414 Acequia Madre

Beyond the gate, downtown Santa Fe disappears. In the heart of the Historic Eastside, within the storied Plaza Chamisal enclave, this residence sits on a rare double lot -- an extraordinary footprint for a downtown address -- where two distinct, richly landscaped garden spaces unfold beneath mature trees. Fountains, a fire pit, and multiple intimate seating areas set the stage for candlelit dinners and unforgettable gatherings, while deer may even occasionally wander through at dusk or dawn. By night, the entire property glows.

The pedigree matches the setting. Originally built in the 1930s by aviatrix-turned-architect Katherine Stinson Otero, the former carriage house was reimagined in an award-winning 2004 restoration by builder Lloyd Martinez of Sage Builders and architect Wayne Lloyd -- a transformation that left the home feeling less renovated than reborn. Interior designer Kris Lajeskie, one of Santa Fe's most celebrated talents, then layered in the finishing vision, elevating the home to its current, gallery-like polish.

Inside, three bedrooms and three full baths unfold across rooms that feel collected rather than decorated: hand-applied Venetian plaster, rich wood floors, vigas, carved wood accents, and mosaic tile stair risers throughout. The kitchen pairs a Wolf range with a vibrant mosaic backsplash beside a gas kiva fireplace. The primary suite rises above the gardens with its own private deck, and its ensuite bath is pure indulgence -- a deep soaking tub beside a third kiva fireplace, made for long, quiet evenings. A third bedroom flexes easily into a home office or studio.

A practical rarity completes the offering: four off-street parking spaces, a genuine anomaly for this pocket of the Historic Eastside. Historic, sensual, and impossible to duplicate -- this is a singular Acequia Madre retreat.