A stylist’s retreat

Louise Maxwell is one of Ibiza’s most in-demand hair and make-up artists, with clients ranging from beautiful brides and jet set girls to the visiting A-list or bands at Ibiza Rocks. Beautifying is her business, so as you can imagine, when it came to styling her own home in Ibiza, that laidback bohemian beauty her clients all strive for is evident in every last nook and cranny. Louise first laid eyes on Casa Yasmina eight years ago, peeking around the wrought iron back gates and instantly falling in love with the Moroccan style courtyard. Having already viewed around 40 properties in search of ‘the one’, she says she felt an amazing energy and saw the potential in the run down gardens and living areas.

“It hadn’t been lived in for three years and it was a mess. Different coloured floors everywhere, a weird layout and strange windows. Within a year, I had redesigned everything – knocked down walls, put in new windows, doorways, cupboards – to give it a Moroccan feel, inspired by the courtyard, where everything was tiled and arched.”

With four bedrooms, four bathrooms and an open-plan self contained studio set on the upper level, plus many chill out areas and terraces and an open plan kitchen and living area, Casa Yasmina is deceptively spacious. “That’s the beauty of this house,” says Louise. “From the front, you wouldn’t have a clue what’s inside – like the riads in Morocco. And it’s just so quiet – no traffic at all.”

Louise confesses to a love of collecting quirky pieces for the house wherever she goes, be it India, Morocco, mainland Spain or the local San Jordi market here in Ibiza. “I love charity shops and markets – I love finding something amazing for a bargain, that you know you could have spent a fortune on somewhere else.”

There’s a beautiful flow as you walk through Casa Yasmina’s sun trap of a courtyard, starting with a chillout area resplendent with plants – including an entire staircase covered in thriving succulents, which according to Louise, “just grow like mad in the summer!” – and a central palm tree. Head through the arched doorway and you reach the pool area – another area of the home that has been completely renovated by Louise. “I don’t know if it was meant to be an above ground pool or if it was a cisterna when I bought the house, but it was an eyesore!” she says. “We raised the levels of the ground around it and added all the plants for a natural feel… it was an interesting experience.”

Gorgeous windows have been carved into the walls of the property, looking out to the perfectly farmed land surrounding it, complete with a flock of sheep who aren’t afraid to pop their heads through to say hello on occasion. “I love being outside,” says Louise of her sanctuary. “There are just so many places to chill out here.” The sun terrace adjacent to the kitchen is one of her favourite places to wind down, with a picture perfect view of the sun going down in the distance.

During the busy summer months, when her work keeps her active from morning until the early hours, and her kids Sydney, a university student, and Harley, a musician, are spending time in London, Louise rents Casa Yasmina to holidaymakers, happy to share the fruits of her labour with like-minded Ibiza lovers. “I love welcoming people to come and stay here. I do a lot of work on the property every year, and I’m happy it makes people happy. I love this house. When I come back in the winter, it’s like ‘aaaaaah’ and I instantly feel right at home again.”

Louise’s love and passion for her adopted island is shared with her guests via a noticeboard chock-full of her memories, flyers from her favourite venues and events, set in the office alcove just off the living room. “It really represents me and the things I love. When I come back at the end of summer, I love seeing the new things guests have added too,” she says.

Home is where the heart is

Her love affair with the white isle blossomed when she was 11 and became fast friends with a local girl – from a Dutch family but Ibiza born and bred – whom she met while on holiday with her parents, and over the subsequent years, the two girls continued to visit one another and Ibiza became a very important part of Mabel’s life over the next 35 years. When Mabel and her husband were looking to invest in a holiday home, the idea of Bali came up after they had lived in Asia for nine years and loved its weather, energy and people, however seemed too far away when travelling with four kids, and despite being much closer, the south of France seemed just a bit too stuck up. So Mabel introduced her husband to her island, and he too fell in love, finding many similarities with Bali, so the decision was easy. “We love the energy and free spirit of Ibiza and the friendly inhabitants,” says Mabel of her adopted home. “There are so many beautiful facets of nature here. And not a lot of people know about this. There are some places that are really popular in the summer, but a lot of the island is still our secret.

The purchase however, was not quite such smooth sailing. The couple viewed a vacant plot of land in the hills of San Miguel, and were very keen to acquire it to build on, however striking a deal with the owner took almost two years. It also transpired that once you had bought the plot, you were limited to building within the plans that had already been approved for the land. “The previous owner’s vision was more like Miami Vice,” laughs Mabel. “He had plans for a Jacuzzi in the living room and a swim-up pool that led into the house. I think it was all designed with villa parties in mind, which was not our style at all.” Thankfully, through some local connections, Mabel was introduced to the renowned architects of Blakstad Design Consultants, who were able to convert the plans into a more traditional, Ibicencan style family home. “Blakstad were so great – such hard workers and such nice people,” says Mabel of her dream team. “It’s so easy to fall in love with Ibiza, but to buy and build here is totally another story – you need a lot of patience. And it’s a constant work in progress, we are always adding or changing something each year.” …

Fast forward four years and the newly completed six-bedroom Can Terra became the family’s much-loved escape from the city. Nestled into a hillside, surrounded by pine forests and olive groves and with an uninterrupted view to the church (“Where I hope one of my children gets married one day”), saltwater pool and beautiful gardens, the property is ideal for outdoor living, and very much suits the family’s love of outdoor pursuits. Much of the décor was purchased or designed and made locally. “We wanted to keep it as authentic as possible,” says Mabel. “It was so much easier than shipping it in from somewhere and we like to help local people as much as possible.” Star features include a row of spectacular floor to ceiling glass windows that separate the kids rooms from the master suite, yet open up to create a feeling of outdoor living, and a huge skylight that retracts, for fresh air and energy to flow freely through the house. A comfy cinema room provides after dark entertainment for the kids and the areas for relaxation are plentiful. The family have also planted 150 olive trees and now harvest their own oil each year in conjunction with the local corporation.

The family try to visit around six times a year. “But it’s never enough,” says Mabel. “We will move here eventually.” The style of Mabel’s home away from home is quite different to the family’s current abode in Belgium, very intentionally. “I want things to be easy when I’m here,” she says. “I want to relax and enjoy it!” The chic and simple minimalist styling also makes it easy for the family to convert the villa to a holiday rental when they go back to the city. “It’s the kind of house that could be a B&B,” says Mabel of the spacious layout. “It already feels like that way sometimes with all the teenagers eating and sleeping here in summer.” “When we’re here on holiday, the house is full of life, full of children, full of fun. We are a big and very close family,” says Mabel of her tight-knit clan, who love to hike, watersport, cliff dive, go out for dinner, find nice local restaurants and explore the many hidden beaches of the island. “We love to be surrounded by our family and friends and we fill the house with them – otherwise it can seem empty as it’s so big. It gets very well lived in when we are here. It makes us so relaxed and happy to be here.”

Ylwa Warghusen – Family matters

In a beautiful house high on a hill, set somewhere between San Rafael and San Jose, author Ylwa Warghusen lives with her husband Scott and three children Sydney (12), Ophelia (10) and Sebastian (8). The couple bought the house – an old finca – in 2003 and spent some years reforming the property into the stylish abode they moved into permanently in 2007. “It’s all about the view,” says Swedish-born Ylwa, taking in the breathtaking views across the Mediterranean, completely surrounded by lush forested hills, creating a feeling of total tranquility. The tranquility is happily interrupted by Ylwa’s theatrical children, whose personalities definitely turn the house into a home – be it climbing trees, playing in their custom-built treehouse, swinging in hammocks or jumping from day beds to the wooden deck. Believing that a home should tell the story of your life, your history and your travels, Ylwa’s decor hails from many places, including Tokyo and Hong Kong, where she lived for a period, plus family heirloom antiques, pieces sourced from auction houses and niche showrooms in Ibiza, plus customised detailing created by artist friends. “I don’t want my house to look like a showroom,” she explains. “We’re definitely not minimalist.”

The kitchen was personally designed by Scott, the family chef, who wanted to cook with a view and there is much space for entertaining, from open-air chill out areas on the terrace and a huge communal dining table to a cosy fireplace enclave (complete with underfoot heating built into the benches) perfect for winter snuggling. Each bedroom features beautiful views, and between Sydney and Ophelia’s rooms, a cute secret doorway has been installed in the wall to allow the girls easy access to their spaces. One of the two guest bedrooms has been turned into a cinema room, complete with projector, big screen and sound system – perfect for kids sleepovers with plenty of popcorn – while the other sits on a lower level, complete with a dreamy daybed outside and private access. The entire home feels lived in, yet spacious, with plenty of Scandinavian touches fused with classic Ibiza style – a beautiful place for kids to grow up in.

Style and substance

Fusing traditional Ibicenco style with Brit-esque cool factor, Can Squirrel exudes whimsy, eclecticism and beauty from every last nook and cranny. Home to husband and wife James Lindley and Danielle Hodgson-Lindley, the project was a true labour of love for the two, who said goodbye to the UK in favour of the white isle’s warmer climes in 2006. Having located the property in 2012 – a run-down, dilapidated old finca in desperate need of love – the duo dedicated an entire month, working day and night, to personally transform it into a livable space. “Originally there was no kitchen to speak of, there was no running water, no flooring and one very ugly bright blue bathroom,” explains James. “Absolutely everything had to be given an overhaul.” “We’d always wanted a place like this in the north of the island,” continues Danielle. “We could see the potential and knew it would be worth our while to commit to the renovations.” Digging, fitting, heavy lifting, cement rendering, painting and decorating became a full-time job – a far cry from their regular gigs as mobile bar mangers and a high-end event stylist – with James even becoming a carpenter at one point, lovingly carving the statement wooden kitchen table with his own bare hands. Once the structural renovations – including an entire new kitchen, bathroom, fireplace and flooring – were complete, and new furnishings in place, it was time for Danielle to apply her professional skills to Can Squirrel. With a philosophy that the small things really do matter, the experienced stylist honed in on getting everything right, although she says it was quite a sporadic process. “I didn’t set out on any one day to decorate a certain room,” she explains. “The right things just present themselves at the right time.”

The perfect blend of family heirlooms, vintage store or market finds, eclectic Chinese store bargains (though you’d never be able to guess what!) and classic investment pieces, Can Squirrel is a testament to Danielle’s natural styling prowess (“She lives and breathes it,’ remarks James). “Sometimes I can get a bit carried away,” Danielle admits, though with each and every item perfectly placed throughout the house, it’s not something the naked eye can see. Adjacent to the main house are a row of former pigpens, transformed into store rooms for the couple’s respective businesses – The Bar Ibiza mobile bar service and Velvet Circus event styling. Occupational hazards, as you may expect, are G&Ts made fresh to order (with rosemary from the garden) and certain decorative pieces ‘borrowed’ for off-season use within the house. Life could be worse… As with all perfectionists, it seems Danielle’s work is not yet done. Plans for 2015 include a rooftop chillout areas, converting an onsite well into a beautiful plunge pool and decorating the master bedroom in the style of a British study, complete with racing green walls and plenty of taxidermy to join the existing pair of frisky squirrels – a gift from Danielle’s mother and her boyfriend Peeter that have become the house mascot. “I think want a fox with a pipe next,” muses Danielle. “Or with a little cape and a monocle.” Where there’s a will… Photography by Ana Lui For more information on The Bar Ibiza contact [email protected] and for Velvet Circus contact [email protected]

Passion for living

“You see, this is why I don’t have a boyfriend,” laughs Passion Café creator Lana Love with a wry smile, as she ushers us into her kitchen to show off potentially the island’s biggest personal stash of supplements, vitamins, minerals, powders and health related goodies, but little evidence of ‘real’ food. Upon further inspection of the hundreds of magnets adorning her fridge and reading the mugs lining the shelves, it quickly becomes clear that the brains, beauty and boss behind the island’s most successful café and healthy eating concept is a self-made, savvy, switched-on chica whose tongue is firmly in cheek.

Lana’s two-bedroom Playa d’en Bossa apartment is humble in size compared to many other Ibiza properties, but that fact is outweighed by the spectacular, panoramic million dollar Mediterranean views from her wraparound terrace. “Views are very important for me,” she says. “I like to have open horizons. In summer, when the doors are all open, there is fresh air all around and you only have time to step out onto the terrace for just one minute, it’s like ‘ahhhhhh’ – a huge cosmic download. I don’t know how I’m ever going to leave it – my next home will have to have a pretty impressive view.”

Wait a minute – leaving? “Well, I’ll have to leave it one day. It’s not actually my apartment,” Lana explains. “The reality is, at this point in my life, I am still renting. I put all the money I earn back into my business, and I’ve been supporting my mother in Croatia since I was 19. One day I hope to own my own home but at the moment I’m very far from that! You can give me shack, as long as the view is magnificent!” Lana prefers to view her Passion empire as her ‘homes’. “They are really like my living rooms, where I socialise and entertain.”

It may not be her own home, but the apartment has all the hallmarks of a Lana Love creation – beautiful art and photography lining the walls, positive affirmations everywhere you look, stacks of varied books and magazines (ranging from self-help and cookery to classics and modern bestsellers), and of course, her constant companion, 8-year old French bulldog Jack, who was born deaf, but lives a wonderful life as the undisputed king of all Passions. With the beautiful beach on her doorstep, views to Formentera and all the mod cons you need installed within, what’s not to, well, Love?

“It was a completely blank canvas when I moved in. There was nothing – not even light fittings,” says Lana. “It’s hard, when you’re buying things and it’s not your home, so that’s why I chose a simple aesthetic that I’ll be able to incorporate into my future home.” When asked to describe her style, she says it’s completely unplanned. “I don’t buy things to match other things in my apartment but I do like the homely feeling. I think as long as you, personally, like looking at the things you have, it shouldn’t matter if they match or not.” It’s true what they say – beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The absence of a television in the living room is explained by Lana’s aversion to commercial programs. “I haven’t watched TV since I moved to Ibiza in 2002. I have a TV in the bedroom, where I watch my David Wolfe videos, programs like Food Matters, educational shows and feel good movies, but when I see the television in hotel rooms on my travels, I’m like ‘no way!’ I’m happier without it.”

Simultaneously humbled and proud of her own massive achievements in life, Lana – who admits she is often very hard on herself – has genuine gratitude when her work is praised in the press or by her peers. “I really, really appreciate the honour of being asked to be in a glossy magazine, and I put these on my walls as a reminder to be grateful everyday that people have an interest in my life and my work. It’s not bad to give yourself a pat on the back every now and then – we should all do it more often.”

Opposite her achievements are a series of stunning photographs from her early days as a model. “Yes, it’s all about me,” Lana laughs. “No, seriously – I love photography, and I see these images as art, a collaboration between myself and the photographer. Of course they are going on the wall!”

With four restaurants under her watchful eye, it’s inevitable that Lana often brings work home with her, choosing the dining table with a view as her preferred office space. “It’s not always as Feng Shui as today! I write my menus here, do my accounts, run my social media accounts – all the things I can’t do while I am busy all day in Passion. At the moment, I’m a one-woman show. I think it’s time to get an office, and a PA.”

Quite surprisingly, the queen of cafes admits she hasn’t used her own stove or oven in about two years. “Since I opened Passion Marina, I haven’t cooked,” she says, slightly sheepishly. “Of course, I do my raw food, I make myself smoothies and juices, but I’m just not that crazy about cooking. People think I am a real gourmand, but give me an avocado and tomato salad and I’m happiest.”

“My place may be small, but for where I am in my life right now, it’s perfect,” says the successful entrepreneur, following up with a quote from one of her omnipresent affirmation cards. “This moment is as it should be…”

Read more about Passion Cafe on White Ibiza

Trusting in creativity: Katrina Phillips Interiors villa project

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.”

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 business) Garry 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…