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[Oznell]

Well, it's really only the living room that's sort of surrealistic.  One of Mexico's premier chefs, Elena Reygadas, lives here.  She bought an apartment in a historic building, and created her own vision.  As 'arty' as it is, she lives here with teenage daughters, kitty Clarita, and all!

She scraped down the walls, revealing traces of faded pinks and blues...    Yes, that's a lacy hammock in the living room, and a collection of antique milking stools....

Here, she has the look of someone who is supremely comfortable in her space.  Now, I think the milking stools are so interesting, but guaranteed, would trip over them constantly!   I love her screen, pottery, the soft antique settees, and the indigenous Mexican wood chair she's lounging in--

It's not always easy to make really old apartments feel "airy", but this dining room does.   Her grandmother's table cloth brings so much character!

Colorful collection of tableware and pottery.  In this photo you can see part of those amazing plaster ceilings...

She salvaged an old carpenter's bench for a kitchen island, topped with practical, hard-wearing zinc.  The lower cabinets were foraged from elsewhere in the apartment.

Her bed is another sweet, priceless memento of her grandmother.   Clarita seems to like it.

They even showed what she was serving in her dining room--  yummy soup with zucchini flowers on top, in eclectic pottery bowls...

Here's her restaurant, "Rosetta".    Elena Reygadas won the Veuve Cliquot award in 2014 for best female chef in Latin America:

What a fab restaurant!   Reminds me of some of my favorites in New Orleans...

Dining al fresco at the restaurant:

It's fun to get a glimpse into how other people live, especially ones with their own interesting, quirky aesthetic.

[PickyPicky3]

Hopefully the milking stools offer more stability than the wine tables I owned -- briefly. They were tall and thin and always got knocked over. Even just bumping them guaranteed the supported beverage would hit the floor. Form must follow function.

[Nonametoday]

@Oznell 

It is similar to the aesthetic we are seeing in our country, mixing periods and quirky arts and objects with one another to create our own look.  This is definitely not the coastal grandmother, but similar in that it is her own taste, likely from the life she has lived and the objects of desire, a yearning for simple and elegant.  Now, to the milk stools. I have two of them that I have purchased through the years, but I set plants near windows on them.  I would fall and break my hip on that combination of salute the "art of yesteryear."

[mspatmac]

@Oznell 

So many incredible things to take in, love the island in the kitchen. She has surrounded herself with meaningful pieces and that's what makes a house a home to me.  I would say to her, You go girl, you're doing your thing! So much to love!

The thing that jumped right out to me was the gorgeous Monstrance with the picture of the Madonna and candles. Incredible

[BlueFinch]

Unique and interesting. A nice environment to relax with a drink with an umbrella, or plastic monkey, hanging on.

Joking of course. Aside from the milking chairs scattered around like large pixie sticks, I really like this apartment.

It's looks so comfortable and well lived in. You get the feeling there's been a lot of joy in this space. Same vibes with the restaurant.  

[Love my grandkids]

@Oznell  Much to my surprise I REALLY like many of the elements. I LOVE that kitchen island and her bed, along with that darling kitty, just to name my 2 favorites but as picky as I am, there is much that I do really like. Really love the dining room too.

[DSD2]

Oznell, simply beautiful. 

There was nothing I didn't love. I would live in the dining room. The table cloth, flowers were perfect as was the rest of the decor.

Loved the white bedroom walls and the exquisite blue headboard. The only ornamental touch (we could see) is the lovely single gold framed mirror.

Her food is visually appealing and I' m sure - delicious.

Thank you Oznell for sharing this!

[Goldengate8361]

The only thing I saw that I really liked was the cat. The decor is attractive, but just not my vibe.

[Judaline]

Ohhhhhh...........that bed!!!

[Oznell]

I think you're perceptive, @BlueFinch -- regardless of the individual components, there does seem to be that "happy" feeling coming through the rooms.

My pleasure, @DSD2 !