Rooftop Golf, Tequila Bar & a Waterslide: This Los Cabos Home Is the Ultimate Staycation Paradise

You might not live in a five-bedroom house—nor are you planning to build a custom home in Maravilla, the private community where Casa el Faro can be found—but there’s one design takeaway we can all attain: this vibrant color palette. Designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard was given the directive to create a home that felt modern but still captured the feel of Los Cabos, so he pulled colors straight from the hilltop home’s surroundings. Blue-green shades came from the ocean and sky, and beiges and earth tones were inspired by nearby rocks, which when combined, creates a soothing atmosphere that offsets the stark lines of the house.

Lawrence Bullard livened things up further with pops of contrasting color pulled from vintage Oaxacan blankets, making sure his neutrals had plenty of texture. Think linens, woven cotton and embroidered fabrics.

Casa el Faro has two bars, an indoor one and an outdoor one, but it was the round, red tile table and coordinating light fixture and stools of the indoor drinking destination that really grabbed our attention. Oh, and the fact that it’s an ode to Mexico’s most famous distilled liquor. “The tequila bar seemed to me a necessary addition to the house. It is first and foremost an entertaining space and a holiday home,” Lawrence Bullard says. And honestly, is there a better way to entertain friends and family? (Even if, in these socially distant days, the only entertaining you’re doing is via Zoom.)

It’s hard to spot the TV in this room when it’s surrounded by such eye-catching art. Lawrence Bullard commissioned Voila! Creative Studio for select pieces of art throughout the house, and this room became one of his favorites. It pays homage to Frida Kahlo through a blend of early photography and modern portraits of the iconic Mexican artist.

You don’t have to be a golfer to appreciate this view (but it may convince you to take up the sport…at least for an afternoon).

One look at this cozy room, and movie theaters will be ruined for you. The red and black color scheme is pulled from the vintage Mexican movie posters adorning the walls, creating a chic space to unwind. Although we’re not sure we’d ever get up from the 16-foot-long custom sofas, which the designer says are “as deep and comfortable as beds.”

As you might imagine, indoor-outdoor living is a huge component of this home, and making the spaces flow from one to the next turned out to be Lawrence Bullard’s biggest design challenge. His solution? Adding fully upholstered outdoor furniture that blends easily with the polished indoor pieces. “Keeping colors the same and textures similar allows for this illusion and adds to a sense of luxury and spaciousness,” he adds.

When you have ocean views like this, you need to make the most of them. Multiple outdoor fireplaces create easy spots to hang out, regardless of the weather. Psst: That painted ceiling—with a design that matches the color of the sea and the seats—is another smart way to extend the feeling of bringing the outdoors in and vice versa.

With its clean lines and modern styling, the water slide looks like an extension of the house and not at all like something you’d see at an amusement park. Still, we’re convinced it’s every bit as fun to zip down.