No. 05 / An imagined retreat in La Marquesa, Mexico

A brass and walnut kitchen, built around the day.

The Craftsman CR1 undercabinet hood keeps the cooking wall low and composed. Light Vintage brass brings a soft golden tone; polished stainless accents add definition. The integrated brass backsplash extends that warmth across the working surface, making the hood part of the room’s architecture.

Plan the hood, sink and backsplash together. Compare their finishes beside the actual walnut and stone, in morning and evening light. Related tones can feel more natural than an exact match repeated everywhere.

A place for preparing. A place for gathering.

The Convex SW workstation sink combines a warm apron direction with a stainless bowl. Its Light Antique brass option belongs to its own finish range; it should be sampled alongside the hood’s Light Vintage brass. The stone cutout and cabinet opening deserve the same attention as the metal.

Keeping the sink on the rear working counter leaves the island clear for breakfast, serving and conversation. Give preparation a useful landing area, then leave the guest side free of the day’s washing up.

Walnut furniture with a stainless foundation.

The Trestle TR3 solid wood dining table carries the kitchen’s wood into the pavilion. Natural walnut rests above brushed stainless X-shaped bases. The metal feels lighter here, allowing the table to sit comfortably between concrete walls and broad glass.

Choose the table with the room in mind: the view from each seat, space to pull out a chair, and a clear route from the kitchen. Coordinating furniture with the kitchen’s materials makes the transition feel effortless.

Brass fireplace features and quieter details.

A custom metal fireplace surround turns a broad brass plane into the living room’s focus. Panel joints and a projecting mantel give the surface a deliberate rhythm against the concrete. This is metalwork designed with the architecture, with the firebox and clearances resolved during specification.

Nearby, brass-lined shelves repeat the same warmth in a smaller gesture. One family of finishes can connect a surround, a niche and a bedroom ledge without making those pieces identical. Leave some shelf space open; a few objects have more presence when they have room around them.

A brass soaking tub beside the trees.

The Contemporary CR1 bathtub brings a straight-sided oval into the bath. Natural brass is the finish direction here, rather than the hood’s Light Vintage option. The room stays simple: pale stone, a place for a towel, and a window that makes the forest part of the evening.

Consider the tub alongside the surrounding fixtures and the practical places for bathing essentials. A beautiful room becomes more inviting when the details of using it have already been considered.

A forest pool and a separate cold plunge.

The warm pool and custom cold plunge concept share a courtyard, not a vessel. Stainless steel introduces a cool visual note beside the stone terrace. A short, clear route connects the water with towels and seating, making the space easy to use without filling the landscape with equipment.

Plan the plunge’s service access, drainage and water system with the surrounding terrace. A restrained planter and an open view are enough to give the courtyard its sense of retreat.

Carry the material story into the quiet rooms.

The terrace fire pit creates another place to gather as the light fades. Inside, the bedroom returns to walnut, linen and concrete, with just a small brass detail. Whole-home coordination works through repetition and restraint: a shared wood tone, a recurring metal, and a different balance in each room.