Fall, 2013
THE CITY SPACES HOME & DESIGN
A World Inspired-
An El Paso Eclectic Retreat
By: Maggie Asfahani Hajj
Photography By: Rudy Torres
Interior Design By: Laura Carrillo
L
aura Carrillo may be well known for
“When we bought it, it was horrible. You
creating lavish weddings and events,
can imagine,” she said. Her husband tried to
but her attention to detail is not reserved
convince her that there was potential in the
for her lucky customers. Carrillo, owner of
dirty, run-down space.“He said, ‘I’m pretty sure
an eponymous boutique in the Westside’s
you’re going to be able to do something about
Peppertree Square, has imbued her lovely tri-
it’, because he liked the place,” Carrillo said.
level home with her inimitable style, mixing modern art and desert plants with vintage
“So I spent almost a year, and I took
pieces procured from all corners of the world
everything. I just left the shell of the house,
to create an eclectic and culturally informed
the doors and the shutters. The carpet was
look.
fuchsia, and they never cleaned it. It was in very bad condition. I smoothed all the walls
“I like desert style, that’s why I have my cactus,
as well.”
which I love,” she said. “I can’t imagine my house with tropical plants, because we live in
Saltillo floors and an abundance of cacti
the desert. I love art. I mostly support art from
give the space the feel of a desert oasis,
Mexico, which is where I come from.”
and textiles, both new and old, help soften the hard edges of some of the larger pieces
Carrillo did not originally plan to live in the
that anchor the rooms. On a recent trip to
home herself. “This is a house we bought for
Bali, Carrillo bought 50 pieces of ikat fabric,
my daughter, because we were on the other
traditionally used to make skirts, which she
side of the border,” she said. “We wanted
then used as rugs and to cover pillows.
her to be safe here, in an enclosed part of the city, but we wanted the trees, the pines, and
The design of the space flowed organically,
over here it feels like you’re in Ruidoso.”
according
to
Carrillo,
and
came
from
being true to what appealed to her on a Although the home is now a secluded
fundamental level.
sanctuary in a fairly well-populated gated community, it was not always such a
“I didn’t have any certain plan,” she said. “I
showpiece, according to Carrillo.
like very eclectic. I just came back from China and Bali, I spent a month and I love all kinds
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