Apologies for the lack of blog posts over the past couple of weeks – I’ve been in Colombia for my brother’s wedding. More on my travels there to come soon, but first I have something beautiful from elsewhere in the world to share with you: the seventh addition to Danish design brand Vipp‘s collection of one-of-a-kind guest accommodation, which has just opened in the tiny country of Andorra, set high in the Pyrenees between France and Spain.
Vipp’s first permanent guesthouse outside Scandinavia, it was created in collaboration with local design consultancy Bau Studio and occupies a borda – a traditional stone structure once used for cattle and grain storage. The building was first converted into a house back in the 1950s, when an avant-garde porthole window was added, and has now been renovated again to transform it into a sleek holiday hideaway that mixes contemporary Danish minimalism with original features and lots of texture.
The first floor has been opened up to create one large space encompassing a sitting area, a dining corner and a kitchen. It’s decorated in a sophisticated and very soothing palette of beige, brown and black, and much of the furniture and fittings – including the modular aluminium kitchen units, the sofa, the circular stone table, the lamps and the curvaceous chairs – are from Vipp’s own range. There are also subtle nods to the setting, with woven baskets hanging from the walls and weathered stoneware stacked on shelves.
From here, a custom-made metal staircase leads up to the bedroom and bathroom. Both showcase the same muted colours as the living space below, but here there’s also a stunning use of contrast. A freestanding white bathtub and white sink unit are offset by matt black tiles, gleaming aluminium chairs sit under gnarled wooden beams, and a clean-lined uplit panel behind the bed gives way to an exposed stone wall. The result makes a statement without detracting from the building’s character, and it’s a great example of modern rustic style.
As for what lies outside, Andorra my be one of the smallest countries in the world but it still has a lot to offer. In fact Casa Vipp is surrounded by 468 sq.km of beautiful valleys and soaring peaks, with ski slopes in winter, hiking trails in summer and breathtaking scenery all year round.
You can find out more about Casa Vipp and make a booking here. Rates start at €1,750 for a two-night stay. And if you like the look of this place, you can see the brand’s other accommodation options here.
All photography by Irina Boersma, courtesy of Vipp
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