“Everything in the house has an organic continuity…. There are no corners, but [instead there are] rounded edges,” María Teresa says. The ceiling, walls, and floor are covered in cement of the same tone while the lighting is integrated into the walls and floors to create a feeling of tranquility and warmth. The furniture is minimal, with built-ins maintaining a sense of continuity while allowing for more space.
“This part of the house has no natural light, so I [built] a kind of tunnel [to] create the effect of a cave,” she explains. “This is the first thing you see when you walk inside. It feels very peaceful and cozy.” The sculpture by Carla Cascales, called Tamariua, was made using marble and wood eroded by the sea.
The built-in bed is cement-lined and includes built-in storage space. The María Teresa–designed ceiling light features brass and gradient details that give the room a yellow-to-orange glow—keeping up with the desert theme. The headboard is from ALPI. The linen duvet cover is by Zara Home.
The tunnel-like corridor guides the way to the bedrooms—where more built-ins await. The primary bedroom is designed to look like a cave (very much in reference to César Manrique). María Teresa took inspiration from natural environments and the shapes, organic colors, and curves of rock formations in the room’s own walls. The bed is made of stonework and is covered in microcement. Even the mattress is rounded.
“I have a desire to live in a sheltered universe that isolates me from the madness of my neighborhood,” she says. “This house is my personal desert.”
María Teresa designed both lamps in the guest bedroom, including the cement fluorescent wall sconce and the table lamp. The Wassily chair is a vintage Marcel Breuer piece she found in an antique shop. (She reupholstered it herself.) The Cotton duvet cover is from Zara Home. “I love to receive people at home, so while things look nice, everything must be functional and comfortable,” she says.
The bathtub and the sink are lined with clay tiles in a sandy color to match with the natural palette of the home. “The bathtub is one of the most important areas of the house and one of the parts I use the most,” María Teresa explains. The chrome plated steel side table holds an Inma Peroli ball vase and a white candlestick from Llopmadrid.
The second full bathroom is located off of the living quarters. It features a checked plastered mirror designed and painted by María Teresa. The vintage pendant lamp is from a flea market in Madrid, while the white candles are from Mullier. The terra-cotta pampa candle is from Llopmadrid.
