100 pages of inspiring dream homes

RENOVATED TO HONOUR ITS HISTORY AND HARMONISE WITH ITS TRANQUIL SURROUNDS, A FAMILY’S BELOVED 200-YEAR-OLD HOME IS THE EPITOME OF PARED-BACK BEAUTY

For Mercedes and João, the hunt for the perfect home away from home was long, but well worth it. “We were looking for something a little out of the ordinary,” says Mercedes, who, along with João, had been visiting Mallorca for years prior to buying their dream holiday home on the idyllic Spanish island. Their wish materialised with the discovery of ‘Ca’n Marquet’, a rustic hideaway built from ancient, sun-warmed stone walls tucked away in a verdant landscape. Recalls Mercedes, “We fell for its charming appearance right away.”

The love affair was no passing fancy. More than 15 years later, the London-based couple, their adult children Victoria and João, and the family dog Pollock are spending more time than ever at their second home in the Mediterranean, which harbours secrets its owners are still unearthing. “Unfortunately, we know very little about the history of the house,” explains Madrid-born Mercedes. “But we have learnt that initially two families lived in the house – and we also found an interesting underground alcove where, supposedly, contraband items were hidden hundreds of years ago.”

Its shadowy past aside, the property offered scope that stretched beyond a base for the warmer months. “We are starting to use it in autumn as well, and because in the summer we usually invite friends and family, the off-peak months are a nice time for us to relax here,” she says. With the home playing an ever-more significant role in their lives, Mercedes and João recently decided to renovate, enlisting Mallorca-based architecture and design firm Moredesign. “The main aim was to modernise the house without spoiling its traditional Mallorquin characteristics,” says Mercedes. On the wish list: underfloor heating – a must, as the island’s winters are wet and chilly – as well as central airconditioning. The modern comforts had to be introduced “without ruining its original characteristics,” says Mercedes. “We also wanted to expand our outside area.”

The solution – the island’s signature pergola, times two. Embraced by attractive grape vines or framed by fuchsia bougainvillea, the pergolas needed to be “in complete harmony with nature and the house,” says Mercedes. In this, as with elsewhere, Moredesign delivered, say the happy homeowners. “It has become a very comfortable, user-friendly, ‘all-year-round’ house,” she says.

Asked about her favourite spot in the home, Mercedes picks the renovated kitchen, a sparsely radiant space refreshed by sage-green accents that recur throughout the home to lift stark white rooms warmed by timber touches. “The kitchen has a wonderful window facing the garden and the pool area,” she says. “You feel that you are outside and inside at the same time.”

Secluded from crowds, the serene ‘Ca’n Marquet’ has evolved with the family, and today, the home is truly the retreat they always dreamed of. Sums up Mercedes, with a smile, “We simply love it all.”

KITCHEN Avid cook Mercedes spends a lot of time in her eat-in kitchen (top left & opposite), where a wide window keeps her in touch with the family. “I love cooking, so it is ideal for me, as I can see what is happening everywhere,” she notes. Custom oak-panelled joinery by Moredesign (get the look with Laminex ‘Elegant Oak’) warms the space and complements the 80cm-wide stone wall, and the view that it frames. Local Binissalem stone creates a sleek countertop, while the pendants add an industrial touch (try the ‘Orion’ pendant light in Aluminium from Temple & Webster). Hans Wegner ‘Wishbone’ chairs from Carl Hansen are right at home at the table, where a simple tablecloth in an earthygreen shade (try the Habitat Pelham ‘Jadeite’ tablecloth from Pillow Talk) gives nod to the accent colour used throughout the home.

PATIO Olive-wood trunks were seasoned for a year before being used to support the pergola on the home’s north-west patio (left), where sky-coloured and Ikat-print cushions brighten up the space (for similar, try the Indigo Ikat indoor outdoor cushion from Temple & Webster). A waterproof cover of polycarbonate membrane and natural fibres works well during autumn downpours. >

“I LIKE MY HOUSES TO LOOK CLEAN, SUBTLE AND COSY, TO REPRESENT OUR LIFESTYLE” ~ MERCEDES

“THE RENOVATION PRESERVED THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE BUILDING AND ACCENTUATED THE HOME’S raw beauty WITH MALLORQUIN CRAFTSMANSHIP” ~ ORO DEL NEGRO, DESIGNER

INSIDE STORY MERCEDES & JOÃO’S HOME

WHO LIVES HERE? Mercedes, a homemaker; João, who works in the renewable energy sector; their children, artist

Victoria, 25, and student João, 21; and Pollock, the dog.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? Mercedes: “Not

complicated, but different, and as elegant and simple as possible.”

TELL US ABOUT YOUR USE OF GREEN INSIDE. “The green accent colour is for all the house to blend with the exterior colours of the surroundings, so it’s calm and integrated in the landscape.”

WHAT’S ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING FEATURES OF THE PROPERTY? “It’s around 200 years old. And the exterior walls

are more than 80cm in width and all made of rock!”

WHY IS THIS LOCATION PERFECT FOR YOU? “The Serra de Tramuntana [mountain range] is a World Heritage site. It’s in the most unspoiled part of Mallorca – and this is why we love it here.”

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY FOR YOU. “Our day usually starts with an outdoor breakfast, followed by a walk up the mountain with Pollock. We enjoy the beautiful views of the island and unspoilt scenery. Then, we usually go out on the boat or stay at home by the pool.”

“WE WANTED TO FIND A HOUSE THAT WE COULD COME TO ALL YEAR AROUND”~

MERCEDES

RUSTIC RETREAT With its history dating back at least 200 years, ‘Ca’n Marquet’ (opposite), on the Spanish island of Mallorca, seems to rise naturally from the verdant landscape. For Londoners Mercedes and João, who’ve been regular visitors with their children Victoria and João for many years, a quest to honour the heritage of the home underpinned its recent renovation. To enhance outdoor living, two pergolas were restored, including this welcoming space (above), embraced by olive-wood trunks and abundant bougainvillea. The table and benches come from a local flea market, while Moredesign’s interiors arm, More Decor, sourced the attractive woven hanging lampshades (try the ‘Java’ rattan oversized light shade in Natural from Dianna-Lynn Decor). >

LIVING ROOM Built-in seating, a signature feature of pared-back Mediterranean style, elevates this relaxing zone (below), where handdyed and stonewashed soft furnishings in Tibi Soft linen from Yutes (also on the couch, opposite) call to mind the outdoors, as do the stump side tables, a local find. The space is a quasi gallery for Portuguese artists; a piece by family friend Cristina Poppe above the built-in couch faces off with works by Pedro Proença (opposite, left) and a trio of smaller creations from Cecilia Costa, on the wall leading into the kitchen.

LIVING ENS HALL MAIN BED ENS ENS BED

VICTORIA’S ROOM Pared-back beauty defines this bedroom (below), all the better to showcase original terracotta floor tiles and built-in wardrobe doors by Moredesign that are akin to a work of art. Made of reclaimed oak, the doors feature hand-cut strips of wood, salt oxide-aged nails, and brass handles by Giara. “All the materials [used in the renovation] were typical local elements, as were the building techniques,” explains Mercedes. The bed, dressed in a serene sea-foam green bedspread (try the Mira Linen bedcover in Lena Sky from Cultiver) beckons beneath an arch, added in the renovation, that has recessed LED strips for soft light. For a similar wall lamp, try the ‘Brodie’ wall lamp from Mercator.

BATHROOM A bespoke stone sink crafted by local artisan Miquel Ramis from Artifex (above) is a stunning complement to the timber drawers, while simple exposed-bulb sconces keep the focus on the wash zone. Attractive locally sourced glass tumblers in a traditional Mallorquin style add a dash of turquoise to the pale palette. SHOWER Victoria’s ensuite has a shower cubicle (top left) clad in green Zellige tiles from Mozaic del Sur. Their oceanic tones offer a lovely counter to the Lefroy Brooks copper fittings (for a similar wall-mounted shower rail, see the Finley shower rail set in Brushed Copper from Abi Interiors). JOÃO’S BEDROOM In Mercedes and João’s son’s room (left), original terracotta tiles (this time, in a check pattern) are an invitation to wonder who has walked on these floors during the past couple of centuries. Once again, glass lighting enhances the whitewashed simplicity of the space – these pendants were made to order, but you can get the look with the ‘Replica Classicon Selene Pendant’ from Temple & Webster. >

POOL As with the rest of this serene hideaway, the new pool (with Mercedes pictured enjoying the sunshine) is an exercise in stripped-back elegance – take a bow Portuguese glass tiles, travertine slab edges, and the wide steps which descend into sparkling waters. The renovation also included landscaping and reshaping of dry-packed stone terrace walls, with the addition of diverse nooks featuring built-in benches and sunbeds for escaping to with a book and a beverage.

“We love classic Mallorquin pergolas,” says Mercedes, whose home boasts two undercover alfresco zones. WOODEN BEAM Scour your local salvage yards to get the look. Mercedes and João relax on built-in seating upholstered in weatherproof fabric.

An artisan-designed double stone sink has a striking rustic impact in the bathroom.

Canine visitor Pearl hangs out beneath the property’s original arched doorway.

OAK PANELLING Try Laminex ‘Elegant Oak’.

RIVERSTONE FLOOR See the range at Eco Outdoor.