So beautiful it could be an optical illusion. Everything meticulously designed to charm, from the external architecture, heavily laced with its own original reinterpretation of the Pampas Ranch style, to the organic orchard where they grow aromatics plants; from the small lake where every evening wild ducks by the dozen come flying in, to the gallery with its hearth where a delightful little fire is prepared to combat the cold evenings. However, such perfection can also have its drawbacks, and being so perfect, there is the possibility that no-one can really enjoy it without being able to cope with living in the countryside. That however is not the case in this magnificent ranch in Monte, 100 km from Buenos Aires. Apart from being in a beautiful location it is homely, comfortable and spacious.

All of this is thanks to architect Daniel Szlezinger - whose work includes several other properties in Villa La Angostura, including Las Balsas - and is responsible for the design and decoration of this entire compound, which includes a superb three bedroom main house of 330m2, a 70m2 guest house, a 90m2 Pool House with interior barbecue room, and a 40m2 tack store. The whole enterprise has taken four years to construct, and all the buildings follow the same approach and choice of colors.

“From the outside you could describe the design as typical of a Pampas Ranch house, but with an eclectic approach to the design of the interior, modeled basically on houses in Provence, France and Tuscany in Italy”, explains Szlezinger, who chose to use construction materials typical of the countryside such as plain masonry, corrugated iron for the roofs, plain plaster and concrete finishes, “because they have proved themselves over time and are within the capabilities of the local craftsmen” together with timbers salvaged from demolished buildings.

The color scheme ranges from brick red for the exteriors to a faded lime green in one of the bedrooms, with white in the living room. “I chose the color scheme to suit the natural lighting of the place – in general it is intense, which is what you would expect for such an open location. I considered using more intense colors but they might have been too dominant, too overpowering. In the end we took advantage of the environment and really enjoyed using colors that are more difficult to use in an urban setting.”

Szlezinger was always very clear that he wanted the property to look like a renovated old country house, but with a “contemporary feel. The decoration has a strong theatrical influence, and is “extremely eclectic, using local elements, contemporary pieces, influences from other cultures and different eras, with strong elements of the architectural style itself, such as the ceilings, variously using railway sleepers, English style wooden ceilings, open timber framing and salvaged timbers.”

While building the house, Szlezinger was also selecting the internal fittings, to the extent that when the house was ready to be handed over, it is no exaggeration to say that he even had the towels hanging in the bathroom. “When I am planning the decorations for a house, it is as if I turn on a switch in my head so I can “see” the things as they should really be. And the things I need turn up in sales, auctions, antique shops, decorators, all over the place. There are always some basic pieces of plain furniture that provide a neutral background, such as sofas and bookcases.” For Szlezinger, a decoration project can be said to be a success when “you cannot see the hand of the decorator, when the result seems to be spontaneous.” What is the one thing he would never do? He is quite clear on this point: “I will never produce decorations or designs that appear pretentious or lavish, as this only serves to show a lack of taste.”

Style notes
*The spaces were designed very practically, using traditional resources and with an academic approach; each interior space was studied together with its lay out and views as if they were interior facades; mostly using symmetrical axes, sometimes broken, and axes that linked with the other spaces in the house.

*”I like styles that are very varied. Very contemporary and with antique objects for the city, while in the country, more classical and expansive styles. Generally speaking, I like a touch of the theatrical or scenographic (controlled aspects, framed perspectives, pre-established transitions from one environment to the next). But always placing a priority on materials, textures and colors.”
*”I like surrounding myself with ethnic objects or original works, things that are natural and real even though not valuable. I like using objects in different contexts from the ones they were originally designed for (like car wheels as ornaments, used train tracks used as roofing).

*”I try never to use things that appear pretentious or lavish, that only serves to show a lack of taste.”

*”I collect everything: I think that in the case of every object, the uglier it is as an individual piece, it takes on a different perspective when grouped together with others with the same characteristics. I place together leather boxes, glass from the 1920s and 1930s, ethnic textiles, and even antique tools.”