A dream summer house that offers an escape from the constant rush is something many of us long for. It becomes a private refuge where family and friends gather, slow down and create lasting memories. The Nomades House in Brazil, designed by Mareines Arquitetura, captures that idyllic spirit with a clear respect for local traditions and a strong emphasis on outdoor living. Combining vernacular charm with contemporary comfort, this vacation home feels rooted in place while offering a fresh, modern interior tailored to relaxed coastal living.
The house’s exterior makes an immediate impression through its use of a piassaba roof across every section. This traditional roofing material gives the home a vernacular silhouette that blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. Yet once you step inside, the atmosphere shifts to a lighter, more contemporary palette: white walls and warm wood finishes define each room, creating clean, airy interiors that emphasize calm and simplicity.
Natural materials—rattan, bamboo, and timber—are used throughout, reinforcing the coastal-chic aesthetic and creating a consistent visual language between indoors and out. These materials, paired with neutral tones, allow textures and craftsmanship to become focal points: woven seating, wooden tables and bamboo elements bring warmth and tactility to the simple white backdrop. Locally sourced finishes and careful detailing ensure the home feels both authentic and respectful of regional building traditions.
Rooms are deliberately minimal to promote relaxation. Bedrooms favor white bedding and pared-back décor, with wooden ceilings or accents adding contrast and a cozy scale. Natural light plays a central role in the home’s ambience: large openings and strategically placed windows flood the interior with daylight while creating framed views of the surrounding greenery. Thoughtful pendant lighting and subtle fixtures provide warm illumination after sunset, maintaining a relaxed, inviting tone.
Perhaps the most compelling quality of the Nomades House is how it blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living. Open-plan communal areas flow directly to an expansive wooden deck and the pool, encouraging a lifestyle where mornings, afternoons and evenings are lived both inside and out. Sandy paths and planted greenery around the entrance reinforce the sense of being immersed in nature, while custom outdoor furniture makes the deck feel like an extension of the interior.
A sweeping wooden deck beside the rectangular pool becomes the focal point for outdoor life. The pool’s clean lines and the surrounding decking provide a calm and elegant setting for relaxation, sunbathing or al fresco meals. Low-maintenance landscaping keeps the focus on the home and the experience of being outdoors, while a mix of built and natural elements—custom wooden furniture, woven textures and native plants—gives the property a relaxed, beachy character.
The Nomades House celebrates simplicity and material honesty. Its restrained color palette, natural textures and well-proportioned spaces promote ease and serenity—qualities essential to a memorable holiday home. Photographs by Leona Kayá Deckelbaum capture the home’s light, textures and relationship to the landscape, highlighting both its architectural details and the relaxed lifestyle it supports.
In short, Nomades House is a carefully considered retreat that balances vernacular elements with contemporary comforts. Its thoughtful use of material, focus on outdoor living and light-filled interiors make it an exemplary model of how a vacation home can be both rooted in local character and perfectly tuned to modern leisure.
