State of Play
Creative collages of texture and colour meet in this home in Bali
Set amidst the picturesque green rice fields of Bali, the stunning holiday home of Danish designer Birgitte Raben and her film scenographer partner, Peter Grand, truly inspires. Sharing a common aesthetic and a love of design, the couple decided to conceive a house together that they could each use as a creative base when abroad—particularly to create, design and manufacture her fashion and interiors collection Rabens Saloner. The home also functions as a studio atelier, where seasonal catalogues and campaigns are shot, with Grand leading the art direction.
CREATIVE EYRIE
The couple wanted to have a home that wasn’t only tranquil and immersed in nature, but also had the feel of an urban loft where they could get creatively inspired. As the plot was a difficult triangular shape, it took several designs before landing on the final layout, which features an entry hall, an en-suite master bedroom, and a large open-living kitchen and dining area downstairs, with two additional bedrooms upstairs and a detached office at the front. Though the triangular parcel of land isn’t too big, the couple wanted their home to have a sense of space and openness. The lofty seven-metre, double-height proportions and large scale of the open-plan living room enhance this vertical illusion of space. “We wanted to work around the natural light, which is very warm and beautiful in Bali,” explains Raben. “The idea of the light coming through the length of the house was something we definitely wanted to implement.”
“We wanted to work around the natural light, which is very warm and beautiful in Bali”
URBAN TEXTURES
Although the duo had a clear vision, there were several revisions to the design features during the build. Industrial-style iron doors and windows uncommon to Indonesia had to be revised several times to get the look and quality just right. They ended up being the feature the homeowners are most pleased about. “The iron windows give us the feeling of being in a creative workspace; they’re similar to my atelier in Copenhagen,” says Raben. “Even though it was challenging to make these, it was worth it. We wanted the frames to resemble Parisian atelier windows—and I think we succeeded.” When flung open, these iron-framed doors lead to the outdoor dining terrace, blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors. The shutters—a recent addition, designed by Grand— enclose the pool, creating a more intimate vibe for this outdoor area. “The beauty is that the shutters, when left open during the day, reveal the postcard views of
The tranquillity of the location amidst the rice paddies was another huge influence on the home’s design
the rice fields,” says Raben. “By night, when the shutters are closed and the candles are lit, it creates a sense of privacy and a cosy ambience.” The tranquillity of the location amidst the rice paddies was another huge influence on the design. “Part of the unique beauty of the house is the landscape,” says Raben. “You really get the feeling of this when you sit on the terrace overlooking the working rice fields, where the rice farmers quietly maintain their fields. The colours of nature are absolutely amazing—the shades of green are so strong, vibrant and invigorating.”
ARTFUL CANVAS
Colour and contrast are also a major factor indoors. Glittering gold leaf with splashes of cobalt blue and black with bright flecks of electric colour on large expanses of wall surfaces in the living room and bedrooms have a dramatic effect. These abstract wall murals are a stunning backdrop to Raben’s designs and custom-made furnishings— leather sofas, armchairs, poufs and textiles from her Copenhagen flagship store, designed by Grand. “The clean lines of the house allowed us to create our own universe, using a variety of textures, textiles, furnishings and details,” say the couple. Some of these unique details include the mass groupings of lightbulb pendant lights in the entry hall and the hallway upstairs. Inspiration for the installation came from an old magazine clipping they had saved for future design reference. The lights make a welcoming impact, setting the tone for what’s to come. The streamlined design of the architecture offsets the tactile decor. Luxe velvet poufs and daybeds, layered with rugs and a mixed collection of cushions, are perfectly in sync with Raben’s style of clothing designs and interiors. The textiles are part of the collection of fabric gathered while travelling around Asia. “Travelling in this part of the world, where there’s an amazing archive of vintage and new fabrics found on our travels, made it heaven when it came to decorating our house—so many colours, so much inspiration,” says Raben. “We both love working with colour, and we are both drawn to and use earthy tones most often in our work universe. For us, it was natural that we integrate these kinds of colours into the decor.”