Not so when you consider the guesthouse of El Paso Designer Ross Landers. Located directly behind his main residence in El Paso’s historic Kern Place, this one-time garage is a perfect tribute to Ross’ insatiable appetite to collect anything. “This house is made up of pieces of El Paso that I salvaged,” Ross attests as he gives a tour. The exterior is made of stone taken from a Victorian-style house in Central El Paso that was demolished, a window was taken from a synagogue that burned, and the front doors once swung open to a popular Juarez bar. “This,” Ross says as he points to an unusual flower pot, “was once a goat’s watering trough.”
Further into the one-room home are more unique finds with more unique stories. “These corbels and brackets,” Ross explains of the room’s ceiling, “are from a house near St. Patrick’s Church.” The wainscoting is compliments of an altar inside St. Clement’s church, and the bathroom is also a museum of El Paso history. “The marble came from the ladies’ room on the Mezzanine level of the Cortez Hotel downtown.”
To accommodate both function and space in this comfortably small room, Ross had a Murphy bed installed on one wall, which folds away neatly after slumber, and closets are cleverly hidden behind walls. Behind what appears to be another closet is a kitchenette, next to an antique hutch that displays Ross’ collection of Japanese Imari. A skylight above allows for ample natural light, and when the sun goes down, the room is illuminated by a soft, ornate chandelier that once hung in a French bistro. Church candlesticks converted into lamps flank the folded Murphy bed, and the room is dotted with other religious relics: a Belgian pray-do with original needlepoint, retablos and saints. It’s the perfect blend of culture and art combined into a useful space. “It just has the simplicity of a Mexican Colonial room, which always looked out to a patio, so it has that colonial feel with European and Oriental overtones,” Ross explains. “It’s nice to have it, and when I have guests over it works well.”
When you first walk into the Jerry and Michelle Wright’s quaint little house next door, it is reminiscent of a well-done executive apartment. The room in the front is smartly understated, with warm walls enveloping just enough furniture to make the room feel lived-in: a desk on one wall, and a King Ranch overstuffed leather chair in the corner (that makes out into a twin-sized bed) with an ottoman. Venture in further and you’ll find a bedroom, the bathroom down the hall, and a large living space in the back. “This was actually a patio,” Michelle points out. “There was no real living area in the house, so we had it walled in during the remodel.” The room features a flat screen TV mounted on one wall, a wine rack and a wet bar. “The bar came from Galeria San Ysidro,” Michelle continues. “We had it plumbed with a working sink for our guests to enjoy a cocktail, or something cold to drink.”
The Wright’s love of Western art is also apparent in their guesthouse. A favorite, Bob Shufelt (otherwise known as “Shoofly” to friends and clients) has work that is hung proudly throughout both the main residence and the house next door. Other works on display are by Rudy Montoya, and a rustic mural in the kitchen is by Jeanne Dellamarco. “The house is definitely Western, with a little bit of New Mexican influence,” says Michelle.
Now that the “Five Star”, as one guest of the Wrights lovingly refers to the house, is complete, Michelle says it’s not used as regularly as you might think. “Sometimes we’ve got guests who come in just as the last guest is leaving, sometimes it will sit for a while, you never know. It’s just nice to be able to have accommodations for your guests to feel like guests, and not like they’re under your feet. This way we can enjoy our company’s stay while they’re here, and they know they’re welcome.”
Tucked behind the beautiful Carameros home, this El Paso guesthouse is a space unto its own. Formerly a horse stable, all of the exterior walls were destroyed and then built back up to reallocate space. “When we built the house,” says Gina Carameros, “we wanted all the square footage to be livable. The guest house really helped give us more space for other uses.” As it stood, the main house didn’t offer an office or a guest room. Thus the guesthouse was the glass slipper, the perfect fit for a multifunctional and beautiful space. “We needed it to be designed for other uses, for possible future buyers,” adds Gina. “Now it can be a work out room or a studio. When we have people in for business they stay, and are comfy in an inviting guesthouse. It’s private, and it’s a wonderful place to host and make our guest’s experience in El Paso a nice one.”
Referred to as the “mini-me” house, the Carameros’ guesthouse echoes the style of the main house. The cabinetry is of the same quality, and the same floor tiles are used. “It has the same feel, very cozy, but on a smaller scale,” says Gina. The fireplace in the living area adds to the warmth of the rich reds and browns in the furniture upholstery and pillows. The kitchen is fully functional with dishwasher, GE Monogram gas range with oven and refrigerator.
The guesthouse is perfect for catering, and its space and the yard lend itself to large parties outdoors or smaller parties indoors. “During summer and spring parties for charitable events we’ve had 150 people at a sit down dinner, and the guesthouse is an awesome means for a catering kitchen,” adds Gina. The flat screen TV, DVD player, and XBOX 360 also make the room a current hang out for her teenage son and his friends. During the holidays, the guesthouse also becomes Santa’s workshop, becoming home base for all wrapping and present-hiding.
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