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— Dimitri: “I mean, just being on the beach and having a cold beer and fresh fish is probably all you need in life.”
Interview By: Welcome Beyond
— What was your motivation to buy a house in Brazil?
Dimitri: “Well, I was on a kiteboarding trip to Brazil in 2005 when I discovered the many beautiful beaches and the country. It was just amazing to see all these beautiful places between Jericoacoara and Trancoso. And one of the places I stayed at was Arraial d’Ajuda in Bahia — a typical small village perched atop a hill. That’s where I fell in love with Brazil and the people.
There I also discovered Casa do Dean; I spent about 10 days at this tropical loft. I just really liked the house, so I decided to get in touch with the owner. And eventually we ended up buying Casa do Dean. So it was very much by chance really.”
There I also discovered Casa do Dean; I spent about 10 days at this tropical loft. I just really liked the house, so I decided to get in touch with the owner. And eventually we ended up buying Casa do Dean. So it was very much by chance really.”
— Casa do Dean
— How would you describe the style of the house?
Dimitri: “Well, I think it’s a little bit like a loft, you know? Well, it’s not really a loft because all the bedrooms are separate, but it has a really good atmosphere, the furniture, the way it’s built... it’s an easygoing house.
Also, the people who take care of Casa do Dean all year long are great. I mean, there is a lady who is in the house when it’s rented to prepare breakfast and do all the service like changing the bed linen, putting out the deck chairs, bringing them inside in the evening, the hammock, all that. It’s very convenient, so the guests have nothing to do, really. It’s a very easy-living house with a very nice atmosphere.”
Also, the people who take care of Casa do Dean all year long are great. I mean, there is a lady who is in the house when it’s rented to prepare breakfast and do all the service like changing the bed linen, putting out the deck chairs, bringing them inside in the evening, the hammock, all that. It’s very convenient, so the guests have nothing to do, really. It’s a very easy-living house with a very nice atmosphere.”
— Casa do Dean living area
— And you are just extending Casa do Dean?
Dimitri: “Yes. In fact, if you look at the house, you will notice that only the first floor and the second floor are completed. There is still a ground floor, which is on the garden level where we are going to put three more suites. And there will be a very large deck in front of them with two small paths going to the beautiful natural swimming pool. We decided to put the pool a bit further away from the house — I don’t really like to have a swimming pool near the house. It’s a bit noisy and maybe we have some guests who want to be on the quiet side reading the newspaper while the kids can play in the pool.”
— Pool and view
— What inspired you to buy this particular house?
Dimitri: “Well, different reasons. It was the perfect house in a perfect location. Casa do Dean is stylish, with contemporary furniture and has this rustic beach house charm. There was also a lot of attention to detail, so we didn’t really need to do a lot of renovation, just a bit of decorating here and there and adding some iconic furniture. We want to keep it a high level house. And I just love being there.
It is rare to have a place where you can have a choice of complete peace and all the action you could dream of. Depending on the direction you go, you have either completely deserted beaches or vibrant beaches with lots of bars and restaurants. I go several times a year to Arraial d’Ajuda and the house is the perfect place to recharge my batteries.”
It is rare to have a place where you can have a choice of complete peace and all the action you could dream of. Depending on the direction you go, you have either completely deserted beaches or vibrant beaches with lots of bars and restaurants. I go several times a year to Arraial d’Ajuda and the house is the perfect place to recharge my batteries.”
— Casa do Dean bedroom
— And there is a lady at Casa do Dean helping out with things?
Dimitri: “Yes, she is at Casa do Dean every week, even if it’s not rented, to check if everything is ok. Also, when we have guests, she’s there. She is very reliable and very kind. And like most Brazilians, she is always smiling and very open-minded to help to make the stay of our guests very comfortable. She will also explain how the house works, the safe, the alarm and all these things. Other than that we have a book with all the information about what to do, so it’s comfortable for our guests. We advise where to rent a buggy and what the average prices are, we suggest where to go in Trancoso, where to have lunch or where to go eat in the evening, so that life is as easy as possible for our guests.”
— Casa do Dean kitchen
Dimitri's favourites:
Casa do Dean
Transportation
Eat & Drink
Activities
SightsInterview By: Welcome Beyond
— What is the first thing you do when you arrive at Casa do Dean?
Dimitri: “Doing just nothing. Enjoying the freedom. I like to work on the beach and of course, going to Trancoso. You can go 10 times to Trancoso, and every time it is different. I mean, just being on the beach and having a cold beer and fresh fish is probably all you need in life.”
— Casa do Dean living area
— Please tell us about the area.
Dimitri: “There is 7500 kilometres of coast in Brazil. They are more or less all beautiful. What is important for us is to have a spot with not only the beach, but also the kind of atmosphere of a village. Arraial is 15 minutes driving from Trancoso, which is a very, very nice place. If you go there, on the Quadrado, you can sit there all day long watching people playing football or just walking through the place. You have a lot of very nice Pousadas where you can have dinner and all these restaurants... it’s very nice, and it’s only 15 minutes away.”
— Pool
— What in your opinion is a must do?
Dimitri: “When you’re there, there are a few things that you should do. Of course, enjoying the beach; having long walks on the beach is really a pleasure. Going to the quadrado in Trancoso as well. It’s very well known, and it’s a very, very nice place to enjoy all day up to late in the evening. There’s a lot of ambience. Also, for young people who want to go out during the night, there is a lot of activity.
But you know, it depends on the kind of guests you have. I mean, if you are a horse-riding freak, you can go on a walk on the beach with the horses. If you like wind surfing, you will do wind surfing.”
But you know, it depends on the kind of guests you have. I mean, if you are a horse-riding freak, you can go on a walk on the beach with the horses. If you like wind surfing, you will do wind surfing.”
—
— Tell us a bit more about the activities available please.
Dimitri: “Well, hammock-ing. That’s an important activity here at Casa do Dean. Enjoying life. There is the beach with all the different water sports. You can rent jet skis, sailing boats, do kite surfing, wind surfing, hobby cat or whatever else you want. Or horse-riding on the beach, which is very nice. What else is there? You can rent buggies and go on the beach with the buggy. And there is also a very nice golf course not far away.”
— Bathroom tiles
— What about Arraial and the beaches there?
Dimitri: “Arraial is a very nice place because it’s a small village with very nice beaches. There are two kinds of beaches. One very quiet beach, which is not very crowded, just a few small restaurants on the beach. Then in a 5 minutes walk from the house you have the more popular beaches, with lots of restaurants and music. A little bit more trendy, I should say, where places like La Voile Blanche have opened.
And in Arraial you have a very nice atmosphere because you have a lot of small boutiques and small restaurants. And it’s well done. Small streets like you can find in cute cities in Brazil. People are very nice; very friendly. There is no crime, it’s a quiet area. It’s 20 minutes from Costa Coqueiros airport. That’s the reason why we have chosen this particular place.”
And in Arraial you have a very nice atmosphere because you have a lot of small boutiques and small restaurants. And it’s well done. Small streets like you can find in cute cities in Brazil. People are very nice; very friendly. There is no crime, it’s a quiet area. It’s 20 minutes from Costa Coqueiros airport. That’s the reason why we have chosen this particular place.”
— House and pool
— Thank you, Dimitri!
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Service
Self-catering
Accommodation type
Holiday / Vacation rental
Location
Beach / Coast
Special requirements
Children welcome
No pets allowed
Not suitable for wheelchairs
No smoking, please
Transport
Car recommended
On street parking (free of charge)
Limited public transport
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Bedrooms
0 Single bedroom
5 Double bedrooms
0 Twin bedroom
0 Room w. multiple beds
Additional:
0 Sofabed
0 Extra bed (on request)
0 Air mattress (on req.)
1 Baby cot/crib (on req.)
Bath/shower rooms
0 Bathroom (ensuite)
0 Bathroom (shared)
5 Shower rooms (ensuite)
0 Shower room (shared)
0 Toilet (ensuite)
Additional:
0 Toilet (shared)
Other rooms
1 Kitchen
0 Kitchenette
0 Cooking area
1 Living room
0 Dining room
0 Other rooms
Prices for 4 sharingperson
Lowest price
Highest price
December 18 to January 9
€ 600
€ 600
February 26 to March 13
€ 600
€ 600
Rest of the year
€ 460
€ 460
Size: 450 square meters. 1 units available.
Satellite TV and DVD player in every bedroom. There is also an additional open kitchen in the Pool house with a fridge, BBQ, bar etc.
Minimum stay of 6 nights during high season. Otherwise 3 nights. Special rates may apply for Carneval and New Year's.
Best Couples’ Hideaway — Casa do Dean, Brazil
At this photographer’s home on the clifftop of Alta Mucuge, you could pass whole days in a hammock on the big wooden verandah, listening to forest wildlife. Or, after waking late in a dreamy four-poster bed, you might head to a beach bar for fried fish, and take a swim in the warm sea. Elegantly funky inside, and surrounded by rainforest, Casa do Dean sits halfway between modernity and the mystical wonders of nature. It’s a five-minute walk to one of the world’s most beautiful stretches of beach, or to the local village where you can dine or shop. Did we mention Arraial d’Ajuda’s kicking nightlife? Almost nobody leaves without staying up until dawn at least once.
— Harper’s BazaarHarper’s Bazaar, January 2010
Casa do Dean, Brazil
Best known for his arresting celebrity portraits, photographer Dean Freeman has recently had an entirely different project up his sleeve – a gorgeous two-bedroom beach house in northeast Brazil. He completed it last summer and has been renting it to those in the know ever since. In the heart of the rainforest yet just a five-minute walk from the village of Arraial d’Ajuda and the beach, Casa do Dean was designed by local architect Carlos de Oliveira Rodrigues. To the glass walls, polished concrete floors and large wooden veranda, Dean has added Brazilian hardwood four-poster beds, huge hammocks, Argentinean vintage furniture and art from all over the world.
— High Life, British Airways’ in-flight magazineHigh Life, British Airways’ in-flight magazine, March 2009
Best rates
You pay the same rate as booking with the property directly. There are no booking fees or extra costs to you. That’s guaranteed!
Direct owner contact
Use the ‘Contact’ button on the left to get information about availability and rates from the owner directly — and also receive the link to the property website with further details.
Our helpline
If you need help, call us on +49 163 737 2509 (Mo-Fr, 10am-10pm CET)
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