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A tapestry of tales – D Shop

The rich and storied history of Ibiza is woven into the fabric of its architecture, with a tapestry of tales waiting to be discovered in every finca, villa or home on the island. One such story is set within the rustic charm of an iconic 300-year-old farmhouse on the road to Santa Gertrudis – if the walls of D Shop could talk, they’d tell tales worthy of a Hollywood gossip columnist. Fortunately, for clients of Ibiza’s premier source of soft furnishings and upholstery fabrics, discretion has always been part of the service.

The finca – easily identified by its iconic triple-arched white façade and vivid pink Art Deco logo – has been an integral part of the island community for decades, but it was in 1979 when vibrant island personality Chiqui Uruñuela Zunzunegui took the helm that its story began to get more colourful, both literally and figuratively. Chiqui transformed the space into an interior design studio, working her creative magic on the very best homes in Ibiza. Around two decades years later, she handed the business to her equally fabulous daughter Paola Madurga de Uruñuela, who continued to build on her mother’s legacy.

Set within a 300-year-old Ibicencan farmhouse near Santa Gertrudis, D Shop is where sumptuous fabrics and cutting-edge design intertwine.

Fast forward another 25 years, and it became Paola’s turn to pass the design emporium’s baton – along with the legendary D Shop little black book – onto its newest creative custodians, British interior designer Kate Tilbury Cooke and her husband and business partner Damon (and their trusty assistant, Roxy, the island’s most fashionable canine). The pair, never shy of facing a challenge head-on, took over during the maelstrom that was 2020 and just four years later, this family-run business has masterfully taken the D Shop story into its next chapter, while maintaining its reputation as the go-to destination when it comes to Ibiza home design.

Kate’s background as an interior designer in London and New York equips her with the finesse to collaborate effectively with homeowners, architects, and designers alike. While her expertise and natural talent are a cornerstone of the D Shop philosophy, she attributes the store’s continued success and growth to her dedicated team and their commitment to personalised care and exceptional quality. “We do everything from start to finish,” she says. “From the first consultation to measuring, installation and all the detailed touches, including fabrication, which is all done here in Ibiza.”

Visitors to D Shop are invariably mesmerised by the extensive selection of fabric samples on display. Kate’s exquisite taste and discerning eye serve as the ideal guide through the treasure trove of textiles – a stunning variety of fine linens, sumptuous brocades, creamy velvets, vibrant prints, luxurious cashmere and more. “It’s a showroom more than anything else,” she says. “We have the largest selection of fabrics in Ibiza. At last count, there were over 180,000 samples and I’m constantly revising the collection.”

Integrating her own global outlook garnered from frequent travels, Kate is tuned into the desires of her clients and is seeing a slow movement away from the classic soft whites and creams synonymous with Ibiza’s aesthetic. “Off whites and linens will always be elegant but my eyes do light up when someone comes in looking for colour, pattern and a bit of wow factor.” In response, alongside D Shop‘s array of stunning neutrals, you’ll see bouclé in punchy mustards and golds, velvets in deep scarlets and blushing pinks and wools hand dyed in regal purples, washed blues and eye-catching prints.  

New D Shop team member Lou Yellowlees shares a moment with Kate surrounded by a selection of the 180,000 fabric samples on offer. 

Technological innovation has revolutionised the fabric industry, complemented by the D Shop team’s inventive spirit. Pertinent to Ibiza are the advancements in outdoor fabrics. “That’s been really interesting,” says Kate. “The new capabilities with outdoor fabrics are ground-breaking. Some of them are so good people are even using them inside as they resist mould and sun damage, which is often an issue on the island.” Boat grade netting is sewn into the underside of sunbed cushions for enhanced durability during unremitting summers. Motorised blinds are tailored with precision-matched materials for smooth operation and optimal sun defence. Polypropylene carpets mimic the look and feel of natural fibre but can be used outside and easily jet-washed.

Parallel to technological progress is the burgeoning industry-wide commitment to sustainability, a shift that has invigorated Kate and the D Shop team. “Many more eco fabrics are being produced,” she says. “I started with just a few sample books and now I have an entire rail, with many more coming soon. Almost all of our suppliers have launched eco-lines and they have a huge range of applications, from curtains and upholstery to voile and even blackout. They’re absolutely amazing.” Her current favourites include a recycled bouclé in earthy tones and recycled polyester Mallorquin print, versatile enough for both indoor and outdoor use.

A unique collection of hand-picked vintage Moroccan carpets, knotted wall hangings and original artwork complement the soft furnishings on offer.

While curtains, blinds and upholstery are the foundation of any home’s soft furnishings, D Shop also produces custom-made valances, headboards, cushions, wallpapers and a distinctive line of roll-up blinds made from natural materials. Just as their vast range of fabric samples differentiates them from other stores in Ibiza, so too does their collection of made-to-measure carpets, vintage Moroccan rugs and other exquisite items such as handcrafted, knotted wall hangings, opulent beach towels, and original artwork. Kate fosters a dynamic design community through sporadic pop-up collaborations with artisans and artists, both local and international, reinforcing D Shop’s reputation as a nexus of home design.

As the tale of D Shop is woven into the future, the iconic showroom is a place where the aesthetic of Ibiza is both preserved and pushed forward, where timeless elegance coexists with contemporary boldness. Kate and the team don’t simply follow trends, they set them – ensuring that every piece, from the smallest cushion to the largest rug, is delivered on time and with scrupulous attention to detail – transforming a house into a home. As the island begins to stir with the rumblings of an exciting new summer season ahead, now is the time to visit D Shop to infuse your Ibiza home with beauty, functionality, and a touch of the extraordinary.

Peace, love and nostalgia

High on a hilltop in the north of the island, Aimee Hodgson finds the space and tranquillity that balances her busy day-to-day life as Creative Director for the Mambo Group in Ibiza. Immersed in nature and sound-tracked only by cicadas and birds (and the occasional bark of her dogs), her eco-friendly home is at once playful and nostalgic; a sense of childlike whimsy fills the rustic space – which is the very first open-plan style home to have been built in Ibiza more than four decades ago. For Aimee, it is home; a cocoon within a heavily wooded forest that indulges her deep desire to connect with nature. Aimee first visited the island at the tender age of just eight years old with her best friend’s family. Over the years that followed she would visit often and by the time she was in her mid-20s, her sister Danielle – who had married into the aforementioned family – had moved to the island permanently. The sisters had been inseparable since they were tiny and Aimee, who was working in fashion as a hair and make-up agent in London, felt the distance between them was too much. “I’d come out to Ibiza and see my sister living a great life on this beautiful, amazing island,” she recalls. “It just didn’t make sense to me that I was living in London when I could have more of a connection to nature.”

Although she’d always had visions of living in the countryside in France, it seemed Ibiza had cast its spell on Aimee and in 2012, she made the move herself after successfully interviewing in London for a role at Pikes. Creative director Dawn Hindle of Ibiza Rocks saw Aimee’s creative potential and brought her into the eclectic company fold. Here, as Aimee went from Dawn’s PA to Executive Assistant and finally Creative Producer, she found her niche in Ibiza. It wasn’t an easy transition on the home front – she had a string of disastrous experiences including two burglaries and a house fire – but Aimee was not deterred. Finding her current home was another serendipitous blessing; it brought her closer to her sister (who lives at the bottom of the same camino) in addition to her workplace. “I completely felt a connection with this house,” says Aimee. “The view, the peacefulness and the location. Even when we’re really busy with work, it’s so convenient because we can see each other on the way home for dinner without having to make the effort to meet somewhere!” After the robberies in her previous homes had left Aimee with next to nothing in terms of possessions, she began creating her new home from scratch. Nothing was bought or sourced with the idea to style a space specifically – it’s more about the unique piece itself.

“I think that’s why things are so higgledy piggledy” laughs Aimee, although in reality, each room looks like something that’s leapt off a Pinterest board. “I think more about the actual thing than the end result. I don’t particularly like hoarding things, but I buy a lot of things for nostalgic reasons – I’m quite a sentimental, repurposing kind of person. I buy things that have a story or remind me of something.” This is felt strongly in each room of the house, with each objet begging the questions: Where is it from? What does it mean? “It’s not too intentionally styled. Everything has been added over time or thrown on.” In the living room, soda streams are balanced on a top shelf because they had them growing up. The painting of the man and his chicken is a reminder of the chooks her mother would have in her kitchen. The lava lamp is a flashback to teenage years and ceramic cacti remind her of the ‘Taco Tuesdays’ she and her friends would regularly host – ironically on Fridays. The ‘30’ speed limit sign was a cheeky gift from a former boyfriend on her 30th birthday and the handpainted gourds a gift from the artist Mr Wim, who stays with Aimee when he visits the island, leaving his mark on various objects (including her bedside table) as a way of saying thanks. Smurfs piles into a glass dome from a Pikes buying trip at Kempton Market remind her of childhood. And the list goes on…

The house itself is one-of-a-kind, built by the bare hands of the owner – who is also an artist – in an interesting, organic circular shape. The mosaic above the bathtub is actually the blueprint of the house, which also happens to run on solar power. In the winter months, the house stays warm thanks to clever heated elements throughout the rooms that take the warmth from the fireplace and pump it through to radiators. “Even though it’s amazing when all the doors and windows are open and you get a breeze through in summer, it’s also a great during a storm,” says Aimee. “You get all cosy inside and you can see the lightning and feel like it’s right on top of you.” In winter, Aimee likes to invite friends to come and stay, create a roaring fire, cook and basically bunk in for the weekends, while in summer she’s more of a beach girl in her spare time. “In summer, I’ll swim every day after work and then when I’m at home it’s like a total disconnection,” she says. In the past year, Aimee moved from one family-business to another, taking the position as Creative Director of the Mambo Group – a job that has her constantly moving between the many businesses that fall under the group umbrella, including Casa Maca, Hostal La Torre, Las Mimosas, Cala Gracioneta Chiringuito and of course, the iconic Café Mambo.

In this new role, Aimee’s knack for creativity comes to the fore. Working on conceptual and branding standards across many projects, she works closely with the Mambo family behind the scenes to bring their visions for the company’s new and future projects to life. From consulting on décor to overseeing graphic design, Aimee knows the importance of paying attention to even the smallest of details in order to relate to the customer and brings this into all aspects of her work. Buying trips to Marrakech are on the cards for the winter months, which will no doubt see more additions make their way into her own home too – a happy occupational hazard. Despite opportunities to shop around the globe, Aimee is not materialistic by nature at all. Far from it – she believes the most valuable asset of her home is its location and her favourite thing about it is walking in the woods each day.

“I’ve realised that for my own happiness, I need to be close to nature,” she says. “I walk around barefoot here and quite often naked. I have outdoor showers and I love that connection with nature.” With her two dogs as constant companions by her side (one small, fluffy and snuggly and the other enormous, fierce and protective), Aimee has all the more reason to spend time outside in the forest behind the house. She’s quick to point out that she’s not a total hippy however: “I just think the most consistent thing in this world is nature,” she concludes. “Respecting that and understanding how you can use it – I think that’s really important.” From weekend DIY furniture projects with loud music blasting to catching snakes in her water tank, repainting the inside of her pool or watching the sunrise over Formentera, Aimee Hodgson is a woman with a strong sense of self, creativity and nostalgia, with a gorgeous, lovingly created home that truly reflects her unique personality and style. Photography by Gypsy Westwood Photography

Ibiza homes – Can Olivos

“I always had a dream to have a place here,” recalls Melissa Spero, a British-born public relations specialist whose passion for interiors led her to completely refurbish and redesign Can Olivos, the beautiful Ibiza home she shares with her husband Christopher and daughters Lola and India. The journey to finding their perfect property was not without its ups and downs, however the destination was perfect in the end. “In retrospect, I’m really glad,” Melissa says. “Because in the end, this is what my heart was set on. I like the juxtaposition of being in the middle of the countryside but seeing the sea and the sunset. I love the light which enters the house – it’s unbelievable. It’s the one thing above everything which reminds me of how lucky I am to be here. Her first taste of Ibiza had been at the age of 23 – a beach and clubbing holiday with friends – when she felt the famous magnetic pull of the island. “The older we became, the less it was about clubbing and the more it was about days at the beach,” Melissa says. “I had a friend with a house here and I’d stay with her and experience the best bits of Ibiza.” When she met Christopher, he had never visited the island and it wasn’t until 2008 that they visited Ibiza together, when his career as a house and techno producer and DJ, and one half of electronic music act Dense & Pika led him to perform at the legendary Space Ibiza.

It was love at first sight for Christopher too and in the years that followed, the couple would visit every summer with friends, renting a villa they had become particularly attached to in Cala Conta. “We tried to buy that house in the lead up to getting married,” says Melissa, of the beginning of their journey to becoming Ibiza homeowners. “We got quite far down the line but on our return from honeymoon we found that it had fallen through. The house had a lot of underlying problems – but its view became my criteria when looking at houses after that. I always wanted to be able to see the sea and the sunset – especially after we had children, so you could stay home but still benefit from all the beautiful things the island has.” Melissa and Christopher began widening their search in the hope to find the perfect home – ultimately looking in all parts of the island. “We lost our way a bit as we got desperate,” Melissa says as she looks back on the experience. “At one point, after another sale had fallen through, it was like, let’s just get a house! It was such a rollercoaster ride. We thought it was never going to happen and then our agent told us this house in the middle of the island, in Benimussa, had come up. I liked the fact it was central to everywhere and so we jumped on an early morning flight – straight after Christopher came out of a gig with no sleep – and came to view it.”

It was at this point the Speros’ Ibiza destiny finally fell into place. “As soon as we went onto the top terrace and saw how fantastic the view was – we had the sea and the sunset, we were in the campo but we weren’t totally isolated – we said yes! It was a no brainer for us.” says Melissa. “The house definitely needed updating but we thought it was at the right stage for us to step in. It didn’t need knocking down and rebuilding – it was more that it needed decorative elements and a bit of personality. It was a great opportunity for us so we put an offer in and… third time lucky!” In May 2014, they took possession of Can Olivos and work began to transform it into their dream home while the family continued living in London. “We painted all the walls white straight away,” remembers Melissa. “In terms of the wood, we didn’t want it to be too dark, but equally we didn’t want it to be non-descript white! There are perils doing renovations when you’re not here, and at one point the windows were painted an electric blue, so we had to tone it down with copious amounts of white paint. Now, four years on we have totally switched to  a very light French grey. I had a lot of angst over the colour – I’d stare at it for hours and hours. The builders thought I was completely mad. If you don’t get these details right, you have to live with them for a long time.”

Melissa’s intent for the interiors was to fuse the airiness of Scandinavian design with the charm of French country chic, with a little bit of Ibicenco style thrown in. The result is an elegant family home with all the charm of Ibiza living. “I love interiors,” Melissa admits. “It really is my passion – but it’s a big responsibility as my decisions can impact the family’s enjoyment of living here. So far, it’s been massively positive – but I know they’ll tell me straight away if I haven’t got it right! I’ve been doing up properties since I was 21. In fact, my father always encouraged me to work in interiors, but I didn’t think I was creative enough so I stayed in financial PR. Perhaps it’s the fact Melissa has used her passion on personal projects rather than working for clients that makes Can Olivos so special and perfectly tailored to suit the family’s lifestyle. “I come at it from an emotional perspective,” she says. “Maybe interior designers put logic behind things – but for me, everything is done on a gut feeling rather than a qualification. Building works are  expensive so you don’t want to make a mistake! Christopher is a good person to bounce ideas off.” Her supportive husband laughs when asked about his involvement. “I stay out of things until I’m asked,” he says. “But I love the way she does things – even though Melissa spends a long time making a decision, she never likes it to begin with. There’s always a 24-hour buffer until she loves it!”

“It’s true,” says Melissa, who also learned Spanish so she could manage the entire project from afar. “I never look at it and say it’s amazing. I angst over big decisions. Our builder Abdul is fantastic and extremely patient. But sometimes it’s a slow burn until I like it.” From ripping out old red ceramic tiles and replacing them with sleek contemporary micro cement floors (“We didn’t realise how long it would take and the entire family had to live upstairs for weeks!”) to updating the bathrooms, kitchen, terraces, plumbing, electrics, her decisions – be they infrastructural or aesthetic – have all proven successful. With seven bedrooms perfectly spaced throughout multiple floors of the house and a guesthouse, Can Olivos is spacious enough to be fully occupied without feeling crowded. “It makes me happy to have people here, so we made a lot of different zones for people to hang out in,” says Melissa. “It’s good to have people scattered when we have a full house. We have great family lunches and dinners; all the kids can run around safely but then I can also retreat to my own oasis upstairs. I need that contrast – privacy is really important to me.” The roof terrace upstairs is both Melissa and Christopher’s idea of heaven. “When the kids go to bed in the summer, we head up there for sunset with a glass of something… that for me, is happiness. I have a theory that when I’m too old to go up and down the stairs, I’m just going to live on that floor!”

Much of the art and décor within Can Olivos has been collected over a lifetime of world travels or are family heirlooms, complemented with one-of-a-kind finds from Ibiza antique stores, auction houses and interior specialists plus statement pieces ordered from the UK. “I don’t think you need a lot of furniture,” says Melissa. “I’d rather have less but have something impactful.” A solid oak swing hanging from a tree was a must for the garden, purchased prior to the move, while outdoor sculptures were handcrafted by Christopher, who was once a student at the prestigious Central Saint Martins college. “I’d love to start doing it again when I’m not touring so much,” he says. Today, Melissa and the kids are based in Ibiza full-time, as she runs her PR firm remotely, travelling to see her international client base when needed, while Christopher’s work sees him split his time between his studio in the UK and in Ibiza, with a non-stop touring schedule in between. “I fly back and forth a lot,” he admits. “It’s hard in the winter without direct flights, but it’s so worth it when you get here.” Melissa loves the multi-cultural aspect of the island and believes it’s a wonderful place to bring up children. “What I love about Ibiza is that people are from all walks of life, colours and creeds,” she says. “You can be submersed in nature, and part of a small community, yet in a group of very open minded people.”

Visit the White Ibiza villas collection to read more about homes like this
Effortless bohème

Designer Barbara Boccara, co-founder of hip Parisian fashion label BA&SH (recently purchased by luxury fashion titans LVMH), boasts an incredible knack for both and nowhere is this fusion of style and living more obvious than in her gorgeous five-bedroom Ibiza villa, Casa Valentina in the island’s north. The villa is Barbara’s second home – a sanctuary where she can escape the fast-paced life of working in the fashion capital of world. “I love Paris,” she says. “I love my job and I am so happy to work there, but when I arrive in Ibiza, the first thing I do is kick my shoes off and I feel VERY happy.” Spending around three months per year at Casa Valentina, she admits her personal style changes on arrival – in Paris, she wears a more typical jeans and high heel combo, while in Ibiza she embraces the barefoot bohemian look.

Having first visited the island at the age of 18, Barbara continued to return to the white isle regularly over the years. Every July, she would rent a villa with friends, starting to feel more and more at home until eventually, in 2016, she realised she wanted to put down more permanent roots. “I had a little problem when looking for the house,” she says. “My husband and my two sons [aged 20 and 23] wanted a very modern, all-white villa. But I loved the idea of a finca. So when we saw this house, it was like the perfect compromise.” Casa Valentina is an anomaly among the typical Ibiza villas on the market. Created by Jaume Guash, founder and director of respected Ibiza construction agency Balafia de Baix, the single-level property has a slightly industrial feeling, while still exuding the spaciousness and style of a modern villa – somewhat reminiscent of contemporary Californian architecture. Barbara felt an instant connection with the property, however she knew she would need to make some changes to the design to suit her own carefully honed aesthetic.

“We had been staying in Agroturismo Atzaró while we were looking for a house,” Barbara says of the decision to buy in the north. “I loved the area, the smell, the quiet – and this house had all of that.” It is no coincidence – Guasch himself is eighth generation Atzaró family and Casa Valentina is set on a neighbouring plot of land. “Originally I wanted a sea view, but I felt so good and calm when I got here. I love the light,” says Barbara. “I love the way the land here is so flat, and a beautiful breeze comes through the house every day.” “I changed the whole interior,” she continues. “I painted all the big columns black, I bought in all-new furniture so it could be more relaxed. I wanted a lot of lounges, inside and outside, to create a very chilled feeling. My priority was that no matter where you are, what corner you are in, you feel at home and completely relaxed.” The epitome of boho luxe, the house reflects her love of bohemian style while still maintaining an extremely high level of luxury throughout. It’s all in the details.

An attraction to raw materials, such as linen, wood and metal, is evident throughout the open-plan living space, where plush sofas are piled high with cushions and throws, inviting one to sink in and truly relax. Black accents are prevalent throughout, from the stylish chairs contrasting with the organic wooden 12-seat dining table, to the shelves inset amongst wood panelled walls. Edgy artwork – such as the enormous print of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards presiding over the space – and elegant lighting complete the picture. It all feels very effortlessly pulled together, in true French style, however each and every piece of furniture, décor, lighting or art in Casa Valentina was personally selected and styled by Barbara, who confesses to a love of French interiors haven Caravane, alongside a mix of high-end Italian brands and rustic, local finds. Candles are everywhere, from the tables and bookshelves to lanterns on the floor, and the villa takes on a wonderful sense of romance as the sun goes down.

Barbara’s affinity for bohème living is truly apparent in the outdoor living space, set across the lush, green lawn opposite the main house. Adjacent to a lengthy swimming pool and sunbathing deck, the shaded space is filled with comfortable low-slung sofas, in natural hues, that are easily reconfigured to suit the amount of people lounging. On-trend hanging lamps create a feeling of warmth and intimacy by night. Wicker and cane feature heavily on the terrace, enhancing the feeling of connecting with the nature around you. An expansive outdoor kitchen and huge communal dining table set the scene for alfresco lazy lunches and decadent dinners. “When we come to Ibiza, we often come with groups of friends,” says Barbara. “So many of them don’t want to go out once they get here – we love to stay home and entertain.” When she does venture out, favourite places include Macao Café, La Paloma, El Chiringuito, Las Dalias, Heart, Pacha and Cova Santa – places that exude creativity and authentic Ibiza style.

There is so much more to Casa Valentina than meets the eye. The guesthouse has been transformed into a more masculine and modern space (“I broke it all down and extended it to make a special two-bedroom space with private entrances for my boys – they love Ibiza!”), for Barbara’s sons to feel their own sense of freedom. An additional annex houses a gym, next to a small football pitch, while across the garden is a quaint Wendy house, added for the enjoyment of Barbara’s eight-year old daughter. However it is Barbara’s own bedroom that she says is her ultimate cocoon in Ibiza. Set at the far end of the house, the space encompasses a giant walk-in wardrobe, filled with beautiful pieces from her label (which she describes as bohemian chic, very feminine and just a little sexy) alongside exotic finds from India amongst other places, a spacious bathroom and a private terrace where she does yoga every morning. Then there’s the bed that takes up almost the entire room. You get the feeling of being outside when you are in, and inside when you are out, with a contemporary fireplace providing the perfect finishing touch. “This really is my space,” she says with a smile.

Photography by Gypsy Westwood

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A hands-on home

Paul Wilhelm and Regina Potma didn’t know each other when they had their first Ibiza experiences; nor did they know the island would go on to play such an important role in their lives. Today, it is a symbol of their future – the place where they envision their families coming together to share a space – and their beautiful home, Can Cordeta, is a testament to their passion. Passion for each other, passion for design and of course, passion for Ibiza. Paul’s first visit was in 1991, when he felt an instant connection to the hippy vibes and bohemian spirit. Year after year, he would return, renting villas for a month at a time with groups of friends until eventually, he was inspired to invest in a plot of land to create a holiday home of his own. In 2006, some friends led him to a rocky, dry plot in Es Cubells – needing much work and much love to transform it into a home – and he knew he had found the place.

Regina had her own unique connection to Ibiza; born in Rio de Janeiro to her Dutch father and Brazilian mother, later schooled internationally in Washington DC, it was a subconscious desire to connect with nature that saw her seek out the white isle after the birth of her first child in 2002. It was at that time her father told her of his youthful travels to the island, telling her of the authentic sense of freedom he had felt. Suddenly, she had a feeling of arriving home. The connection was to both her birthplace and her family. When two became one seven years ago, Paul and Regina embarked on the creative process of designing their Ibiza home together. “Our lives in Amsterdam are very different,” explains Regina. “We had whole life stories before we met each other – we each had different children from different backgrounds and they all have their own lives, so we really respect that, and keep our own spaces. But here in Ibiza, this is where Paul and I have our own space. It’s where we really unite.”

Interestingly, the creative process began after the couple undertook an intensive yoga teacher training course together. “We brought that shared energy into the house,” says Regina, who is also a yoga teacher and Ayurvedic therapist in Holland. “It was a very intense year but I think if we hadn’t done it, it would have been impossible to stay together! I get up and go to bed with yoga, so it was important for me to be with someone who wasn’t going to get annoyed and want to throw my mat out the window.” This shared holistic experience influenced the design process of Can Cordeta in many ways. “By doing the training together, it allowed us to connect in a different way – going beyond the connection of people, or lovers,” Regina explains. “We then wanted to find that same connection, that union, but with nature and with the elements, in our home. There is an Ayurvedic theory that there are five elements – earth, water, air, fire and ether – and we have brought each of these together into the house. That’s why I believe there is such harmony here.”

The couple enlisted ibiza-based Madrilenian architect Jairo Hernández to design the villa after falling in love with his sincerity, his passion and his total understanding for their desire to create something with a natural feeling while retaining a contemporary ambience. Inspired by the cutting edge, cubic work of the late Catalonian architect Josef Antonio Coderch, the brief was to recreate the box-like shapes of his works, bringing nature in and around – from trees growing within atriums in the house, to enormous floor to ceiling windows that created a seamless indoor and outdoor living space. “He saved my life,” says Paul of his connection with Hernández. “There were times when I just wanted to give up. Without him, it would have been impossible.” Developing a property long distance is not without its challenges, and it was the architect’s tenacity, vision and understanding of the local construction market that helped them reach the finish line in 2016. “Jairo was the most committed person I have ever met,” says Regina. “But another amazing thing I saw during the project was the way Paul would hold onto the design. He’d stick to his plans, no matter what.”

The first case where this was proven was an initial hiccup dictated by the size of the 15,000 square metre pizza slice shaped plot of land. With its pointy tip landing in the middle of a protected rural zone, it seemed Paul would need to acquire more land either side of the property in order to legally accommodate the house and pool size he was looking to design and build. And so, rather than redesign his dreams, he instead extended the square meterage to 21,000 in total. Further hurdles included storms and wild fires to receiving pallets upon pallets of the wrong tiling and builders covering up (and then uncovering) their chosen bespoke paint swatches. Paul even suffered broken ribs at one point! Their patience and passion for getting it j-u-s-t right meant they didn’t feel a sense of urgency to settle for second best, or rush to finish the house and get it onto the rental market. If anything, they preferred to let it breathe, to see what would really make the house come alive. Three years later, Can Cordeta is a masterpiece of modern design – impeccably dressed, with a laidback yet luxurious aesthetic that is at once warm and welcoming, while still invoking a feeling of true luxury. Earthy textures and colours are everywhere within Can Cordeta, from the hand picked wooden railway materials that have become thick, statement doors, the bespoke wooden kitchen panelling created from Brazilian trees and the rustic CORTEN steel wall surrounding the fireplace to raw, natural fabrics used on the outdoor sofas and soft furnishings throughout. Creating a feeling of warmth was important to the couple – whether it was just the two of them staying in the five-bedroom home or it was at capacity, they wanted cosiness despite its grandeur. “The key aspect is warmth,” says Regina. “We always wanted a feeling of space, but also a feeling of being at home.”

Each and every piece of furniture, art and decoration was personally selected by Paul and Regina, in addition to all of the building materials, paints, concrete colourings, plants, trees, lighting, bathroom fittings, rugs – you name it, they touched it, in the quest to create their dream home. A standout feature is a striking series of art recreating the tradition of Spanish bullfighting, presented in multiple rooms throughout the house – surprisingly uncovered in Amsterdam, when Paul was seeking art to line the walls – with its warmth and textural finishes perfectly suiting the environment with a nod to the property’s Spanish heritage. Even the careful placement of SONOS speakers throughout the gardens and pool area has been meticulously planned – those sounds floating on the airwaves are no accident. Absolutely everything at Can Cordeta is in place with a purpose. A tranquil terrace to the side of the house is the perfect place to watch the sun rise – and is where Regina starts her days with her yoga practice surrounding by the calming scent of hundreds of lavender plants and fresh orange blossom and beside three ancient olive trees. It is here she is constantly surprised by what she calls ‘the sound of silence’. “My favourite thing here is that I can feel like I am outside, within nature, while I am inside,” she says. “In Amsterdam I am always restless to get outside, but here in Ibiza I am already satisfied when I wake up to this union of nature while being at home.” Watch this space for the launch of the upcoming edition of WHITE Ibiza Magazine – on sale in May 2017 – to read the full story (and view more pictures) about Paul and Regina’s hands-on approach to designing, building and decorating Can Cordeta.

Photography by Ana Lui

Hilltop happiness

Like many others before her, Celine Nguyen Buu started coming to Ibiza for summer holidays in the late 90s, falling in love with the island’s nature and relaxed lifestyle. Her holidays became more and more frequent – from an annual vacation to multiple summer holidays, birthday jaunts, special occasions, pre-season getaways, post-season visits… It was clear the island was forming a very special place in her heart. It was in 2001, just after the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York when she felt the call to move to the island. With a career in finance, she had been working in the big apple at the time of the catastrophic events, and was stuck there for a week before she was able to get back home. Immediately, her thoughts turned to a better quality of life – after all, you only have one. “I was in shock,” she explains. “I came straight to Ibiza to relax and find my peace… and my home.”

And so the search for a home began, and eventually Celine and her former husband found a beautiful property high on a very private hill in San Jose, where they created a home for themselves and their daughter Tehani, making the permanent move to the island all-year round when she started school in 2010. Surrounded by loved ones, including her sister, French artist Fleur Arnaud (pictured), new local and international friends, plus a menagerie of much-loved cats, dogs and birds, life was good. As she walked her dogs across the hill each day, Celine began to think it was time to start a new design project. With an exceptional eye for style and exquisite taste, she had previously worked alongside architects and interior designers when renovating her apartment in Paris, or transforming an office in London, plus the ongoing evolution of her own home – which she describes as an accumulation of things from her whole life – and upon spotting the ruin of a property on the same hill as her own home, the inspiration for Can Siena began to form in her mind’s eye.

The property Celine was eyeing up on her hill was a construction that had been abandoned years earlier. After identifying the owners and making an offer, she took over the project and it was action all stations! The 35,000 square metres of land came with a pre-approved license to build a 460 square metre home, designed by the renowned Ibiza architect Jaime Serra, with whom Celine was more than happy to continue working. Celine had met the architect numerous times socially and admired his clean, minimal style of architecture, however she had a very clear vision that she wanted Can Siena to be livable – not simply a sleek, showroom style rental villa. “I loved the pure lines of the villa, but I am not a minimalistic person. I wanted to make it functional for a family to live in.” From start to finish, the project was completed in just over a year – fast-tracked without compromising on quality.

“I really liked working with Jaime,” she says of the process. “We had to strictly comply with the original floor plan, but we could make changes within the house and so I added bathrooms to every bedroom, big sliding doors to create open spaces and an indoor/outdoor living area so you could really feel a connection to nature and feel the breeze. In Ibiza, you can live this way for six months – but we also added the fireplace and a heated pool so you could be comfortable all year round.” “I just love this hill,” she continues. “I thought by having a project here, we could make sure the area around our home didn’t get too built up around our own home,” she says. Recent building regulations in Ibiza have now restricted any further developments in the area, meaning Celine’s dreams of a peaceful and tranquil home base will forever be true.

Seeing her vision come to life was constantly inspiring to Celine, who said she would dream of the project at night and wake up with fresh ideas and more passion for the project. “I loved the creative process,” she says. “I lived here with my daughter for a while so I could understand what it was like to experience life in the house, to make it really comfortable for family living. Nothing has been done for show, to be flashy, or to impress – it’s all based on real life.” She may not have done it to impress, but there’s no denying Celine has turned Can Siena into one of the most stunning luxury villas on the Ibiza property market today (click here for more information). With six bedrooms in total – four in the main house and an additional two in the standalone guesthouse – it is the ideal year-round home base or summer holiday home for a family, or alternatively an investment holiday rental property (click here to enquire about summer rentals).

The interiors at Can Siena are simply magical – a combination of authentic retro sophistication, vibrant whimsy and comfortable grace that are the result of Celine’s creative vision. Her natural affinity with style and design is apparent (today she is also the co-founder and curator of luxury beachwear store Rincón in Marina Botafoch) throughout. Having long been a collector of vintage pieces, this was her first opportunity to decorate a home inspired purely by the eras of the 50s, 60s and 70s with no limitations. “I wanted an eclectic mix,” she says. “Not the typical, easy Ibiza Balinese style or all-white. The process was like a puzzle to me and over time, all the pieces came together, from all over Europe. In the end, I wanted it to make you feel happy.” Watch this space for the launch of the upcoming edition of WHITE Ibiza Magazine – on sale in May 2017 – to read the full story (and view more pictures) about the incredible transformation of Can Siena’s interior and Celine’s impressive handpicked furnishings and art collection.

A modern day gin palace

When Nathalie and Hendrik – a fashion stylist and interiors consultant and marketing and communications expert respectively – first came to Ibiza for a friend’s birthday party in 2011, they couldn’t have imagined five years later they would own their own home on the island. The idea of Ibiza was a little garish to the Belgian couple, their perception of island style a little too slick and bling, and yet from the moment they arrived, it was very clear there was an authentic spirit that broke away from any preconceived notions they may have had. Ibiza had won their hearts. With extensive experience in managing a successful holiday home on the border of Belgium and the South of France, the duo were in the market for another project. They were seeking a place they could retreat to for their own valuable vacation downtime, but also somewhere that could be commercially viable as a holiday rental while they were not in residence. “My dream was to have something with a sea view,” Nathalie explains of the search for the right property. “But Hendrik loves the mountains. We looked at Portugal, at Santorini and Mallorca… but nothing had the spirit of Ibiza.”

And so the search for an Ibiza villa was on – a place where you could be surrounded by beautiful mountains and gaze across the azure Mediterranean Sea. A place that felt luxurious, yet bohemian; raw and natural, but absolutely never artificial. In May 2015, they stumbled across a typically Spanish house circa 1970 – all cheap tiles, plastic finishes and bad paintwork, but the creative couple immediately felt and saw its potential. By August, they had become owners of what would come to be known as Casa Romero and the transformational renovation work began. “It just didn’t look or feel like a holiday to me,” says Nathalie, who also consults with the Belgian government on styling and refitting touristic properties to suit the luxury market. “We wanted to bring it back to a more traditional Ibicenco style with a Mediterranean holiday feeling – what it should have been in the first place!” Taking a complete hands-on approach to the project, the entrepreneurial couple worked to strip the dark and unattractive existing paintwork, replace all tiling with chic brushed concrete surfaces and to switch all plastic and PVC pieces to classic, raw and natural wood, instantly bringing the home into the present style, with a nod to its island heritage.

Admitting most of the time spent at Casa Romero since acquiring the property has been more of a case of work rather than play, the aim was to have the first stage of renovations complete in time for Nathalie and Hendrik’s May 2016 nuptials – the first time they would really enjoy their new home with friends and family. Learning very quickly to adapt to ‘island time’ and go with the flow of the locals’ way of doing business, the couple worked closely with architects, constructors and landscape gardeners who really understood the land and climate to see their dream come to life, starting with the lower level of the house. Three of the five bedrooms are spread out spaciously here with the star suite – dubbed ‘the Santorini room’ – actually carved into the stone beneath the house, like a cave. Carefully restored pieces of rare Sabina wood, found on the property, were laid into doorways and arches to add the traditional feeling, as were latticed cupboards and wardrobe spaces – adding natural form and organic texture to the spaces. Each of the ensuite bathrooms were designed like spa wet rooms, and feature stylish black tap fittings and Italian designer basins that stand out almost like a sculpture centrepiece from the rendered concrete finishes.

It’s pared back and simple, and yet instantly feels homely. “The point was not to appear artificial,” says Nathalie of the design and decoration process. “It was about a warm and natural ambience – we have a lot of white and it does appear minimalistic, but it is not sterile. Just like when you see the old fincas – there are raw and natural materials everywhere. I wanted to make people feel as though they could ‘live’ in the house, especially people with families. It should be a comfortable home away from home, not like a slick hotel. I hope as it gets older and lived in, it starts to get even more interesting.” When it came to decorating, Nathalie had a very clear vision for how Blue Hill House’s aesthetic would come together. “Some of the things in the house I have had for a long time and others I found specifically for the project. I am shopping every day for my job in Belgium and I have so many Pinterest boards and mood boards too. I knew the kind of mix of things I wanted and where to find them. Nothing too bling – it’s just not us.” Think rustic wooden benches offset with Eames chairs; a gold bed headboard (handmade by Nathalie) contrasting with a vintage peacock wicker chair; Moroccan rugs and wedding blankets sitting alongside traditional Ibicenco woven baskets and Bruge lace crochet bedding. A luxurious bohemian interior.

The gardens were one of the biggest challenges according to Hendrik, yet also yielded one of the biggest surprises. After meticulously digging through rocks and weeds to create chill out zones and plant a Mediterranean garden around the house, the next step was to start work on clearing the pine forest around the house, where it appeared the pine trees had started to kill out the valuable Sabina trees on the hill. Now, Nathalie and Hendrick have committed to preserving the Sabinas and have planted over 200 on their hillside, hoping to restore it to its former glory. The real surprise however, came as a by-product of landscaping. As they were walking around the land with their trusted gardening advisor and entrepreneur Fran Alonso of Ibiyepro, he pointed out the fruitful supply of juniper berries, cactus flowers, wild rosemary flowers and Mediterranean herbs on hand. “What could we do with it?” Hendrik asked of the landscaper. “Make gin of course!” Although neither Hendrik nor Nathalie were experts on gin to begin with, some extensive research saw them connect with a very respected Belgian professor who worked with them on distilling their homegrown botanicals and Blue Hill Ibiza dry London Gin was born. “It started out as a joke really,” Hendrik admits, as he pours a glass of the exceptionally clean tasting, fragrant spirit directly from the source, a hefty metal tank. “I wasn’t even really a fan of gin before, but now I love it. The professor who we work with has created his own gin, that was awarded second best place in a respected gin contest, and now he thinks Blue Hill Gin is even better. We are convinced this is the best quality in the world and it is so limited due to the batches of fruit on our land. In the beginning, it was just for our family and friends to try, plus a promotional tool for guests who were renting the villa but now, maybe we’ll do something with it. I think it’s very important to keep it artisan.”

As the couple settle in on their long, bespoke wooden banquets to take in the breathtaking view over Cala Conta, they both admit the house now has a quality that makes them want to stay home more often than go out. “It’s funny,” muses Nathalie. “We want to see more of Ibiza – and we do go out and explore, and go to eat, or to have a drink somewhere – but we look at each other and we know we reach the point where we just want to go home and enjoy the house, relax and look out at the lights.” Hendrik agrees. “There’s something about Ibiza,” he says. “It’s beautiful, but of course there are other places in the world that are beautiful. There’s sunshine, but other places have sunshine. So what is it?” In the end, they accept it is perhaps indescribable and prefer to reflect on the ever-changing perspective from Casa Romero over the course of the day and night. “What place is better than this?” says Nathalie, gesturing across the valley, over the sea and towards the lights of San Antonio. She’s got a point – if you’ve got it, enjoy it! Photography by Sofia Gomez Fonzo

Grace & Michael decamp to the campo

“I remember the feeling so well,” says Grace, who had been undergoing a major lifestyle change, embracing wellness and yoga after an inspirational trip to India. “I just wanted to come away and live in a simple way, take us all out of our comfort zones and embrace Spanish culture.” 

With the support of Grace’s father – an original “expat bohemian” who had bought and renovated a classic farmhouse in the hills of San Juan in 1988 with his late wife – the couple’s dream move was made possible by an opportunity to rent the family-owned finca, and within a week the decision was made, the kids’ school had been informed and the wheels were in motion for an open return ticket to Ibiza.

The traditional finca – completely secluded and camouflaged into the rolling green hills – dates back over 300 years, and was discovered by Grace’s father Jeremy via a handwritten ‘for sale’ ad on the wall of a San Juan café, around 15 years ago. At the time, the cattle farmer who owned it was still living and working on the land, while the property was as rustic as they come. Over the years, it has been completely renovated, with respect to its authentic Ibicenco design (including a donkey pen that has been transformed into a cool casita) and the gardens have been lovingly replanted with the paradisiacal, lush flora and fauna you see today.

Having swapped big, soaring bedrooms in London for intimate, shared nooks, crannies and spaces, life in Ibiza has been a radical change for the duo and their children Bella, Gabriel and Raphael, however they wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s not always easy,” admits Michael, who compares life in the campo to living in a 1950s remote home at times – although internet was rapidly installed upon their arrival in August of 2013 to ensure they weren’t too out of the loop! “For every one minus, there are 10 pluses. We’ve upgraded it to work for us.”

“I feel like we’ve become our best selves here,” says the naturally bohemian Grace, who describes the family as “complete northern hillbillies” and can’t imagine ever wearing high heels again. “I think it’s really enhanced our relationship,” she continues. “It’s been the most incredible journey so far. Daily life is magic, and everything we do here is family led – nothing compromises that.”

Entrepreneurial style… by the sea!

Hailing from Mexico and London respectively, Ibiza seemed like the perfect location for the entrepreneurial duo to launch their hot new range of swimwear, Coco Safari, in 2013, and so the search for a beachside pad was on…

The glamourous, beach-chic pad you see today is a testament to Bradley and Mauricio’s shared eye for style. When they arrived on the island, the split-level home was more of an eyesore (with spectacular cliffside views), decorated in the typical yellow-meets-blue colour scheme of ‘90s holiday homes in Ibiza. But not for long!

As founder of Taylor Taylor – the hottest name in hair salons in London and the Maldives – Bradley had previous experience in interiors after designing his award winning salons, and he turned his eye to the classic style of chic beach homes in the Hamptons for inspiration. The couple opted for soft, sophisticated tones of cream, taupe, white and grey offset with natural furnishings of wicker and wood plus the natural stone walls already in place. Star styling includes the horizontal striped walls in the living area, vintage framed photographs lining the walls and a chandelier in the bedroom.

Working from home allows the couple – who were married in 2012 – to make the most of their stylish surrounds (not to mention allowing them to spend more time with beloved pooches Ruby and Peanut!), but there’s a strict house rule that says no working on the sun-drenched terrace. “I like to work here at the table, set up like an office,” explains Mauricio. “And Bradley is more comfortable working form the sofa. We spend a lot of time entertaining and relaxing on the terrace, so we need to keep work separate.”

Speaking of entertaining, this is a house that is full of life, with friends and colleagues constantly passing by to say hello! “Quite often we have guests come for dinner on a Friday and end up staying for the whole weekend,” says Mauricio, who admits they have a little trouble saying no to visitors! Who can blame the visitors for wanting to stay – with that view, that pool plus resident chef Bradley on cooking duties and an endless supply of bikinis and beauty products… what’s not to love?

2014 sees the couple launch their second fashion label to Ibiza – the boho-babe-meets-rock-chick Espiritu Santo – along with new additions to the core Coco Safari line. Bradley continues his forays into the world of hair styling, with his revolutionary new range of products Hippy & The Holistics currently receiving rave reviews (even Ruby and Peanut are lucky enough to be washed and styled with it – we can testify they were the softest, sweetest smelling dogs in Ibiza!), and he remains on the speed dials of his A-list Taylor Taylor clients in London, and of course, when they visit Ibiza.

In addition to all of this, Bradley and Mauricio are have also been involved in the filming of a television show – though details are still hush hush at this stage! So remember their names! You’ll be hearing much more from these guys as the year goes on…

Whimsically wonderful Ibiza living…

An authentic Ibicenco finca – one of the oldest on the island, dating back to 1614 – that has been restored with love and respect to traditional building methods, Victoria’s home has a warm, lived-in feeling while exuding the style of a well-traveled family.

The co-founder of Ibiza concept store La Galeria Elefante clearly has exceptional taste, with colourful décor, rustic pieces and eclectic art peppered throughout the house, which she has lived in with husband Francois, a doctor, and son Emile (and his guitar collection!) for the past 15 years.

In summer, the family are constantly entertaining a collective of creative and cool friends, with alfresco dinners, kids jumping in and out of the pool and Victoria’s gorgeous dogs traipsing around the vibrant, wild flower-filled gardens. In true bohemian style, everyone is welcome here.

Set across multiple levels, chillout spaces and outdoor living areas are scattered with a cornucopia of colourful cushions, comfortable sofas, floor pillows and more, creating a laidback, modern bohemian ambience.

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