Boutique Hotel Cortijo Genesis, an oasis nestled in the Andalusian countryside, has been restored by interior architect Victoria-Maria Geyer.
The former-ruin is a 600m2 property located between Marbella and Gibraltar, accommodating up to 12 guests and featuring five bedrooms, a swimming pool and a one-hectare outdoor area with a garden and a permaculture vegetable plot.
In keeping with her signature style, Geyer has created a vibrant and colourful atmosphere in the hotel’s garden, drawing inspiration from Palm Springs and adding a distinctive Californian mid-century twist.
White wrought-iron sun loungers, parasols and seating in pink fabric with red piping set the tone. The hotel’s courtyard, with a fountain adorned in colourful tiles, transports visitors to a romantic hacienda.
Seating is upholstered in red fabric trimmed with white piping, while blue-and-white striped parasols hint at the nearby sea. The tabletops are made from multicoloured, undulating tiles to evoke a playful yet refined feel.
Inside, each room draws inspiration from a different semi-precious stone: aventurine green, citrine yellow, lapis lazuli blue, carnelian red and morganite pink. The walls are kept deliberately neutral to create a calm atmosphere, with colour subtly introduced through fabrics, furnishings and decorative accents.
Geyer has curated a collection of unique objects for each space, such as the woven raffia heads by artist Natalia Brilli, modernist tapestries by Marc Baumann, and the striking Cronos and Manon lamps from Heaps & Woods. Rugs by Elitis and Edelgrund, together with Pierre Frey fabric blinds, provide structure and warmth.
In the bathrooms, a chic touch is added with basins adorned in intricate floral and celestial motifs – ones that are particularly dear to the designer.
The common areas include a reading room, where the ceiling – painted by hand with wooden slats in a rainbow pattern – brings an uplifting and joyful energy to the space. The sofa from Popus Edition, upholstered in fabric by Maison Thevenon, paired with curtains from the same brand, adds a chic, ethnic twist to the decor.
In the living room, the Wenceslas sofas from Heimat – Geyer’s own furniture collection – along with striped orange-and-white fabric from Manuel Canovas, create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The kitchen features saffron-yellow tiles on the backsplash, adding a playful and welcoming touch. At the centre of the room, a 1960s Roger Capron table lends character to the space, while a linen painting above the fireplace, The Lemon Bowl by artist Gordon Hopkins, adds another curated detail by the designer. Finally, the Waldemar Rothe hammock from Rosenthal, a piece from 1974 displayed by Morentz Gallery, stands as a key piece in the room, inviting moments of contemplation.
