13 minute read
Riverfront Retreat
A tranquil boutique villa promotes healing in the heart of nature.
Words by Lifestyle Staff | Photos by Dakota Jacobi
Emanating from the banks of the river amidst the Sierra Nevada foothills, a spiritual retreat offers a one-of-a-kind experience in the community of Three Rivers. Just as the river flows in organic and ever-changing patterns, the structure's design and build also naturally progressed.
Both Georgel and Guillermo were born in Mexico and lived in Los Angeles, where they worked and met in the music industry. Accustomed to the fast-paced environment, they knew they eventually wanted to start a family, but desired to raise a child in a slower-paced setting. As their relationship evolved, a friend shared about a magical place only a few hours away: Three Rivers. “Our friend has traveled the world doing music tours and said the town was special. He loved the vibe and river and was wowed by the natural setting,” shares Georgel, who discovered the gem for himself during a weekend trip for Guillermo’s birthday.
The Dream Team
Over the last six years, Georgel and Guillermo have used their inspirations to pour into the home’s building. The purpose was to create a place for their family to grow and thrive, but it eventually evolved into a space where visitors find sanctuary and refreshment. “When we first moved to the property, it consisted of a one-room shack building,” Georgel says. The small structure might have been dilapidated, but the surrounding river and nature was beautiful and serene. After initially working with a contractor from LA, they eventually crossed paths with a local contractor from Porterville named Alonso Muñoz.
Alonso brought their unique and eclectic vision to life in a short timeframe. Guillermo has always been interested in architecture and design, so together, they worked room by room to create a structure with unique elements reminiscent of the craftsmanship in Mexico. The plans were inspired by the owners’ travels abroad and their daughter, Reyi (REH'-jee), the star of the family after whom the REYIUM retreat is also named. The couple wanted to be part of the process, so they lived in the one-room shack and cooked over a woodburning fire until modern amenities were constructed. They were on a tight timeframe since the clock was ticking for their daughter’s impending birth. Somehow, the team, which had grown to include Alonso’s six brothers, created a functioning home with a room ready for Reyi by the time she was born. “Her entire life, she has been living with construction happening around her,” Georgel shares.
The Space Details
Details from Georgel and Guillermo’s travels to Italy and Bali, along with mementos of their extended family, saturate every bit of space. An Italian castle in Perugia, Italy, served as inspiration for their home and is also where the couple was married.
The entry pillars are a gateway to peace as worry and tension are left behind.The Balinese Indonesian figures represent art, commitment, protection, and prosperity to the family. Georgel
insisted on a purposeful design around a tree in the walkway to keep as much original life as possible on the property. Pathways lead closer to the river’s edge where the sound of rushing water quickly overtakes any swirling anxious thoughts.
Entering the home through arched wrought iron doors, a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows pulls in perfect river scenery. Georgel shares, “This is the prime spot of the home where you can enjoy the view while sitting in the oversized swivel chairs or reading in the library-style living room.” Various art pieces flank the walls, many created by Guillermo’s sister, artist Kabrielle Rosas. The furnishings seem to fit each part of the home perfectly. Each furniture element was custom-made with a purpose for the space, including the woodwork and couches. “Many pieces were made in Los Angeles by a Mexican furniture designer named Arsemio,” says Georgel. “We also have repurposed pieces like the coffee table that was an old raft used in Indonesia.” The eclectic patterns and textures mesh throughout the home, like the polished cement floors and kitchen island made of rock with infused leather.
Once a shack, the original part of the home was converted into the kitchen, where the ceiling is noticeably shorter due to the incline, requiring a design-around approach.
“THIS IS THE PRIME SPOT OF THE HOME WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY THE VIEW.”
Once a shack, the original part of the home was converted into the kitchen, where the ceiling is noticeably shorter due to the incline, requiring a The most impressive view of the house leads up the spiral iron staircase (made by Alonso) and The most impressive view of the house leads up the spiral iron staircase (made by Alonso) and onto the rooftop, where yoga reaches toward the early morning sun. Georgel and Guillermo also enjoy stargazing here with their telescope. By the end of the project, they had also included a private primary suite, a guest room, and a guest house with a workout room and clubhouse-style space with loft beds, all of it built to inspire adventure and wonder for those who visit.
A Place for Healing
Before the pandemic, Georgel had worked in the music industry since he was 13, touring throughout Mexico. The last five years of his music career were the most successful, and his personal life was flourishing, yet he felt the most depressed. During the pandemic, he found breathwork therapy online and began looking within himself to discover the contribution he wanted to make to the world. As soon as he started focusing on his spiritual state, the physical ailments he was experiencing started going away. He practiced breathwork and went through training to be a certified spiritual coach and breathwork healer. Through helping others, Georgel continues to go through his own transformation. “Little did we know when we first started building our home that it would become a place where we would host retreats so others could experience healing and transformation too. Most of our guests are coming from LA, but some have come from the UK, Mexico, and the Bay Area.” The retreats consist of community healing groups over single- and multiple-day sessions. “We aim to offer healing options for everybody, no matter their income,” says Georgel.
The family now lives across the river nestled in a more neighborhood vicinity where their daughter can live a life surrounded by other kids. They are now onto a new remodel challenge; a wonderful project led by the couple and developed with the help of Alonso’s team that has already become a beautiful display of architecture. The family still visits the retreat regularly, hosting friends and family when retreats aren’t in session. The buildout continues on the property adjacent to the guest house, with new construction from the ground up that will feature a new office workspace and a future home. “The more challenging and new, the more excited we get to create something from nothing.”
Now, where tranquility, healing, and wonder once took place for Georgel, Guillermo, and Reyi, others seeking rest may also find it, at the retreat by the river.
@reyi_um
IT BUILT TO INSPIRE ADVENTURE AND WONDER FOR THOSE WHO VISIT.
