace the rich cultural history of Mexico and discover the timeless allure of Mexican design.
