Bahía Marbella is one of the most complete and ambitious projects by Zoco Home to date. Located in Marbella, this private villa renovation is a celebration of Mediterranean living, family connection and timeless Ibiza-inspired design.
From the very beginning, the clients had a clear vision. They wanted a home that felt warm, personal and deeply connected to Spain. Not a generic modern villa, not a minimalist house without character, but a cozy and beautiful vacation home where the whole family could gather.
As the client explained, the dream was to create “a nice, very cozy house” that could bring together their family, including their four daughters and grandchild. More than anything, they wanted a very personal home.
This became the foundation of the entire project.
The clients had previously received another design from a different architect, but it did not feel right for them. It was too similar to many of the villas found in Marbella: modern, minimal and created with a more generic approach. What they were looking for was something completely different. A home with soul. A home with warmth. A home with character and identity.
That is where Zoco Home Interior Design Studio came in.
A vision rooted in Ibiza style and Mediterranean warmth
The design direction was inspired by Ibiza: soft, warm, natural and full of Mediterranean identity. The goal was to move away from cold minimalism and create a house that truly represented slow living, gathering and the beauty of Spanish lifestyle.
The client described the desired style as “Ibiza style. Warm. Spanish. Run away from minimalism. Represent the Mediterranean. Special warmth, slow living and gathering.”
For Zoco Home Interior Design Studio, this meant much more than choosing a decorative style. The entire home needed to feel connected to its location, to the family’s way of living and to the relaxed rhythm of the Mediterranean.
Every decision, from the architecture to the interiors, from the lighting to the landscaping, was made with this vision in mind.
Designing around the heart of the home
The project began with the heart of the house: the open kitchen and dining area.
For this family, food is an important ritual. The kitchen and dining room are where they gather, talk, cook, share meals and spend time together. Because of this, Zoco Home designed the main open space as the central hub of the villa.
The dining and kitchen area became one of the first spaces you experience when entering the home. With beautiful high ceilings, natural materials and a calm Mediterranean palette, it immediately sets the tone for the rest of the villa.
One of the key architectural decisions was to keep as much ceiling height as possible. Instead of adding false ceilings, technical elements such as electrical cables were carefully integrated through the beams. This allowed the space to maintain its height, openness and natural sense of grandeur.
The client also highlighted the kitchen as one of her favourite parts of the home, saying: “We absolutely love the kitchen.”
This is exactly what makes Bahía Marbella so special. The kitchen is not only beautiful, but also deeply connected to how the family lives.
A complete transformation of layout and flow
Bahía Marbella was not just an interior decoration project. It was a complete villa transformation involving interior architecture, structural changes, layout planning, bespoke design and full project management.
The original layout did not reflect the potential of the house. Some spaces were disconnected, and the flow between the main living areas and the exterior was not as natural as it could be.
One of the most important changes was the creation of a better connection between the dining area and the living room. Before the renovation, the space that is now the living room was an office with a small terrace, disconnected from the rest of the home. To transform it into a warm and functional living space, structural columns and beams had to be removed.
This required significant architectural work and precise project management from Zoco Home Interior Design Studio.
The result is a home that feels fluid, breezy and easy to move through. From the entrance, you naturally flow into the dining and kitchen area, then into the living room, and from there directly towards the garden and swimming pool.
An intimate living room with indoor-outdoor connection
The living room was designed to feel more cozy and intimate than the main open space. The ceilings are intentionally lower, creating a warmer and more relaxed atmosphere. A bamboo ceiling adds texture and softness, while a feature fireplace becomes the focal point of the room.
To strengthen the relationship with the exterior, two windows were opened on both sides of the fireplace, framing views of the garden and pool. This creates a seamless indoor-outdoor feeling, where the interior and exterior feel like one continuous experience.
The living room also has direct access to the outdoor area, making the circulation of the home feel natural and effortless.
This is one of the defining qualities of the project: every space has been designed to support movement, comfort and connection.
A family home optimized for real living
A major part of the project was optimizing the house for the family’s needs. This meant looking carefully at how many people would use the house, how they would gather, how they would move through the spaces and how the villa could support both everyday living and special family moments.
On the first floor, the layout was transformed from three bedrooms to four by converting a terrace into an additional bedroom. This allowed the team to add more sleeping space without reducing the size or quality of the existing rooms.
Other bedrooms were also improved through smart layout decisions. For example, wardrobes were opened and reconfigured to make the rooms feel larger, brighter and more inviting while keeping the same amount of storage.
In the master suite, the available space allowed Zoco Home Interior Design Studio to create a more complete and luxurious experience. The dressing area, master bathroom and bedroom were separated into distinct zones, while a bathtub moment within the master bedroom added a unique and personal feature.
The result is a home designed not for an anonymous buyer, but for this specific family and their way of living.
The rooftop: golden hour, sea views and slow living
One of the most important new additions to Bahía Marbella was the rooftop.
This space did not exist before and was created as a chill-out area with jacuzzi, bar and lounge zones. Designed for golden hour and sunset moments, the rooftop offers some of the best views of the villa, including views towards the sea and Gibraltar.
It adds another layer to the lifestyle of the home. The family can enjoy the kitchen and dining area during the day, the garden and pool in the afternoon, and the rooftop in the evening as the sun sets over Marbella.
The rooftop reflects the essence of slow living: taking time, enjoying the view, gathering with family and experiencing the home at different moments of the day.
Bespoke details and favorite design moments
Every detail in Bahía Marbella was considered. Built-in wall lights, curved skirtings, rounded corners, hidden LED lighting and integrated architectural features all contribute to the seamless feeling of the house.
One of the client’s favourite design elements is the gym doors. These doors are part of a beautiful metal and glass structure that divides the gym from the rest of the lower level, while still allowing light and visual connection.
The gym itself was designed with the same care as the rest of the home. Instead of using a standard grey or colorful gym floor, the team selected a warm-toned rubber flooring that blends beautifully with the limestone used throughout the space. This kind of detail reflects the project’s overall approach: nothing feels accidental, and every practical decision is also aesthetic.
The client also spoke about the atmosphere of the home, describing it as relaxed and beautiful, especially in the evening with the lights and the garden.
Landscaping as part of the full experience
The exterior areas were just as important as the interiors. The landscaping was designed to feel like a natural extension of the villa and to reinforce its Spanish and Mediterranean identity.
Olive trees, lemon trees and tall palm trees help create a strong sense of arrival and place. The clients wanted elements that connected the home to Spain, and the garden became an essential part of that story.
Even the driveway and gravel were carefully selected in warm beige tones to remain consistent with the overall color palette. Instead of using colder grey materials, the exterior finishes continue the natural sandy tones found inside the house.
This attention to exterior design shows the complete approach of Zoco Home Interior Design Studio. A villa is not only its interiors. It is the entrance, the garden, the light, the views, the materials and the way every element works together.
Complete project management from Denmark to Marbella
One of the most valuable parts of the process was the complete project management provided by Zoco Home Interior Design Studio.
The clients were overseeing the project from Denmark, which made it essential to have a trusted team in Marbella who could follow the construction closely. Having a designer visit the site every week, supervise the progress and coordinate decisions gave the clients confidence throughout the renovation.
As the client shared:
“Our experience with Zoco Home has been fantastic: from the design process to the building process, every detail has been covered.”
They also appreciated the possibility to choose and make changes during the project, as well as the professional support they received along the way.
For a project of this scale, project management was not just an additional service. It was a central part of the success of the villa. From design development to construction supervision, from material choices to final finishes, every stage required coordination, precision and care.
A vacation home you never want to leave
Bahía Marbella is more than a renovated villa. It is a home designed around family, warmth, gathering and Mediterranean lifestyle.
It brings together architecture, interior design, landscaping, bespoke materials and detailed project management into one complete vision. Every space has a purpose. Every room has its own atmosphere. Every material contributes to the feeling of calm, comfort and belonging.
As the client beautifully described it:
“Bahía Marbella is a vacation home that you don’t want to ever leave.”
That sentence captures the essence of the project.
For Zoco Home, Bahía Marbella represents a new level of design and execution. For Zoco Home Interior Design Studio, it is a clear example of how a villa in Marbella can be transformed into something truly unique: a personal Mediterranean home with soul, character and timeless warmth.
From vision to reality, contact us about your project.
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Gathering together: dining spaces designed to be lived in