Completed · 2024 · Marbella, Spain

Villa Real, Río Real, Marbella

A 599 m² four-bedroom villa in Río Real, Marbella East, delivered as a turnkey residence with reconfigured interiors and bespoke detailing.

Project Overview

Villa Real is a complete renovation and interior transformation of a four-bedroom residence in Río Real, Marbella East.

The renovation reconfigured the interiors and their connections to the terraces, pool and garden, with attention to circulation and everyday comfort.

I led the interior architecture, bespoke detailing, materials, furniture and lighting, together with sourcing, procurement and project management through turnkey delivery.

Bedrooms: 4
Area: 599 m²
Completed: 2024

Villa Real double-height living room with pale seating, sculptural coffee tables, fireplace and Mediterranean views — Living Room · Double-Height Volume & Mediterranean Light

Selected Residence Views

A selection of completed interiors showing the material character, spatial atmosphere and detailing of the residence.

Villa Real guest bedroom study with white bed frames, a black writing desk, sculptural ring pendant light and blue artwork — Guest Bedroom · Study & Soft Daylight

Villa Real bathroom with freestanding bath, pale stone surfaces, bespoke lattice-front vanity and natural light — Bathroom · Stone, Bespoke Joinery & Natural Light

Villa Real guest bedroom with twin beds, bespoke fretwork wardrobes and layered neutral finishes — Guest Bedroom · Bespoke Storage & Soft Neutral Layers

Villa Real gym with treadmill, exercise bike, weights bench, mirrored wall and garden views — Gym · Training Room & Mirrored Wall

Villa Real double-height living room with pale sofas and armchairs, polished brass coffee tables, statement ceramic lamps, a curved mezzanine balcony above and terracotta floor tiles — Living Room · Curved Mezzanine, Brass & Terracotta

Villa Real guest bedroom with two twin beds dressed in white linen and cream waffle throws, embroidered bolster cushions, a straw hat and folded towels, a gridded window with a potted olive tree and plaster wall sconces — Guest Bedroom · Twin Beds & Natural Daylight

Transformation

Before / After

The comparison records changes to the layout, lighting, furnishings, surfaces and architectural detailing of the existing interior.

Villa Real double-height living room before and after renovation, empty tiled space transformed with sheer curtains, white sofas and gold coffee tables — after — Living room · Before / After comparison

01 —Indoor–Outdoor Living

The architecture of Villa Real is shaped by Marbella’s Mediterranean climate, where long periods of sunshine and mild temperatures allow outdoor spaces to function as an integral part of the home throughout the year.

Terraces, gardens and pool areas extend the interior living spaces, establishing a continuous relationship between architecture, landscape and the surrounding views.

The interior material palette responds to this connection, combining light mineral surfaces that reflect natural daylight with timber, textured finishes and warmer tones that introduce depth and balance.

The transition between interior and exterior is conceived as a natural extension of the spatial composition, supporting different patterns of living throughout the day and across the seasons.

Villa Real exterior with swimming pool, sun loungers, terraces and mature palm trees — Exterior · Pool & Mediterranean Landscape

Villa Real pool terrace at sunset with sun loungers, parasols and views towards the coastline — Pool Terrace · Sunset

Daytime aerial view of Villa Real showing the residence, swimming pool, terraces and surrounding gardens — Aerial · Villa, Pool & Gardens

Night aerial view of Villa Real with illuminated terraces, pool and surrounding landscape — Night Aerial · Architecture & Landscape Lighting

Design Development

The following studies document regional references, material selection and design development.

02 —Modern Andalusian, Reinterpreted

The design develops a contemporary interpretation of Andalusian interiors rather than reproducing a traditional style.

Warm white architectural surfaces, pale stone, terracotta, dark timber, aged brass and accents drawn from Mediterranean blue and olive create a language that feels connected to Southern Spain while remaining clean and contemporary.

The intention was to give the villa a stronger sense of place without making the interior feel themed or overly rustic. Traditional references are simplified through proportion, material and colour, creating rooms that feel relaxed, tactile and appropriate to the informal rhythm of a Marbella home.

This approach offers an alternative to a more anonymous neutral holiday-home aesthetic. The villa retains the ease and lightness associated with Mediterranean living while introducing greater character, warmth and material depth.

Villa Real concept board exploring contemporary Andalusian interiors through warm mineral surfaces, terracotta, timber, brass, Mediterranean colour and relaxed residential spaces — Design Direction · A Contemporary Interpretation of Andalusian Living

03 —Materiality & Mediterranean Climate

In Marbella, material selection is not only an aesthetic decision. Strong sunlight, high summer temperatures and the constant movement between interior and exterior spaces influence how surfaces are experienced, maintained and how they age.

The palette was therefore considered in relation to both atmosphere and performance. Pale stone and mineral surfaces establish a calm architectural base, while terracotta, timber and aged metals introduce warmth, texture and a stronger connection to Mediterranean material traditions.

Linen, woven fibres and softer textiles balance the harder architectural surfaces and reinforce the relaxed character of the house.

Material selection also considered exposure to heat and sunlight, colour stability, porosity, surface treatment, maintenance and tactile comfort during warmer months.

The objective was not simply to create a palette that looked appropriate when first installed, but to select materials capable of developing character while remaining practical for the conditions and patterns of use associated with a Mediterranean home.

Villa Real material board showing pale mineral surfaces, stone, timber, terracotta tones, metal details and natural textiles — Material Strategy · Stone, Timber, Terracotta, Metal & Textile

04 —The Result

Villa Real combines complete renovation, interior architecture, bespoke detailing and furnishings through turnkey delivery.

Natural materials and simplified Andalusian references give the house a locally informed character.

Rather than relying on a prescribed decorative style, the project was shaped around the way the house is lived in: open and informal during the day, more intimate in the evening, and designed to move naturally between interior, terrace, garden and pool.

Completed in 2024.