Photography by Karel Balas, courtesy of Menorca Experimental.
For the many of us with late-August blues: summer has barely begun at Menorca Experimental, a resort designed by Remodelista favorite Dorothée Meilichzon that officially just debuted.
All were reconceived by Meilichzon, who runs her own Paris design studio, Chzon, as a dream agroturismo retreat: the sort of place Picasso, Miró, and cronies would go to live it up in the sun.
Built for a military captain at the turn of the 19th century, the main structure sits amid groves of pine and juniper on nearly 75 acres overlooking the Mediterranean (the beach is a 10 minute walk down the hill).
The Hotel
Menorca Experimental is the sixth hotel created by the Paris based Experimental Group Meilichzon is married to one of its three founders they all met as students and she herself...
...at 36 has seven top to bottom hotel designs to her credit see Paris s Hotel des Grands Boulevards and The Henrietta in London plus a new Experimental Group property about to open in Venice
In the lobby, Portuguese tiles line a dividing wall with a seating ensemble that includes Borge Mogensen Spanish Chairs and a concrete banquette that echoes the lines of the surrounding archways.
The circular wood sconces, the Concentric 20″ and Concentric 15″, are an American import: they’re by Allied Maker of Long Island, NY.
Meilichzon says her use of archways, alcoves, and curves throughout was “inspired by the sunset on the sea.”
Bring friends: this communal table seats 20.
Most of the boldly patterned ceramic tableware is by Casa Cubista of Portugal.
For those who want to bring home a piece of the hotel, there’s an in-house shop.
Guest rooms have modern-rustic paneled doors in Meilichzon’s bold riff on terra-cotta.
Meilichzon is known for her inventive beds—and never repeats herself. The embroidered cotton bedspreads were made for the hotel by textile and ceramic studio LRNCE of Morocco.
“I wanted to do something very drawn with a lot of shapes but very simple shapes,” Meilichzon says of the headboards.
The headboards have built-in torchères and Fontini ceramic switches.
The bathrooms are Meilichzon’s celebration of the local sunset over the sea.
The painted arches are a clever way to introduce color without fully going to town. The sinks are made of local stone finished with a thin layer of concrete.
A freestanding modern tub, the Evolve Bath 1850 from British company Claybrook, is set in its own niche.
A grand opening with pocket doors in another guest room.
The Villas
There are nine private villas on the property, each with its own dipping pool.
The villas were rebuilt from historic farm structures: “they’re inspired by traditional Menorcan architecture but with some twists,” says Meilichzon.
Meilichzon used shades of green in the villas.
A peek inside a villa.
The Surroundings
The original chapel on the property has been converted into guest quarters—but weddings here are also welcome.
Canopied mattresses for one and two surround the 26-meter pool.
This way to Menorca Experimental.
The beaches on the island are all public. Go to Menorca Experimental for reservation details.