“Neither of us had done
anything of this kind before, but we decided
to do all the interiors ourselves,” says Muñoa.
“When we started, the house felt very heavy
and dark; we wanted to make it light and
fresh. We were two young people doing things
our way, one decision at a time.” They stripped
the white stucco that obscured the handsome
masonry of the façade, and enclosed the
three arches of the portico with glass to shield
the space from winter rains. Within, the original
stonework, floorboards and roof timbers were
left exposed as a foil to modern bathroom
fittings and an eclectic mix of antique and
modern furnishings.
The indoors chapel is now a cozy bar, and the
former salon a spacious dining room. Gilded
rococo mirrors from the family’s antique
collection fill an end wall, embossed wallpaper
adds glitter and shelves of local farm pots
bring the room back to earth. The guest
rooms and suites open off a galleried atrium
on the two upper floors. The first retains its
staircase, carved balustrade and floorboards,
which are uneven but have the rich glow that
comes from centuries of polishing. The attic
storey contained the servants’ rooms and was
reached by a narrow back stair. Now there’s
a new staircase with a glass balustrade, and
the once poky rooms beneath the massive
roof timbers were enlarged. These may now
be the most desirable in the hotel for their
atmosphere and sweeping views.
To find the right pieces the couple explored the
showrooms of Madrid and Barcelona, making
direct contact with workshops, and drawing
on their suggestions. A few pieces were
custom made by local artisans, and they kept
a few antiques. But everything had to meet
+ july
the comfort test because nobody wants to sit
2011
on a medieval chair no matter how beautiful
it may be.
