The house of Cristina Lozano and Lorenzo Castillo is a testament to their unique friendship and creative partnership. Their collaboration on this project showcases their shared passion for antiques, contemporary art, and fashioning beauty. The house, located in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France, is a perfect canvas for their creative instincts, blending Basque heritage with a modern, eclectic style.
The house, a typical Basque baserri with a half-timbered façade and gently sloping roofs, had been abandoned in the 1920s. Cristina, with her Basque roots and love for entertaining, decided to upscale from a smaller holiday house to this larger one, providing enough space for family and friends. The exterior alterations were minimal due to strict local planning laws, but the interior was completely remodelled to ensure functionality year-round.
The focal point of the house is the 19th-century oak chimneypiece and overmantel mirror, carved with marine motifs. It is paired with a 1950s sofa in a Ralph Lauren floral print and a marble coffee table. The walls and units in the kitchen are painted in Farrow & Ball's 'Chappell Green', creating a charming rustic look with wooden fish and a rattan pendant light.
Cristina's design philosophy relies on texture, colour, pattern, and decoration, with Lorenzo translating her requests into reality. Their design process involves frequent flea market and antique shop visits, often developing room designs around specific purchases. For example, the carved wooden chimneypiece and oversized rattan lampshade became signature features of the drawing room and dining room, respectively.
The house features a mix of fabrics, furniture, and decorative objects sourced worldwide, with a particular love for English country-house style. Lorenzo's designs for Gastón y Daniela are evident in the wallcoverings, rugs, upholstery, and curtains, while Cristina indulges her passion for Nathalie Farman-Farma fabrics at Décors Barbares. Their collaborative projects have expanded to include the Cristine Bedfor guesthouse brand, with plans for sites in Málaga and Seville.
The house's layout emphasises the outdoors, with a garden-level wraparound veranda designed to follow the sun's path. The warmer, cosier drawing room and dining room upstairs come into their own in spring and autumn, while the summer focus shifts downstairs and outside. The house's location, overlooking the ocean in a quiet, residential neighbourhood, is a key selling point for Cristina, who loves the weather, food, surfing, hiking, and outdoor activities.
In conclusion, the house of Cristina Lozano and Lorenzo Castillo is a testament to their unique friendship and creative partnership, blending Basque heritage with a modern, eclectic style. Their collaborative projects have expanded to include the Cristine Bedfor guesthouse brand, with plans for sites in Málaga and Seville.
