Contextually appropriate design is what gives a home its sense of place, what allows it to feel comfortable in its surroundings. For this summer family retreat in Ibiza, high on a hill and overlooking farmland and vineyards, Sumari used a calming, largely neutral palette and turned to texture to add life to the spaces.
The owners wanted to create a home in sympathy with the setting. “The intention with this design was to create an interior that spoke to the surroundings without being too predictable. Although it is on the island it is not a beach house,” says Sumari. The site itself is unique – one of the last of this size, it was applied for and granted 12 years ago and the natural landscape and rugged surrounding mountains were a driving factor in the direction of the architecture and interiors.
Spaces inspired by the outdoors
The home was designed with a deep respect for Ibiza’s unique architectural heritage. Originally conceived by Luis Garcia Lobo, who was joined in 2019 by Blakstad Architects, the house was designed to adapt to traditional local vernacular, keeping the structure discreetly integrated into the landscape. “Their work is an organic, living breathing relationship between man and nature. They treat their outdoor areas as if they’re part of the house. Their use of textures – wood, stone and plastering – is so calm and tactile that it created the most beautiful backdrop for the interiors,” comments Sumari.
This organic structure helped to create the foundation for a grounded palette of neutral tones and materials. The house is a family home, so comfort and ease were key. With ample indoor and outdoor spaces – five bedrooms, all generous in size with large en-suite bathrooms, a ‘winter living room,’ library and inner courtyard and ‘summer living room’ with pool area – the house constantly looks to context for its inspiration.
Even when inside, the use of large doors and abundant glass give the house a seamless indoor-outdoor living feeling. “The bedrooms all flow off a long, dreamy passage with huge glass doors that allow in natural light all day. Layer this with all white sheer curtain and it is almost my most favourite space in the house,” says Sumari.
An every-season escape
The goal for the interiors was this exact sense of relaxation and escape – a luxurious yet laidback scheme that would work not only in summer but also during winter. “Bringing comfort, elegance and texture into a home is what we pride ourselves on.”
Again, as with the architecture, the starting point was nature. A natural materials palette maintains strong links to the environment. Wood (oak, ash, teak), cement, stucco and marble are elemental and of the earth, and yet, here, interpreted in an elevated fashion, they achieve a sophisticated end result.
Breathable, textural fabrics reinforce the sense of comfort. “We have been allowed to really use interesting fabrics – mostly cottons, 100% linen, leather and embroideries with lots of texture, and a few ‘out of the box’ ones like the wall tapestry or the pattern on the round swivel chair and ottoman in the main bedroom.”
The lived-in layers
Art and objects provide the final layer. “The client is well travelled and very adventurous, and was open to mixing eclectic pieces in their house to give it that layered, curated feel.” A varied selection of brass, rattan, glass and ceramic pieces emphasize the natural and earthy foundation, adding depth and visual interest. All the artworks are by South African artists – Orly Rabinowitz, Stanislaw Trzebinski, Richard Templeton Smith, Kristen McClarty, Theresa Jo Wessels among them.
While thoughtfully curated, this space is a home, rather than a showcase and exudes a sense of effortless elegance, where comfort and context trump all.
See this home features in House & Leisure here.