Refúgio do Espelho

CASA HISTORY

Near the charming fishing village of Caraíva, 20-km south of Trancoso, is one of the most strikingly beautiful beaches of Brazil, the famed Praia do Espelho (Mirror Beach), whose name derives from the light of sun and moon reflecting off calm ocean waters. When hippies settled in southern Bahia in the 70’s and 80’s this was a popular place to drop in and drop out.

Some built simple beach huts which eventually grew to be comfortable homes, such as this cozy-yet-sophisticated beach house whose restoration represents the first Brazilian residential project by designer Wilbert Das outside Trancoso.

The owners - London art dealer Ivor Braka and the American supermodel Kristen McMenamy, his wife – created a dream beach refuge immersed in tropical flowers and jungle vegetation at the foot of a rising hill upon which sprawls the 100,000 square meter Braka farm, a perfectly organic setting into which is shaped a masterful execution of relaxed, rustic charm and tropical imagination.

DESIGN

Rising off a rustic base of natural wood, the striking teal blue house seems to be a reflection of the ocean itself, fronted by a veranda full with a giant amendoeira tree growing through its roof.

A separate bungalow beside the house is hidden in palms and flowering bushes yet reveals the same spectacular ocean views as the main house.

Interiors are singular in every detail, executed with countless one-of-a-kind décor pieces; antiques sourced from around Brazil mixed with works from the UXUA D.A.S. collection, including beds made from old fishing boats or shaped out of bamboo in patterns of Pataxó natives motifs, bathrooms with sinks made of antique wooden bowls, lighting fixtures crafted from river reeds and local clay.

Pillows and fabrics are recycled sails and tents, some dyed with organic indigo, and other fabrics woven on antique, hand-looms at UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa's atelier.