Casa Shambhala Cotacachi, Imbabura, Ecuador, Cotacachi, Imbabura Province

In one of the few-remaining, overlooked paradises in South America, Casa Shambhala is located behind its own gate in Cotacachi's most prestigious, upscale, gated communities (conjunto') named Casas y Jardines San Miguel '. Casa Shambhala was designed, built and decorated in 2008-9 by Michael d'Addio, an Emmy Award-winning American television producer and designer who retired to Cotacachi, Ecuador after a 30-year career in Hollywood. His Hollywood period followed years in the theater business in New York, London, Paris and Rome. Casa Shambhala is a classic Mediterranean-style villa of medium size ( approx. 4, 000 sq. ft. of I ndoor/outdoor living), sumptuously furnished with custom-designed furniture, art, antiquities of museum quality, paintings and antiques collected over the decades of the owner's worldwide travels and sojourns in filming locations.In one of the few-remaining, overlooked paradises in South America, Casa Shambhala is located behind its own gate in Cotacachi's most prestigious, upscale, gated communities (conjunto') named Casas y Jardines San Miguel '. Casa Shambhala was designed, built and decorated in 2008-9 by Michael d'Addio, an Emmy Award-winning American television producer and designer who retired to Cotacachi, Ecuador after a 30-year career in Hollywood. His Hollywood period followed years in the theater business in New York, London, Paris and Rome. Casa Shambhala is a classic Mediterranean-style villa of medium size ( approx. 4, 000 sq. ft. of I ndoor/outdoor living), sumptuously furnished with custom-designed furniture, art, antiquities of museum quality, paintings and antiques collected over the decades of the owner's worldwide travels and sojourns in filming locations. The house consists of 3 bedrooms (one being used as a den/office ), 2 master baths, large living / dining salon, American-style kitchen (granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and island ) with breakfast nook and laundry. There are 5 wood-burning fireplaces and 8 skylights, filling every room with generous light. Every room, including bathrooms, have high, cathedral, beamed-ceilings. Casa Shambhala is surrounded by high walls which are covered in mature, lush, blooming vegetation for maximum privacy and beauty. Over these walls, one can see clearly in all directions the Andes mountains and, particularly the two local, extinct-but- majestic volcanoes: Imbabura ( 16, 000+ ft.) and Cotacachi ( 17, 000+ ft.), both featuring beautiful agricultural-terraced fields reaching as high as 14, 000 ft. A 3-4 minute walk from Casa Shambhala is the renowned Relais & Chateau Hotel / Spa, La Mirage boasting the only Michelin Star for dining in all of Ecuador. La Mirage hosts royalty (ex.g. Queen Sofia of Spain), Heads of State, Hollywood stars and a variety of international travellers and gourmands ( .ec) see the photo gallery. Casa Shambhala is full-equipped wiwth American kitchen appliances and electronics (ex.g 3 flat-screen televisions); high-speed internet service; 100+ channels of DirecTV as well as international phone communication. The full-furnished East patio, facing the morning sun, is directly accessed via French doors from the bedrooms and main salon. It is ideal for breakfasting while listening to music (a sound system is installed) and birdsong ( Imbabura has more than 249 species of birds) while overlooking a lower terrace with a 5-tier, splashing fountain. The fully-furnished West patio, directly accessible from the den / office, the kitchen and the main salon. It features a 55 ft. long, tiled reflecting pool and the entire patio faces the Cotacachi volcano (often with snow-covered peak) behind which the sun sets for viewing from the upholstered swing, banquettes and chaise lounges. The year-round, Spring-like weather makes for daily indoor-outdoor living and entertaining. There are 10 double French doors, making the house airy with the subtle scent of honeysuckle, night-blooming jasmine and roses which are everywhere outsi