Where thoughtful design meets intentional living
Casa Driftwood is a design and lifestyle brand built on the belief that the spaces we inhabit shape the lives we live.
Founded by husband and wife Justin and Carolyn Lubbe, Casa Driftwood grew from a shared desire to create environments that are not only beautiful, but deeply supportive of the people within them. Our work explores the connection between space, well being, and intentional living.
What began as a personal journey in a small mountaintop village in southern Spain has evolved into a broader vision. Through design, restoration, and storytelling, Casa Driftwood seeks to create spaces that feel grounded, inspiring, and alive.
While our roots remain in Mijas Pueblo, our work speaks to a universal longing. People everywhere are searching for environments that reflect their values, restore their energy, and support a more meaningful way of living.
At its heart, Casa Driftwood is about more than design.
It is about creating spaces that help people live well.
a glimpse into our world
a cultural shift
Rethinking how we live
Across the world, people are reconsidering what it means to live well.
There is a growing awareness that our surroundings influence far more than aesthetics. The spaces we inhabit affect our clarity, our creativity, and our sense of connection to the people and experiences that matter most.
Many are moving away from environments that feel rushed, disconnected, or overwhelming. In their place, they are seeking spaces that feel intentional, restorative, and aligned with the life they want to live.
Casa Driftwood emerged from that same realization.
After meeting in Mijas Pueblo, Carolyn and Justin returned to the village with their young family to build a life rooted in creativity, community, and thoughtful design. What began as a personal pursuit of a more meaningful way of living gradually evolved into Casa Driftwood.
Today, the brand reflects that same philosophy. A belief that the spaces around us can support well being, deepen connection, and encourage a more intentional way of living.
Why Space Matters
The Energy of Space
The spaces we inhabit shape far more than how a place looks. They influence how we feel, how we think, and how we move through our daily lives.
At Casa Driftwood, we believe the environments around us quietly shape our inner experience. A space can bring calm or tension, clarity or distraction, connection or distance.
For generations, people have sensed that the energy of a place matters.
Where Science and Intuition Meet
Today, emerging research is beginning to affirm what many traditions have long understood. The environments we spend time in influence our emotional state, our focus, and our overall well being.
In many ways, the emerging science and the ancient intuition are pointing to the same truth.
Spaces carry energy.
The Casa Driftwood Approach
This belief sits at the heart of how we design.
When a space is thoughtfully composed, something subtle begins to shift. The environment starts to support the people within it.
Light, materials, scale, and flow work together to create places that feel grounded, calm, and intentional.
Whether designing a home, a gathering place, or a creative environment, our goal is the same. To create spaces that restore energy, invite connection, and feel deeply aligned with the people who inhabit them.
Because beautiful spaces should not only be seen.
They should be felt.
Why Space Matters
The Story of Space
We also believe that space tells a story.
It reflects who you are, what you love, and how you live. At the same time, it carries the stories of those who came before and those who will come after.
Every place exists within a larger tapestry of memory. It is shaped by culture, touched by time, and layered with the lives that have passed through it.
At Casa Driftwood, we are especially drawn to spaces with history. Places that have been weathered by time, softened by age, and marked by life. There is something deeply meaningful about restoring what was once forgotten.
We do not seek to erase the past. We seek to honor it. To listen to the story a place already holds and bring it into harmony with the present.
the Present story
But the story of a space is not only about the past. It is also about the life unfolding within it today.
The morning rituals. The laughter in the kitchen. The quiet moments that often go unnoticed.
A well designed space reflects the people who inhabit it. It speaks through the textures you are drawn to, the objects you keep close, and the way light moves through a room at the hour you love most.
These small details become the language of everyday life.
Living Legacy
When a space is thoughtfully designed, it holds all of it.
Memory and presence. Roots and growth. Past and future.
A meaningful environment becomes a living story. One that reflects the people within it while honoring the layers that came before.
To us, this is the essence of legacy. Something living, lasting, and deeply personal. And it sits at the heart of everything we create at Casa Driftwood.
The Driftwood Difference
At Casa Driftwood, design is not limited to how a space looks. It is about how a place is experienced, how it supports daily life, and how it connects people to their surroundings.
Our work moves across several creative disciplines, each shaped by the same belief: that thoughtful environments can elevate the way we live, gather, and experience the world around us.
Historic Restoration
Many of our projects begin with spaces that already carry history. We are especially drawn to traditional Mediterranean architecture and the craftsmanship that defines it.
Rather than replacing what exists, we focus on restoring and honoring the original character of a place. Natural materials, historic details, and regional influences are preserved while the space is thoughtfully adapted for modern life.
The goal is not to recreate the past, but to allow heritage and contemporary living to exist in harmony.
intentional design
Every space we design is approached with careful attention to how people feel and move within it.
Light, proportion, materials, and spatial flow all play a role in shaping the atmosphere of a room. When these elements are thoughtfully considered, an environment begins to feel calm, balanced, and supportive of everyday life.
Our aesthetic leans toward timeless design, natural materials, and layered textures that create warmth and authenticity. The result is spaces that feel grounded, livable, and quietly refined.
Storytelling & media
Telling the story behind our work is an important
part of Casa Driftwood.
As we design and restore spaces, we also document and share the journey. Through visual storytelling and creative media, we invite others into the process and highlight the beauty of meaningful spaces.
Over time, this storytelling extends beyond our own projects. It becomes a platform for sharing the stories of places, people, and environments that inspire a more intentional way of living.
shared Experiences
Design does not end when a space is completed. It continues in the experiences that unfold within it.
Gathering around a table, welcoming guests, or creating moments of connection are all part of how a place comes to life.
Through hosting, hospitality, and creative gatherings, Casa Driftwood seeks to create environments that encourage people to slow down, connect with one another, and experience the richness of Mediterranean life.
Founders
Casa Driftwood was founded by husband and wife Carolyn and Justin Lubbe. Their partnership sits at the center of the brand, combining thoughtful design with a shared love for hospitality, creativity, and community.
Carolyn Lubbe
Carolyn is a university-educated interior designer with more than fifteen years of experience designing homes across the United States and internationally. Her aesthetic is timeless, and she has a natural ability to create spaces that feel personal and layered with meaning.
Her vision is to create environments that support the way people live while reflecting the character of the place they call home.
Justin Lubbe
Justin brings energy and connection to the Casa Driftwood vision. A natural communicator and relationship builder, he helps cultivate the partnerships, visibility, and community that surround the brand.
He is also Carolyn’s biggest champion and plays an important role in shaping the hospitality and experiences that are part of Casa Driftwood.
Carolyn and Justin Lubbe are co-creators in every sense. Their partnership is defined by warmth, balance, and shared purpose.
Together they have built Casa Driftwood as an extension of their life. Rooted in the village where they met, shaped by the family they are raising, and inspired by the people and culture that surround them.
Where It All Began
The seeds of Casa Driftwood were planted in 2015, when Carolyn and Justin met in Mijas Pueblo and took on the full restoration of El Patio de Asunción, a historic home owned by the director of the Historical Museum of Mijas.
It was a personal risk and a creative leap. With intention and respect, they brought the property back to life while preserving its original character and elevating it with timeless design.
El Patio quickly became the top-rated Airbnb on the Costa del Sol and was later featured in Architectural Digest. The home served as both their personal residence and a beautifully restored guest stay that welcomed visitors from around the world.
The project became an early expression of the Casa Driftwood aesthetic: elevated Mediterranean design, thoughtful restoration, and respect for cultural heritage.
It also marked the beginning of a larger vision rooted in the belief that taking risks, creating with purpose, and honoring community can lead to something lasting
Publication
El Patio de Asunción was proudly featured in Architectural Digest

Architectural Digest Spain

Mijas, HISTÓRICA y contemporánea

La casa Airbnb de la semana es una muestra de la arquitectura tradicional andaluza en el centro de Mijas: patio, flores, luz, calor y Mediterráneo. Todos los (buenos) tópicos de la Costa del Sol.

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Current Core Projects
These projects represent the spaces where the Casa Driftwood vision is currently taking shape.
driftwood home
At the heart of Casa Driftwood is the vision of our family home.
More than a design project, it is the place where our philosophy becomes part of everyday life. It reflects our belief in thoughtful restoration, timeless design, and spaces that support the rhythms of family and community.
Our home is also the natural setting for the life of the brand. It is where our children grow up, where friends gather around the table, and where the quiet rituals of daily life unfold.
It is in this lived environment that the ideas behind Casa Driftwood are practiced and refined. The materials we choose, the atmosphere we create, and the way a space supports the people within it all inform the work we share with others.
In many ways, our home represents the spirit of Casa Driftwood itself. A real place where design, family life, and hospitality meet.
Alcazaba
Alcazaba is a full restoration of a historic home located on one of the main plazas in Mijas Pueblo. The project was commissioned by an American homeowner who felt a strong connection to the character and culture of the village.
Like many of our local projects, the work focuses on honoring the original architecture while introducing thoughtful design that supports modern living. Natural materials, historic details, and a calm Mediterranean atmosphere guide the transformation of the space.
Alcazaba represents the kind of restoration work Casa Driftwood continues to carry out throughout the village with families, homeowners and business owners who are drawn to the beauty and heritage of Mijas Pueblo.
Boutique Hotel
The Driftwood Boutique Hotel represents the hospitality expression of Casa Driftwood. Planned for development in Mijas Pueblo on the final undeveloped plot within the historic center, the project reflects our vision for thoughtful design and elevated guest experience.
The hotel is imagined as an intimate collection of suites designed with the same principles that guide our residential work. Natural materials, timeless Mediterranean architecture, and carefully considered spaces create an environment that feels calm, restorative, and connected to place.
Alongside traditional hospitality, the experience is shaped by a deeper focus on wellbeing. Through design, atmosphere, and curated cultural experiences, the hotel invites guests to slow down, reconnect, and experience Mediterranean life in a more intentional way.
Through these projects, Casa Driftwood continues to explore how thoughtful environments shape the way people live. While our work is rooted in Mijas Pueblo, the ideas behind it extend far beyond the village.
The home reset
Restore clarity and calm in your home
The Home Reset is a guided design framework created by Casa Driftwood to help people restore clarity, calm, and beauty in their homes, no matter where they live.
Through a simple step by step process, it teaches how to evaluate a space with fresh eyes, remove what no longer serves it, and thoughtfully rebuild the room so it reflects the life unfolding inside it.
Rather than focusing on trends or expensive renovations, The Home Reset emphasizes awareness, intentional editing, and meaningful design choices. The goal is not perfection, but alignment. Creating spaces that support how you want to live.
Delivered as a guided digital experience with practical exercises and visual examples, The Home Reset helps people move from overwhelm to clarity, transforming their homes into places that feel peaceful, personal, and alive.
Learn More
a continuing journey
Casa Driftwood began with a simple idea. The environments we live in influence the way we experience daily life.
What started with the renovation of a single home in Mijas Pueblo has grown into a design and lifestyle brand rooted in thoughtful spaces, cultural connection, and a deep appreciation for Mediterranean living.
Today our work continues to expand through restoration projects, hospitality concepts, creative media, and tools like The Home Reset that help people bring these principles into their own homes.
Casa Driftwood is still unfolding, guided by the same belief that began it all. That beauty, care, and intention in the spaces around us can quietly enrich the way we live.
Connect with Us
If you feel drawn to the work of Casa Driftwood, we would love to hear from you. Whether you are interested in a project, a collaboration, or simply want to connect, you are welcome to reach out.