When French lawyer-turned-hotelier Emanuelle Meeus de Clermont-Tonnerre wanted to work in Brazil, but didn’t want to re-study the law for the South American country, she came up with another idea: turn her family’s beach house into a boutique hotel.

"I saw Brazil as an opportunity to explore another capacity and to do something more creative. I think Búzios has a lot of very charming hotels but for me no one had everything, which means charm, comfort, good food, good decoration, good service, and many option of sports and infrastructure," explains Meeus de Clermont-Tonnerre of the charming fishing village famous Brazilian vacation spot located two hours from Rio de Janeiro. "I thought it was possible to offer something more complete and to innovate, allowing clients to make a trip through the element of the decoration: to discover the beauty and to understand this fascinating country."

Enter Insólito, made up of three low-rise buildings connected by loungey outdoor spaces built into the cliffs overlooking Ferradura Beach (one of Búzios’ 20 beaches). Wanting to infuse the hotel with the personality of Brazil, Meeus de Clermont-Tonnerre traveled throughout the country searching for furniture and collectibles. What she ended up with is a mix of antiques and modern pieces, which create spaces that are decidedly modern and intriguing. There’s George Nelson chairs, recycled rubber carpets by Cecilia Machado, a wooden sofa sculpture made by Elma Chavez. These unique pieces mingle almost as pieces of art amongst photos, graphics, and artwork by Brazilian artists and designers.

"I think people when they travel want to feel the country and learn about it or at least come back with a beautiful story," she says. "That’s why I wanted to give the hotel a Brazilian personality but I didn’t want to make it in the common way. Brazil is not just rustic chic; beautiful nature, beach, and Caipirinha. It is much more of an interesting and complex country and foreigners have a lot to learn about."

The various personalities of Brazil come alive in the 12 themed rooms. There’s the white and purple Borboleta room (which means butterfly), which looks out on vegetation that houses some 300 species, as Búzios is a natural reserve of butterflies. O Guarani is named after and inspired by the Guarani, an opera by Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Gomes and one of Meeus de Clermont-Tonnerre’s favorites. And the Outeiro da Gloria features painting over tiles by Laura Taves inspired by its namesake legendary Brazilian church and symbolizes this technique in sacred Brazilian art.

"I believe that there is no place where we feel more comfortable than home, we feel secure and loved; and a small boutique hotel can offer that feeling," she says. "You are not a number but someone we want to take care of."