Osa Major
An unpaved road leads to the top of the hill where Osa Major stands in the center of Mallorca, overlooking the rustic landscape below. The house project took years to accomplish making it so very special for the owners to complete.
The agricultural grounds beneath have almond and fig trees and are sectioned with thick solid rocks, probably set in place hundred years ago. Here in this dreamy setting is where Brenda Ooteman is living in coronavirus isolation these days, and that's certainly still the case by mid-April of 2020 while I write this.
Brenda and her husband are from the Netherlands and both enjoyed this place long before any house stood on this beloved land. Here, with her family, Brenda feels she has been blessed, even though the tourism industry is suffering greatly and cancellations are negatively affecting service providers across the island. Her house is usually rented to families for celebrations, retreats and other functions, but the season to come seems uncertain, and traveling restrictions do not look like they'll be lifted any time soon.
Osa Major keeps its idyllic charm regardless of the situation and exists within its own ecosystem. A vegetable garden is tended to while the wind slaloms through nearby pines, and light creates magical shadows on terraces or covered patios. The main house is built on several levels, reminiscent of the terraced architecture of the island. The building itself sits on stone terraces of different heights, while the floors are connected by stairways and alleys, and accessible through various doors.
As you approach the front door, you notice rows of arches sitting on sandstone columns. The double wood panels of the door open up to a neutral-toned long space blessed with magnificent light. At one end is an open kitchen and sitting area, while at the other, a table and glorious sunk-down chill-out area.
Upstairs and downstairs, bedrooms are filled with nooks and antiques from all over the world gracefully adorn the interiors: necklaces, feathers, little reminders of journeys to exotic lands. The bathrooms themselves are like little temples, and details in every corner of the house can easily send you off into a dream. An outdoor kitchen is especially inspiring with its two large tables, fire pit, and green glass bottles beautifully decorating the tops of stone walls. Down below, the swimming pool reflects the clarity of the bright azure sky, and feels more like a beach. What a place!
I find a hammock between some trees and take a minute to admire the gorgeous view. It is a real treat to wake up to such a glorious vista.
