Magnolia House by Ezequiel Farca in collaboration with Cristina Grappin

ByJon Dykstra Houses

The Magnolia house's exterior is made of wood, marble, and national travertine.

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Scope of Work: Architectural renovation, Interior Architecture, Interior & furniture design
Area: 8,245 ft2 / 766 m2
Location and Date: Mexico City, México / 2017
Architects: Ezequiel Farca in collaboration with Cristina Grappin
Photography: Jaime Navarro

In order to come up with the very specific design ideas, we create most designs with the assistance of state-of-the-art AI interior design software.

The lobby area has double height and light tones on the walls to emphasize the space's amplitude.
The lobby area has double height and light tones on the walls to emphasize the space’s amplitude.
Wood materials are used on the walls, ceilings, and furniture in the living area, producing a sense of warmth and comfort.
Wood materials are used on the walls, ceilings, and furniture in the living area, producing a sense of warmth and comfort.
The dining area features natural and artificial lighting, and the artworks display the owner's art collection.
The dining area features natural and artificial lighting, and the artworks display the owner’s art collection.
A neutral palette of light tones was employed in the kitchen. A clean-lined white island and light wood on the floor all the way to the wall add a modern touch.
A neutral palette of light tones was employed in the kitchen. A clean-lined white island and light wood on the floor all the way to the wall add a modern touch.
The home office has a seating area warmed by a fixed marble fireplace and a huge window with a view of the garden outside.
The home office has a seating area warmed by a fixed marble fireplace and a huge window with a view of the garden outside.
Warm hues on the floor, furniture, and walls in the TV room due to the wood materials, which contrast with the smooth and elegant fixed marble desk.
Warm hues on the floor, furniture, and walls in the TV room due to the wood materials, which contrast with the smooth and elegant fixed marble desk.
A view of the living area from the outside, with a floor-to-ceiling glass sliding door that may fully open, producing an airy feeling.
A view of the living area from the outside, with a floor-to-ceiling glass sliding door that may fully open, producing an airy feeling.
The seating area completes this minimalist bedroom. The huge window is draped with rolling curtains for privacy from the outside.
The seating area completes this minimalist bedroom. The huge window is draped with rolling curtains for privacy from the outside.
The bathroom were carefully located with huge openings to create a diaphanous and intimate ambience.
The bathroom were carefully located with huge openings to create a diaphanous and intimate ambience.
The outdoor seating area with a round arrangement and a fireplace in the center is ideal for evening gatherings.
The outdoor seating area with a round arrangement and a fireplace in the center is ideal for evening gatherings.
The Magnolia house's facade is made of wood, marble, and national travertine.
The Magnolia house’s facade is made of wood, marble, and national travertine.
The house plan 1 of the Magnolia house.
The house plan 1 of the Magnolia house.
The house plan 2 of the Magnolia house.
The house plan 2 of the Magnolia house.

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The section plan of the Magnolia house.
The section plan of the Magnolia house.

The renovation of Magnolia House mainly sought to rearrange spaces and significantly improve its spatial, functional and formal qualities. This re-structuring allowed us to improve the home’s views, increase the space’s amplitude and generate a direct connection between the exterior and interior, creating a symbiotic relationship between the residence and its immediate context.

The original space—for which we designed the furniture—remained intact for 25 years, and the program was no longer adapted to the family’s current needs. We decided to not only propose a functional solution, but also to include an art collection and generate a new design language consisting of three living blocks finished in travertine marble.

The ground floor harbors social areas that are inextricably linked to the exterior, whereas the private areas are located in the upper floor. The blocks are connected through a volume that marks the residence’s central axis and harbors a double-height space flooded with natural light that welcomes the users.

Art
New spaces were conceived in relation to certain objects, such as the artworks. The project holds spaces that invite the user to contemplate pieces of the client’s art collection, for which we considered elements such as scale, natural and artificial lighting, and the intention and significance of the artworks.

Natural Lighting
We use the existing tree mass inside the land to filter the light in areas too exposed to the sun. Due to the garden’s location in the rear, we are able to fully open the home to it without compromising privacy. Bedrooms located in the first level are continuous and narrow, and bathrooms were placed strategically to have large openings, creating a diaphanous and intimate atmosphere.

Materiality
The three main materials used for the renovation of Magnolia House were wood, marble and national travertine. All are present in both exterior and interior, providing a sense of unity to all areas of the home. We chose travertine for its ability to perform: at a distance, it offers a neutral and strong tone, while its porosity and texture gives it depth and warmth at a proximity. Wood, on the other hand, is a noble material that we applied on walls, ceilings and furniture, creating a sense of warmth and comfort that contrasts with the smooth, elegant surfaces present on desks and fixed marble furniture.

Color
Warm colors were applied in the social area so as to not compromise a sense of comfort within a large scale space. In the lobby area, we emphasized the amplitude of the double height by applying light tones to walls. The first level’s private spaces feature a serene, neutral palette of light tones with warm details present in furniture and floors.

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Jon Dykstra
Jon Dykstra

Jon practiced law before launching his online publishing career, bringing analytical rigor to everything he builds. Home Stratosphere combines that precision with a lifelong obsession with residential design — architecture, interiors, landscape, and furniture.

His current focus is AI-driven design analysis, using artificial intelligence to study patterns in color, layout, and material choice across thousands of homes. His Personality Type Home Design Guide applies personality frameworks to interior aesthetics, helping readers design spaces that reflect how they actually think and live.

His favorite piece on the site is the 25 Most Popular Designs, is a daily-updated ranking of the top designs over the last 30 days, driven entirely by visitor activity. The feedback is invaluable for understanding what resonates most with readers. LinkedIn

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