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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

Meet the Blakstad team – Alfredo Cirelli

Architect and interior designer Alfredo Cirelli permanently relocated to Ibiza from Italy following a chance meeting with Blakstad Design Consultants Head of Design Rolf Blakstad in early 2015. He was given the opportunity to join the team at the top-tier architecture and design firm on the white isle – a career move that was too good to pass up.

Hailing from the small town of Teano just outside of Naples, Italy, Alfredo’s relationship with design began back in school, where he studied architecture at the University of Genoa, followed by the Polytechnic University of Milan. “I went on to work as a freelance design architect for various luxury Italian fashion brands and was in charge of the design shops and showrooms. From 1998 until 2014 I worked in architecture and interior design in Italy and across the French Rivera.”

Today the designer plays a key role within the Blakstad Design Consultants firm. “I work primarily on renovation projects,” he explains. “The ideal situation for me is when I have the opportunity to work with Rolf on the project of a house designed and built many years ago by his father Rolph, as these projects give me a great sense of satisfaction and pride.”

“Working in an environment of highly qualified, professional and creative people,” says Alfredo, when asked of his favourite element to his work. “The incredible work ethic of our team paired with the expert leadership of Rolf Blakstad always guarantees a high-quality result. Our tradition and modernity, technology, research and keeping up to date with new materials and new techniques allows us to stay ahead and put all of our knowledge into each project.”

Alfredo’s work experience with Blakstad Design Consultants has led him to believe in the numerous opportunities available to renovate in Ibiza. “I am convinced that the restructuring projects are a great opportunity in a world where legislation and licensing limits for new buildings is becoming increasingly difficult,” he says. “We can achieve excellent results with our restructuring projects, giving new life and style to existing buildings.”

Whether Alfredo is working on a redesign or the restructuring of a new project, his love for Ibicenco architecture and its unique characteristics shines through passionately. Joining the iconic Blakstad Design Consultant team has allowed him the perfect opportunity to understand an original and unique way of designing architecture while contributing his vast experience towards the ancient traditions which Blakstad’s architecture is influenced by.

Visit the White Ibiza house and garden guide to read more about Blakstad Design
Trusting in creativity: Katrina Phillips Interiors villa project

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After giving a long and impassioned speech to a customer in her Portobello Road store about loving the nature and simplicity of Ibiza, and feeling as though the modern houses didn’t acknowledge it properly, interior designer Katrina Phillips – who spends her time between London and Ibiza – was surprised a year later when the same customer returned, saying she’d bought a house in Ibiza and would like her to decorate it! (more…)

The real Ibiza

The neighbourhood shop is open all year round, I see my neighbour taking his dog and his horse for a walk every day – and when I open my window, it’s like the most beautiful picture window out into the countryside.” 

Dividing her time between London and Ibiza, Katrina – who recently opened a new interiors store on the road between Ibiza and Santa Eulalia – transformed a basic Ibiza casita from the inside out into a lush, liveable landscape.

From a gorgeous day bed completely surrounded by mint (“So my children can make mojitos when they come to visit.”) and lemon balm to a meditation garden space surrounded by lavender buzzing with hundreds of bees (“They never touch you.”), beautiful fennel blowing in the wind and wild chard, spinach and other vegetables peppered across the land, the feeling outside is of a wild, Mediterranean garden (even if it did have a little help from Katrina’s friends!).

The neighbouring horse trots over to say hello as he hears Katrina crunching through the dry land near the fence, sporting a beautiful aqua fringe piece made by his owner. “We play badminton over there,” says Katrina, motioning to a beautiful lush patch of grass. “And I’m planting avocado trees, more fruit trees – you really could live off this land.”

Inside the casita, Katrina’s personal style is evident – earthy, natural and authentically bohemian, without any sense of being contrived. Ancient fossils sit alongside pressed flowers, and strands of beads are thrown over ceramic bowls and huge rustic wooden tables while tribal feather headpieces adorn the walls like works of art. Echoing the style of her store, where each and every piece has a story, the house feels like the home of a well-travelled collector with style.

“I love my work here, and I love it in London, but I think Ibiza is the most amazing place on earth,” Katrina says with confidence. “And I’ve been everywhere. The mixture of people, and the feeling of community here is just amazing. It can be glamorous or it can be laidback – I like being able to have both.”

Ibiza living: Katrina Phillips 88
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…

Everybody in the house of love

Maybe it’s because you are greeted with that spectacular, calming view of Es Vedra or perhaps it’s because the message is quite literally bursting from the wall in a splash of pop art and neon lighting, but one thing’s for sure: love is definitely all around us!

The stylish, two-floor, three-bedroom Ibiza apartment is home to Emma, her partner (in love and businessGarry McManus, a photographer and videographer, plus Emma’s 13-year old daughter Maya and nine-week old baby son Noah. Oh, and not forgetting the ever-so handsome Hercules and his feline cohort Shiva.

It’s clear creativity rules the roost in this colourful abode, most noticeably with Emma’s impressive art collection, amassed over the past 15 years. A combination of striking pop art pieces, intricate ethnic wooden carvings, collectable movie posters and modern fashion photography line the walls of the apartment, breathing life and personality into each unique room. ‘I love what art does to a room,’ she says. ‘Everything in the room could be really pale, and you add two or three pieces of art with colour in it and it completely changes.’

Positive affirmations are also prominent throughout the house, from pictures and painted stencils to bookcases lined with self-help books (‘I’m a sucker for them,’ admits Emma, laughing), angel cards and crystals. Zen and the art of decorating perhaps?

The feeling of zen throughout Emma’s home is no surprise. Having traveled extensively through India, she identifies strongly with symbolism and spirituality and is also a practicing yoga teacher. This summer sees Emma and Garry launch a series of new Infin8 Ibiza Retreats, exploring yoga, meditation, nutrition, wellbeing and much more.

Downstairs Emma’s design studio is a flurry of feathers, sparkles, beads and more, and comes complete with decks set up for impromptu parties (with Garry on resident DJ duties) on a unique DIY set up of neon-sprayed tyres and a wooden bench. Splashes of vibrant colour liven up each room, with Emma’s penchance for pink becoming apparent (‘Pink makes me happy!’) throughout the space.

Stunning sunsets over Es Vedra are nature’s coincidentally colourful contribution to this happy abode – one gets the feeling this IS the place where you can live happily ever after…

My fashionable family

‘I love living here,’ says Mercedes Bonet of the home she shares with husband Juan Tur and children Juan Petit and Berta in Ibiza’s beautiful Cala Jondal area. ‘The only problem I have – honestly – is that I haven’t got space for my clothes!’

This is no surprise when you learn the stylish mum is also the co-owner of Ibiza’s number one designer boutique, Mayurka!

Mercedes and Juan moved into the typical ‘casa payesa’ home – which is over 100 years old – in 2008, and each year add an additional element to the property, from a swimming pool (‘I had to have this to cool off when I was pregnant in the summer, and wasn’t able to travel by Zodiac to Formentera!’ laughs Mercedes) to a new kitchen, children’s bedrooms and more.

‘The house is always growing with us,’ Mercedes explains. ‘We wanted to continue with the authenticity of a casa payesa, where they added a new room with each new baby – first it was just Juan and I, then Juan Petit, now Berta… but now we have to stop because there’s no more room! We are very happy here.‘

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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A model home…

With stunning views out to sea and of the magical Ibiza sunset, the house is designed with outdoor living, relaxing and dining in mind. Tanja – an ex-model turned jewellery designer – says the comfortable armchairs on the terrace are her favourite spot in the entire house, where you can just relax and take everything in.

Lars – the brains behind successful property company Zan Ibiza Real Estate – sits at the rustic dining table, checking emails and fielding phone calls while the little ones tuck into an after-school snack before the entire family retreats the grassy rear of the house, for a good old fashioned game of croquet (note: Zeelas always wins!).

Rustic, handmade swings (Lars’s creations, inspired by old pieces of wood found on the property) are strung from various vantage points of the home, a mini football field is set up to one side, the swimming pool sparkles in the sunlight and a super cool tree house has been constructed for this clearly ‘outdoorsy’ family.

‘We thought it was very important for the kids to have an outdoor grassy area to play on,’ says Lars, of their inspiration when looking for a home in Ibiza. ‘We didn’t want them growing up playing on a wooden villa deck.’

Most of the simplistic chic furnishing was brought over from Denmark, including a gorgeous chandelier that once belonged to Lars’s grandmother, given a new lease of life with edgy red bulbs while blown up photographs (taken by Lars) of the family adorn the walls within the house, cool coffee table books give a nod to the couple’s keen eyes for style and design.

‘We wanted true Ibiza style, not something that you could find in LA,’ says Tanja of her home’s chic yet homely aesthetic. At that point one very friendly Ibiza wild cat who has ‘adopted’ the family walks in, and it seems as though this model family has got the Ibiza vibe down pat!