Los Barriles, Baja - El Torote Hillside Development
Casa De La Montaña
June 2019 - Current: Construction of the House
We broke ground on the construction of our house in Los Barriles the week of June 24, 2019. Yeah! Each Friday our builder (Manolo Romero Garate) sent us pictures of the progress and since we were wintering right next door during most of the construction, we watched the casita take shape before our eyes!
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These are the architectural renderings of the house. They are not totally complete, but will give an idea of the final house.
Construction Begins - June 2019
Hole is dug below the garage floor and cement was poured. This will hold our two cistern tanks for water. We will be hooked up to city water, however sometimes it is shut off and this will be our backup water supply.
First floor foundation is completed. Then it is filled with dirt so the house will be on a raised foundation to provide for better views of the Sea of Cortez.
First floor plumbing and electrical are going in
Front of house with stairs going up to the front door
Kitchen windows and view
Office/Guest Room and view
Back of the house. The dirt you see will be the patio and swimming pool
Pouring the concrete roof on the first floor
2nd story bedroom walls going up. Garage is on ground level
2nd story bedroom walls completed, pouring concrete roof
Pouring the concrete roof on the 2nd floor
Concrete poured for stairs leading up to the 2nd story roof and patio
Putting rebar in to pour concrete stairs
Rebar in place or stairs leading up to the 2nd story roof and patio
Front view of house from the street
Back view where swimming pool and spa will be
On top of the roof looking back at our hillside. The hillside is our property and we will build walkways and a seating areas
The lower rooftop looking to the upper rooftop which will be part of our patio area also
Back view from up on our hillside behind the house
The lower roof top which will be a patio with tables and chairs
Kitchen and front door
Living room and front door
Kitchen living area with a sliding door onto the back patio and pool area then our hillside behind us
Guest bedroom/Office
Guest bedroom/office looking out to the front patio
Guest bedroom/Office that leads into a bathroom and closet area
Master bedroom with closet and bathroom behind the wall
Garage with 2 water tanks under the floor
Laundry and water heater area which is a separate room behind the garage
Swimming pool/Spa
Swimming pool/Spa 1 day later!
Front door and patio concrete poured. The square in the floor is for a medallion
Back sliding door with palo d'arco. All concrete floors and patio are poured.
Hot tub/spa area
Infinity swimming pool
Solid wall fence going up on the side of the house
All of the concrete work for the pool is completed!
Hottub/spa. Craig wanted a reclining bench, I wanted an upright bench
Plumbing for the pool and hottub
Then...it is covered with concrete
This is the other side of the wall the plumbing was on. This room is the laundry/mechanical room
Finishing the front patio which has lights that shine down for whatever plants I put there
Floor medallion as you walk in the front door
Pebble Tec added to the pool for the color!
Pouring a short concrete driveway. We moved the man gate entrance to align with the front step entrance. This will be connected to the side fence by a solid wall.
Front wall area. Notice the white primer on the outside? This is not the final color.
Rooftop patio above the main kitchen/living area
Inside paint color! Yes, it is similar to our Boise house and 4 other places we have had. Yes, I like it. For now all rooms are this color, I may paint a bedroom or bathroom a different color (orange, red, green, etc.) once it is finished.
Kitchen area - cabinets are in (no doors yet), windows are in, ready for countertops, and floor is ready for acid staining.
Sliding door onto back patio, pool, and hillside. Notice the door slides into the wall? Cool!
Guest bedroom/office sliding door to front patio
Back stairs from ground level up to back patio and then up another level to the roof top patio. We will have a metal door at the ground level entrance.
The same back stairs at the ground level up to back patio and pool which has water in it!!! The variation you see in the water color is the reflection of the trees on the hillside.
Pool from ground level view
Garage door installed! Our bedroom is above the garage.
This was our original man gate. Amazing how they just turn it into a wall.
Front of house. We will have a metal gate in front of driveway, and metal door at our entrance. On top of the lower wall and upper wall will have railings for inner courtyards.
Metal door into laundry/mechanical room. This is at the base of the back stairs shown above.
Inside the laundry/mechanical room.
All interior and exterior doors are installed. This is from the living room up stairs into back yard or around the corner up to the master bedroom.
Front door installed.
Rock on the outside of the door in complete. Exterior painting is starting.
All cabinet doors, hardware,granite counter tops, sinks and outlet covers installed.
There are two bathrooms in the house. Both have the same tile on walls, floor, and accent for cubby holes.
Shower floor tile that looks like rock.
Master bathroom shower
Master bathroom sink
Master bedroom closet. There is a matching one on the opposite wall
Guest bathroom sink and closet
Guest bathroom closet and sinks area
Guest shower
Exterior painting in almost complete. Pool/spa heaters and equipment installed.
Floors stained! The inside and outside patio floors are finished!
Back of the house with the painting, patio, pool and spa completed.
Back of the house from our hillside. Still need to complete painting of the back wall near pool. View of Sea of Cortez from our hillside and house.
Front of the house with all gates installed, rock entrance. Need to finish one set of railing on the lower outer wall and a little bit of concrete on the outside of the fence. Almost done!
Appliances have arrived and are being installed!
The fridge is stainless
All ceiling fans installed
Larger kitchen sink installed
Glass shower doors installed
Outside light fixtures installed
Concrete walkway and water connection barrier to protect it from getting ran over
Concrete walkway poured in front of house. This is to also help with water runoff that comes down the street
Living room and kitchen area
Below are the finished pictures of the house. It turned out great and we are so happy with the results. We love it! We are still working on outfitting it with furnishings, but for now it works great!
Last updated: 7-18-2021
Guest bedroom/office and bathroom, closet area
Master bedroom, bathroom, and closet area.
Master bedroom hallway that leads to downstairs living room area