"Everyone should try it once," said Uruguayan designer Gabriela Hearst, referring to Bikini Beach in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Buy this home in Manantiales, and you can take her advice. The minimalist structure is only steps away from the sand, and features floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase phenomenal views of the ocean.
Unfussy architecture makes sense in a place like this. Why distract from so much natural beauty? The spacious living-and-dining room area, for example, is flooded with natural light through a wall of windows. And let's just say the view is tempting: palm and evergreen trees and beach scrub leading to the sand and surf.
The views from the home's five bedrooms and marble bathrooms are just as glorious. One features a standalone bathtub next to the windows, so you can bask in the landscape while you soak. The white and gray color scheme makes everything feel even more peaceful.
You can cook up meals in the sunny kitchen, featuring a marble island and wine refrigerator, or relax on the terrace by the outdoor wood-burning fireplace. The weathered-wood area offers covered seating beside the pool, while a small meditation garden, complete with Buddha statue, offers a respite from high-season crowds.
Bikini Beach can feel "a bit see-and-be-seen," in Hearst's words. Fortunately, you can always drive 20 minutes up the coast to the surf town of Jose Ignacio. If Punta del Este is calling your name, learn more about this modern beach house in the listing on Leadingre.com.
