Stone building with yellow vertical wooden shutters on three windows, red tiled roof, cobblestone pavement in front, and a cloudy sky overhead.

Stone building with yellow vertical wooden shutters on three windows, red tiled roof, cobblestone pavement in front, and a cloudy sky overhead.

Living room with two vintage beige armchairs, a round coffee table with decorative items, and a large orange and brown abstract landscape painting on the wall. Hanging woven pendant lights are above.

Living room with two vintage beige armchairs, a round coffee table with decorative items, and a large orange and brown abstract landscape painting on the wall. Hanging woven pendant lights are above.

Interior of a dining area with a wooden table and chairs, navy blue and cream abstract artwork on the wall, three hanging straw lamps, and a blurred person standing near the wall.

Interior of a dining area with a wooden table and chairs, navy blue and cream abstract artwork on the wall, three hanging straw lamps, and a blurred person standing near the wall.

A cozy bedroom with a bed, pillows, and a blanket, two bedside lamps, wall art including a textile hanging and a framed picture, and warm lighting creating an inviting atmosphere.

A cozy bedroom with a bed, pillows, and a blanket, two bedside lamps, wall art including a textile hanging and a framed picture, and warm lighting creating an inviting atmosphere.

Modern living room with beige sofa, two armchairs, a coffee table, hanging pendant lights, artwork on wall, fireplace, bar stools, and large window showing outdoor scenery.

Modern living room with beige sofa, two armchairs, a coffee table, hanging pendant lights, artwork on wall, fireplace, bar stools, and large window showing outdoor scenery.

A wooden table with magazines, a purple crystal, and a ceramic bowl, set against a wall with vertical black wires and a concrete staircase in the background.

A wooden table with magazines, a purple crystal, and a ceramic bowl, set against a wall with vertical black wires and a concrete staircase in the background.

Modern living room with beige sofa, distressed leather pouf, patterned pillows, coffee table with magazines, rugs, wall art, and surfboards, adjacent to a dining area with a wooden table, chairs, and hanging lamps.

Modern living room with beige sofa, distressed leather pouf, patterned pillows, coffee table with magazines, rugs, wall art, and surfboards, adjacent to a dining area with a wooden table, chairs, and hanging lamps.

A dining room with a wooden table, a single wooden chair with a woven backrest, and four dark chairs with wooden seats. There's a decorative bowl on a pedestal on the table, and abstract art with blue and black shapes hangs on the dark wall. Sunlight

A dining room with a wooden table, a single wooden chair with a woven backrest, and four dark chairs with wooden seats. There's a decorative bowl on a pedestal on the table, and abstract art with blue and black shapes hangs on the dark wall. Sunlight casts a shadow across part of the floor and wall.

A beige sofa with three patterned pillows and a pink throw blanket in a room with a concrete floor and a wooden edge.

A beige sofa with three patterned pillows and a pink throw blanket in a room with a concrete floor and a wooden edge.

Interior view of a kitchen or bar area with two dark brown chairs facing a wooden counter, a window with greenery outside, hanging light bulbs, and decorative bowls and containers on shelves.

Interior view of a kitchen or bar area with two dark brown chairs facing a wooden counter, a window with greenery outside, hanging light bulbs, and decorative bowls and containers on shelves.

A cozy bedroom with a wooden wardrobe, a bed with brown linens and decorative pillows, a wall hanging, a woven basket on the wall, and a mirror with a circular frame. There's a small sink under the mirror, a curtain covering a window, and a plant on

A cozy bedroom with a wooden wardrobe, a bed with brown linens and decorative pillows, a wall hanging, a woven basket on the wall, and a mirror with a circular frame. There's a small sink under the mirror, a curtain covering a window, and a plant on a nearby shelf.

Outdoor patio dining area with a wooden table, white chairs, and green vases under three wooden pendant lights, against a stone wall and concrete floor.

Outdoor patio dining area with a wooden table, white chairs, and green vases under three wooden pendant lights, against a stone wall and concrete floor.

Outdoor patio with three beige lounge chairs, two white umbrellas, and a small table on a gravel surface in front of a modern white building with tall narrow windows.

Outdoor patio with three beige lounge chairs, two white umbrellas, and a small table on a gravel surface in front of a modern white building with tall narrow windows.

Interior of a room with white paneling, a door with a scarf hanging on the handle, a surfboard leaning against the wall, a shelf with a vase and a book, a wall-mounted lamp with a lampshade, a small rug, and part of a bed with pink bedding.

Interior of a room with white paneling, a door with a scarf hanging on the handle, a surfboard leaning against the wall, a shelf with a vase and a book, a wall-mounted lamp with a lampshade, a small rug, and part of a bed with pink bedding.

Modern house with an open lower level featuring a rock formation, dining table with chairs, and large window above reflecting the sky

Modern house with an open lower level featuring a rock formation, dining table with chairs, and large window above reflecting the sky

Modern residential exterior with white walls, a wooden gate, stone wall, cobblestone pavement, large tree, and pink flowers.

Modern residential exterior with white walls, a wooden gate, stone wall, cobblestone pavement, large tree, and pink flowers.

Modern house with large window, stone and white exterior, outdoor patio with two chairs and a glass of wine, swimming pool, sunny day with clear blue sky.

Modern house with large window, stone and white exterior, outdoor patio with two chairs and a glass of wine, swimming pool, sunny day with clear blue sky.

A bedroom corner with a white bedspread, a patterned pink and black pillow, woven tan slippers on a gray concrete floor, and a beige and black patterned rug.

A bedroom corner with a white bedspread, a patterned pink and black pillow, woven tan slippers on a gray concrete floor, and a beige and black patterned rug.

A neatly made bed with a light-colored duvet, three decorative pillows, and white sheets. There is a small black nightstand beside the bed with an open book, a potted plant, and a small lamp. The wall behind the bed is plain white.

A neatly made bed with a light-colored duvet, three decorative pillows, and white sheets. There is a small black nightstand beside the bed with an open book, a potted plant, and a small lamp. The wall behind the bed is plain white.

A view of a residential neighborhood seen through a window, with houses and greenery on hills under a partly cloudy sky. Inside, a table with a glass of water and a book is visible, with a spider crawling on the window.

A view of a residential neighborhood seen through a window, with houses and greenery on hills under a partly cloudy sky. Inside, a table with a glass of water and a book is visible, with a spider crawling on the window.

Modern white building with rectangular windows against a clear blue sky.

Modern white building with rectangular windows against a clear blue sky.

Villa Ribeira

A muse of Shadow and light

Nestled amidst a coastline adorned with 25 distinct surf breaks—ranging from beach breaks to point breaks—Villa Ribeira is the epitome of surf sophistication. A mere 15-minute bucolic stroll along a creek leads you to the beach, while the home itself is framed by an idyllic olive grove.

With a modest budget as our canvas, we enlisted the creative spirits of local artisans and visionaries to transform the villa into a surf haven. Handwoven blankets from India serve as wall art, while bespoke headboards crafted from pleather add a touch of modernity. Local photography captures the essence of the nearby beaches, and an eclectic mix of ceramics and repurposed chairs breathe new life into the space. Moroccan raffia lamps, artfully distressed, add a layer of bohemian charm.

The villa's natural interplay of light and shadow became our muse, allowing us to adorn the space without overwhelming it. Large-scale paintings by our Principle Petrina Reddy, anchor the living area, complemented by a vintage kilim rug that effortlessly harmonizes with the polished concrete floors.

According to the testimonials of surf aficionados and retreat organizers alike, Villa Ribeira strikes a sublime balance. It's a sanctuary that captures the dual essence of life by the sea: the tranquil allure of 'slow living' and the exhilarating thrill of riding the perfect wave.