Rural Menorca Retreat With Magnificent Views

This lovely rural retreat in Menorca, Spain, was built in the 19th century and renovated now

This lovely rural retreat in Menorca, Spain, was built in the 19th century and renovated now

Es Bec d’Aguila is a private retreat sitting atop a hill in the pastoral countryside of Menorca, Spain and its location and history couldn’t be more idyllic.

The rural mansion was built in the 19th century as a weekend getaway for a wealthy merchant family who wanted to be close to nature as well as lavishly entertain guests. Drawing on its past grandeur and vernacular architecture – think dry-stone construction, whitewashed surfaces, vaulted ceilings, and ceramic tiles – Paris-based design studio Atelier du Pont have renovated the mansion with an eclectic combination of contemporary, modernist and vernacular elements.

The Mediterranean aesthetic of whitewashed walls, tiled floors and built-in furniture is enhanced by a collection of custom-made textiles and a lot of wooden textures, while a curated selection of mid-century furniture paired with a bold collection of contemporary art, imbue the mansion with a cosmopolitan aura. The combination of such diverse elements reflects the island’s storied history of Moorish, Spanish, English and French occupation.

The mostly white interiors, occasionally complemented by teal and lime-washed wall sections, are predominantly jazzed up by a varied selection of handmade terracotta and cement floor tiles featuring different colors and geometric patterns for each room of the house. Whereas some of the floor tiles are original pieces that have been meticulously restored, many are faithfully reproduced copies produced by local artisans while others have been sourced from as far away as Cuba.

2 of 14
The interiors are done with a mixture of mid-century modern and contemporary, in bright but not too much shades

The interiors are done with a mixture of mid-century modern and contemporary, in bright but not too much shades

3 of 14
The dining space is done with a wooden table, a range of pendant lamps and a pretty vase, look at the gorgeous tiled floor

The dining space is done with a wooden table, a range of pendant lamps and a pretty vase, look at the gorgeous tiled floor

4 of 14
The living room is done with rattan furniture, a white sofa, pretty tiles and rugs and looks very Spanish-like

The living room is done with rattan furniture, a white sofa, pretty tiles and rugs and looks very Spanish-like

5 of 14
The hallway features unique artworks, tiles and jute rugs for a texture

The hallway features unique artworks, tiles and jute rugs for a texture

6 of 14
The kitchen is cozy and features built-in furniture, a kitchen island and rattan chairs and pendant lamps

The kitchen is cozy and features built-in furniture, a kitchen island and rattan chairs and pendant lamps

7 of 14
The bar space is done in dark greens, with an elegant marble counter, pendant bottle lamps and built-ins

The bar space is done in dark greens, with an elegant marble counter, pendant bottle lamps and built-ins

8 of 14
The bedroom is done  with a storage headboard, lots of rugs, pretty tiles on the wall and coral bedding

The bedroom is done with a storage headboard, lots of rugs, pretty tiles on the wall and coral bedding

9 of 14
This bedroom is done in grey and teal, with matching tiles on the floor and an upholstered headboard

This bedroom is done in grey and teal, with matching tiles on the floor and an upholstered headboard

10 of 14
The bathroom is rustic, with a vintage tub, tiles, wooden beams and a large window

The bathroom is rustic, with a vintage tub, tiles, wooden beams and a large window

11 of 14
The bedroom is decorated in mint green and white, with a home office zone and a large bed

The bedroom is decorated in mint green and white, with a home office zone and a large bed

12 of 14
There's a lovely roof terrace with a cocktail space on it

There's a lovely roof terrace with a cocktail space on it

13 of 14
On the lower level there's another terrace with a dining space

On the lower level there's another terrace with a dining space

14 of 14
There's also a pool and a small space to relax there

There's also a pool and a small space to relax there

Source: yatzer