A Ruin Turned Intimate Retreat

The 600-square metre property offers an intimate and exclusive retreat; accommodating up to 12 guests, it features five bedrooms, a swimming pool and a one-hectare outdoor space landscaped with a garden and a permaculture vegetable plot. Splashes of colour and vibrancy permeate the property. The designer drew inspiration from the bold aesthetic of Palm Springs, adding a distinctive Californian mid-century twist. White wrought-iron sun loungers, parasols and seating in pink fabric with red piping set the tone.

The hotel’s courtyard is utterly charming, with a fountain adorned in colourful tiles that transports visitors to a wildly romantic hacienda. Seating is upholstered in red fabric trimmed with white piping, while blue-and-white striped parasols gently hint at the nearby sea. The tabletops are made from multicoloured, undulating tiles that offer a playful, yet refined take. Inside, each room draws inspiration from a different semi-precious stone: aventurine green, citrine yellow, lapis lazuli blue, carnelian red and morganite pink. The walls are kept deliberately neutral to create a calm atmosphere, with colour subtly introduced through fabrics, furnishings and decorative accents. 

Geyer has thoughtfully curated a collection of unique objects for each space, such as the woven raffia heads by artist Natalia Brilli, modernist tapestries by Marc Baumann and the striking Cronos and Manon lamps from Heaps & Woods. Rugs by Élitis and Edelgrund, together with Pierre Frey fabric blinds, provide structure and warmth.

In the bathrooms, a chic touch is added with basins adorned in intricate floral and celestial motifs. The common areas also add to the overall charm. In the reading room, the ceiling is painted by hand with wooden slats in a rainbow pattern that brings an uplifting and joyful energy to the space. The sofa from Popus Editions, upholstered in fabric by Maison Thevenon and paired with curtains from the same brand, adds a chic, ethnic twist to the decor. In the living room, the Wenceslas sofas from Heimat – Geyer’s own furniture collection – along with striped orange-and-white fabric from Manuel Canovas, create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

In the kitchen, the saffron-yellow tiles on the backsplash add a playful and welcoming touch. At the centre of the room, a 1960s Roger Capron table lends character to the space, while a linen painting above the fireplace, ‘The Lemon Bowl’ by artist Gordon Hopkins, adds another curated detail by the designer. Finally, the Waldemar Rothe hammock from Rosenthal, a piece from 1974 displayed by Morentz Gallery, stands as a key focal point in the room, inviting moments of contemplation.

Photography by Matthieu Salvaing