Inspirations

Casa Josephine: A Design Couple’s Country House and B&B in Rioja, Spain

Iñigo Aragón and Pablo López Navarro may be Spain’s fastest-rising design stars. Together the pair are Madrid-based Casa Josephine Studio, which they started in 2012 after graduating from university with degrees between them in photography, art history, and fashion design. And they’ve been on a rapidly ascending track since then.

Today Pablo and Iñigo are taking us on a tour of their country house in the tiny town of Sorzano in northern Spain’s Rioja wine region. “We bought the house 13 years ago, remodeled it completely, and did a renovation, rethinking, and re-organization of the decoration two years ago,” Pablo wrote to us via email. It’s airy, cheerful, and impeccably designed, with color-blocked rooms and frescoes by architect and muralist Elvira Solana. “Rather than focusing on a selection of design pieces, we wanted the decoration to create a feel-good atmosphere,” Pablo adds. “Colors, furniture, and textiles are chosen following that idea.”

Best of all? To everyone’s luck, the couple operates the house as a bed and breakfast, with five guest bedrooms available for stays.

Join us for a look around.

Photography by Ricard Labougle courtesy of Casa Josephine Studio, except where noted.

the entry to casa josephine. “it is a country house, and we wanted  12
Above: The entry to Casa Josephine. “It is a country house, and we wanted to be very respectful to the pre-existing architecture and to the context where the house is,” Pablo says.
stepping inside. “it was a family house built mainly in the 1920s 13
Above: Stepping inside. “It was a family house built mainly in the 1920s,” says Pablo, “and we wanted to keep the spirit of a low-key, non-pretentious, casual summer house, where a mix of pieces from different periods, styles, and even qualities is possible.” Photograph by Iñigo Aragon.
the house is about 300 square meters in total (or 3300 square feet), with built 14
Above: The house is about 300 square meters in total (or 3300 square feet), with built-in niches throughout, as here, in the dining room. Photograph by Iñigo Aragon.