‘This contemporary take on a traditional Ibizan farmhouse complements its rugged setting with richly tactile, easy-going luxury. The customary sprawling design was adapted to suit the needs of modern life and open it to the landscape in which it, and its inhabitants, so comfortably live.’
Mention the Mediterranean island of Ibiza and, for most people, images of the party capital of the world spring to mind: hordes of tourists in nightclubs pumping with electronic dance music. Not rugged, rocky landscapes, wide open spaces and rustic charm. Yet most of the forested hills of the Spanish island are undisturbed, and its heritage and landscapes are carefully protected. South African interior designer Sumari Krige, co-founder of La Grange Interiors, designed the interiors of this holiday escape in the secluded north of the island, where development is ‘extremely regulated’ and acquiring a licence to build is almost impossible. The owners of this holiday escape, however, were lucky. They managed to secure a rare piece of land with an approved plan – unbuilt – albeit dating back more than a decade. It was one of the very last spots on the island that allowed them enough space to accommodate a large, lively family with five children under eight years old. Set high on a hill overlooking a valley to the north, and with views that stretch all the way to the ocean, it was surrounded by a local wine farm’s vineyard. From the highest point on the hillside, you could even glimpse the islands of Formentera and Mallorca on a clear day. The views revealed very little evidence of human habitation – it was perfect escape from urban life.
While it was a turnkey project – Sumari took care of everything, down to the art and crockery – her flair for eclecticism makes for interiors that are anything but uniform. She sourced pieces from Europe and Asia, and plenty from South Africa. She custom-designed key items of furniture such as sofas, which were manufactured in South Africa by La Grange Interiors, as was much of the other upholstery. She’s even used outdoor fabric indoors, not only for its liveability, but to work with the blurred distinction between indoors and out. ‘You just want to touch everything,’ she says. ‘You want to sink into the sofa because it’s feather and down.’ She used ‘lots of interesting fabrics, different weaves, lots of embroidery’. And she has thrown in African influences, too, including many South African artists, artisans and makers such as Orly Rabinowitz, Anthony Shapiro, Stanislaw Trzebinski, Richard Templeton Smith, Kristen McClarty and Theresa Jo Wessels. ‘The crockery is sourced from Wonkiware,’ she says. As much as the house ‘lives out’, she’s brought natural materials inside in the form of ‘organic shapes, wooden bowls and platters’. A standing lamp was made from a log. Despite her clients’ love of calming neutrals, she introduced her trademark touch of the occasional pop of pure, unapologetic glamour. A golden chair in the shape of a hand, a metallic glimmer on a lamp, or a sleek refined form to create contrast.
The result is relaxed and calming. Just as the architecture, despite its modernity, is nestled into its setting in a way that looks like it could have been there forever, so the interiors have a timeless quality. They help the house and its holidaying inhabitants feel connected to the setting, at home on the hillside and vineyards. ‘This home is not a showpiece,’ says Sumari.
‘It is designed to be lived in. It’s really about comfort.’