The enchanting home of Cristina Lozano and Lorenzo Castillo in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France, is a testament to their unique friendship and creative partnership. This stunning residence, nestled in the Basque Country, showcases their shared passion for antiques, contemporary art, and fashioning beauty. With a rich cultural heritage and a love for entertaining, the couple transformed a 19th-century Basque baserri into a luxurious family home that reflects their artistic vision.
The house's exterior, with its half-timbered façade and gently sloping roofs, exudes a sense of nobility. Despite strict local planning laws, the original interior was remodelled to create a versatile space that functions beautifully year-round. The warmer, cosier drawing room and dining room upstairs provide a welcoming atmosphere during spring and autumn, while the downstairs areas, including the garden-level wraparound veranda, become the focal point during the summer months.
Cristina's love for texture, colour, pattern, and decoration is evident throughout the house. She relies on Lorenzo's expertise to translate her creative requests into reality. Together, they scoured flea markets and antique shops, developing room designs around specific purchases. The carved wooden chimneypiece in the drawing room and the oversized rattan lampshade in the dining room are signature features that shaped the overall design.
The couple's design philosophy is a fresh update on classicism, often featuring a mix of fabrics, furniture, and decorative objects sourced from around the world. They have collaborated on several projects, including a hotel in Menorca and the Cristine Bedfor guesthouse brand, which is set to expand to Málaga and Seville. Their unique style, characterised by vibrant colours, eye-catching fabrics, and a love for English country house aesthetics, has become synonymous with their name.
The house's interior is a symphony of textures, colours, and patterns, with books, lamps, plates, birds, shells, and flowers adorning every surface. No space feels unloved or unthought through. The dining room, for example, features verre églomisé wall panels and bamboo chairs, creating an atmospheric backdrop for memorable gatherings.
Cristina's passion for this house and its sensational location overlooking the ocean is evident in her words. She cherishes the weather, food, surfing, hiking, and the endless outdoor activities that the area offers. This home, with its rich history, stunning architecture, and artistic flair, has become a cherished sanctuary for the couple and their family, providing a perfect setting for creating lasting memories.
