For the many of us with mid-August blues: Summer has barely begun at Menorca Experimental, a resort designed by Remodelista favorite Dorothée Meilichzon. Set on a former finca, or agricultural estate, on the Spanish island of Menorca, the appealingly low-key alternative to neighboring Mallorca and Ibiza, the hotel was created from a Palladian-style, cliff-top house and cluster of whitewashed farm villas.
All were reconceived by Meilichzon, who runs her own Paris design studio, Chzon, as a dream agroturismo retreat: the sort of place Picasso, Miró, and cronies would go to live it up in the sun. The results are both grand and playful—and filled with happiness-inducing details and earthy colors we want to apply at home. Join us for a tour.
Photography by Karel Balas, courtesy of Menorca Experimental.
The Hotel
![built for a military captain at the turn of the \19th century, the main structu 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-hotel-karel-balas-photo-1a-733x489.jpg)
Menorca Experimental is part of the 10-hotel portfolio of the Paris-based Experimental Group; Meilichzon is married to one of its three founders—they all met as students—and she herself, at 40, has a dozen top-to-bottom hotel designs to her credit (see Paris’s Hotel des Grands Boulevards and The Henrietta in London). This year, the Experimental Group opened Regina Experimental Biarritz and Cowley Manor Experimental in Gloucestershire.
![in the lobby, portuguese tiles line a dividing wall with a seating ensemble tha 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-lobby-dorothee-meilichzon-design-karel-balas-photo-1b-733x489.jpg)
She also turned to makers around the world for accessories. The circular wood sconces, the Concentric 20″ and Concentric 15″, are an American import: they’re by Allied Maker of Long Island, NY. (Read the workshop’s creation story here.)
![meilichzon says her use of archways, alcoves, and curves throughout was &a 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-dining-room-dorothee-meilichzon-design-karel-balas-photo-2-733x489.jpg)
![bring friends: this communal table seats \20. above: most of the boldly pattern 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-dining-room-dorothee-meilichzon-design-karel-balas-photo-3-733x489.jpg)
![bring friends: this communal table seats \20. above: most of the boldly pattern 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-table-setting-karel-balas-photo-4-733x489.jpg)
![for those who want to bring home a piece of the hotel, there\2\17;s an i 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-hotel-shop-dorothee-meilichzon-design-karel-balas-photo-17-733x1099.jpg)
Admiring the rattan column? It’s the Medici Pedestal and Vase by Atelier Vime: see our post Atelier Vime’s Emporium in a Restored House in Provence. The faceted celadon tiles are from Portugal.
![guest rooms have modern rustic paneled doors in meilichzon\2\17;s bold r 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-guest-room-entry-dorothee-meilichzon-design-karel-balas-photo-6-733x1100.jpg)
![meilichzon is known for her inventive beds—and never repeats herself. at 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-villa-room-dorothee-meilichzon-design-karel-balas-photo-7-733x489.jpg)
![\2\20;i wanted to do something very drawn with a lot of shapes but 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-headboard-dorothee-meilichzon-design-karel-balas-photo-8a-733x1099.jpg)
![the headboards have built in torchères and fontini ceramic switches. the y 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-headboard-detail-dorothee-meilichzon-design-karel-balas-photo-8b-733x916.jpg)
![the bathrooms are meilichzon\2\17;s celebration of the local sunset over 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-villa-bathroom-dorothee-meilichzon-design-karel-balas-photo-9-733x489.jpg)
![the painted arches are a clever way to introduce color without fully going 28](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-villa-bathroom-dorothee-meilichzon-design-karel-balas-photo-10-733x489.jpg)
![a freestanding modern tub, the evolve bath \1850 from british company claybrook 29](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-villa-bathroom-dorothee-meilichzon-design-karel-balas-photo-11-733x1100.jpg)
![a grand opening with pocket doors in another guest room. 30](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-villa-bathroom-dorothee-meilichzon-design-karel-balas-photo-12-733x489.jpg)
The Villas
![there are nine private villas on the property, each with its own dipping pool. 31](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-villa-karel-balas-photo-5-733x489.jpg)
![the villas were rebuilt from historic farm structures: \2\20;they 32](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menora-experimental-outdoor-stair-karel-balas-photo-13-733x487.jpg)
![meilichzon used shades of green in the villas. 33](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-villa-stone-detail-karel-balas-photo-733x1100.jpg)
![a peek inside a villa. (they were still being completed at the time of photogra 34](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-villa-entry-karel-balas-photo-733x1100.jpg)
The Surroundings
![the original chapel on the property has been converted into guest quarters 35](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-resort-chapel-karel-balas-photo-18-733x489.jpg)
![canopied mattresses for one and two surround the \26 meter pool. 36](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-experimental-swiiming-pool-karel-balas-photo-16-733x489.jpg)
![this way to menorca experimental. 37](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/path-from-sea-to-menorca-experimental-hotel-19-733x733.jpg)
![the beaches on the island are all public. go to menorca experimental for reserv 38](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/menorca-mediterranean-view-733x977.jpg)
We’re longstanding fans of Quintana Partners, a design firm on Menorca. Here are some of their island projects:
- A Plant Nursery-Turned-Vacation Compound
- The All-Vintage Renovation
- Kitchen of the Week: Embracing the Old with Quintana Partners
Looking for a late-summer getaway? Consult our Design Travel archive for more ideas.
N.B.: This story originally ran on August 28, 2019, and has been updated with new links and information.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find more information about the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort?
You can find more information about the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort on their official website or by reading the related article on Remodelista.
What is the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort?
The Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort is a new beach resort located in Menorca, Spain that offers a unique and experimental summer experience.
What can I expect from the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort?
At the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort, you can expect a variety of amenities, including comfortable accommodations, beach access, dining options, and a range of activities and experiences designed to enhance your summer getaway.
Can I book a stay at the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort?
Yes, you can book a stay at the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort by visiting their official website or contacting them directly for reservations.
Does the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort offer dining options?
Yes, the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort offers dining options where you can enjoy delicious meals and beverages during your stay.
What activities and experiences are available at the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort?
The Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort offers a range of activities and experiences, such as water sports, beachside yoga classes, cultural workshops, and live entertainment.
Is the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort suitable for families?
Yes, the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort welcomes families and offers amenities and activities suitable for guests of all ages.
Can I bring pets to the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort?
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed at the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort.
Is there Wi-Fi available at the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort?
Yes, the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort provides Wi-Fi access for its guests.
What is the contact information for the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort?
You can contact the Menorca Experimental Summer beach resort by phone at XXX-XXX-XXXX or by email at [email protected].
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