Cayetana Guillén-Cuervo: “What's truly essential in my home is the light”

Although both are built step by step, the differences between a house and a home are more than evident. Beyond the shelter for the body that a house offers, a home invites us to feel safe and at peace. Building them is a matter of patience, affection, and dedication. But if one thing is clear, it's that there are as many homes as there are families, individuals living alone, or couples. On this topic, we spoke with the actress Cayetana Guillén-Cuervo, with whom we had the opportunity to share breakfast at Seventy Barcelona, the new guest house of Núñez i Navarro.

“I am happiest when performing, it's my focus of emotion and fulfillment, although I really enjoyed writing. Communicating, in general, sums up what I do”

Journalist, presenter, theater, film, and television actress. Without a doubt, Cayetana Guillén-Cuervo is a successful, versatile, and chameleonic woman, who dares to do it all. And soon even more, as she adds a new theater play, #OpenDoors, which will soon premiere at Teatre Goya. Yet, she does not hesitate to say: “I am happier acting, it's my source of emotion and fulfillment, although I really enjoyed writing. Communicating, in general, sums up what I do”. However, her fame has not distanced her an iota from the family values she experienced at home since she was young, and she claims to be very happy to have a home to return to with her son Leo and her husband, the well-known photographer Omar Ayyashi Ramiro.

When we ask her what decorative elements make a house a home, she is very clear: “Above all, the light. A beautiful, continuous oak floor. A good sofa, which is the center of the home. And if possible: a fireplace”. And among all the rooms, the kitchen and the living room are particularly important to her: “I like to cook for my friends on a Saturday morning. And then have them over at my place. I love preparing beef Wellington because I personalize it with messages. And it's also very versatile, you can have it cold. I also make rice with prawns and artichokes and cheesecake”.

“Cooking helps me to stop overthinking. It's a way to give to others through flavors, nutrition, and a challenge to share”

Y es que desde su paso por Masterchef Celebrity y la presentación del programa Cena con Mamá junto al chef Carlos Maldonado, Cayetana ha aumentado su vínculo con el mundo de la gastronomía y la cocina: “Me ayuda a parar la cabeza. Es una forma de entregarte a los demás a través de los sabores, la alimentación y un reto para compartir”. Para ella, los elementos ideales en la cocina de su hogar son: “una isla que te permita cocinar con más gente y compartir la actividad. Tener zonas de trabajo. Y prefiero el fuego de gas. Pero, de nuevo, lo realmente imprescindible en la cocina de mi hogar es la luz”.

Although she enjoys being at her home in Madrid, Cayetana confesses to us her love for traveling: “For me, traveling is happiness. It's what I like the most. And my best hobby. Seeing that there are many ways to live. It frees your soul”. To feel at home on each of her trips, she explains that, for her, choosing the right hotel is essential: “I like good hotels. It's a privilege. A bad hotel depresses me. I value that it is very well-maintained. That the service is very good, warm, friendly, and smiling. Seeking politeness is not about distance. Quite the opposite. The light, the finishes must be of good quality. And they must provide serenity to the sight and senses”.

"Without a doubt, the kitchen and the bar at Seventy Barcelona are my favorite spots."

As he tells us, he looks around the open Mediterranean-style kitchen of Seventy Barcelona where we are and nods: “Without a doubt, the kitchen and the bar of Seventy are my favorite corners. And the entrance is a spectacle. Its architectural structure, the light, the combination of colors, the common areas. I like the selection of music with a balanced volume. The staff is friendly and warm. And of course the spa, which is wonderful”.

Y todo ello en Barcelona, una ciudad que conoce muy bien y a la que viaja con asiduidad, de la que afirma “envidiar el mar”. Entre todos sus rincones, escoge, para perderse un buen rato “la fachada marítima. La zona del puerto olímpico con sus restaurantes a pie de arena. Y pasear por la Barceloneta. Y también la Boqueria”. Y añade: “De pequeña escuché el catalán de mi madre, lo hablaba perfecto. Y recuerdo sus canelones a la catalana. Pasaba con mi familia larguísimas temporadas aquí e incluso tomábamos las uvas de fin de año en el escenario. Carles Sans, de Tricicle, es el padrino de mi hijo. Barcelona es una maravilla. Me gusta la gente. Siento que es una ciudad abierta y cosmopolita”.

After a pleasant chat and a delicious breakfast, Cayetana Guillén-Cuervo leaves Seventy Barcelona with her husband, both in a hurry, but with a smile on their lips. Perhaps one of those smiles that the mere idea of returning home, to the hearth, brings.

If you're looking for inspiration to create your home, visit our show apartments on the website. You'll find a variety of new construction apartments, both for purchase and for rent. Your new home is waiting for you!