COOL HOTELS | Madrid | Casa de Madrid

COOL HOTELS | Madrid | Casa de Madrid

Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

It’s like staying in the home of a well-traveled, aristocratic aunt. 

Casa de Madrid is located in a landmark 18th century building across from Madrid’s Royal Opera House.  Massive ornate doors lead to a diminutive elevator, and up to the apartment of Marta Medina: art historian, architect, curator, designer, and world traveler.

Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

Doña Medina restored the once-abandoned apartment in the late 1990’s, designing each and every inch herself. 

All surfaces, horizontal and vertical are covered with relics and mementos from her many trips.  Books are literally stacked to the ceiling.

Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

When she ran out of wall surfaces, artwork was hung on the ceilings.

Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

Medina’s inspired seven guest rooms are theatrically decorated to represent her favorite places. 

“The decoration of each room is very different, yet on the whole, when you walk through the house, you can feel the harmony. It is like the same person with a different sense of humour.”
Welcome Beyond.com interview with Marta Medina

Just after I got there, Bianca Jagger checked into the Syrian room.  (I was able to see it before she arrived.) The walls of the room are hand painted with Mediterranean motifs, and curtained doors call to mind exotic tents.

Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

In the Greek room, walls are painted with Ionic columns against an Aegean blue “sky.”

Greek room_ Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

On the ceiling, celestial stars are painted into panels of a Greek key-patterned grid.

Greek room_ Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

As in the other guest rooms, Marta has ingeniously designed interior en suite bathrooms.

Greek room_ Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

In the Japanese room, a shower and toilet have been fitted into corners, behind mirrored doors.

Zen room_ Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

Zen room_ Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

The wall behind the bed in this room is draped with a graphic Zen symbol.

Zen room_ Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

In many of the rooms, canvas panels hang from hinged rods on the windows, a clever invention of Marta’s.

Zen room_ Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

My room is called The Leaves of April room.  Walls are draped with block-printed Indian cotton in a traditional Cypress tree motif.

Leaves of April room_ Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

Leaves of April room_ Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

When in residence, Marta stays in her dreamy Roman Salon.

Roman room_ Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

Roman room_Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

Roman room_Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

I sat down for tea with Marta, and spoke with her of journeys, and art, and life.  It was fascinating to be a guest in the home of this illustrious woman.

casa de madrid_Madrid_Spain

Sharing my passion for travel with her, she put into words the impetus for those of us who are most fulfilled on the road:

“I travel to evolve.”

A memorable proclamation from a memorable place.

Casa de Madrid_Madrid_Spain

Casa de Madrid
Calle de Arrieta, 2
Madrid
www.casademadrid.com

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