LIVING ROOM
Craftsmanship shines out against shades of white in a paean to Spanish farmhouses
Craftsmanship comes to the fore against shades of white in a Spanish villa.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PROJECT?
This is the main living area of a newly built villa in the grounds of the Marbella Club Hotel in Spain. Named El Cortijo, meaning the farmhouse, the villa draws inspiration from the architectural style of traditional Andalusian farmhouses. We specified details, such as the carved wooden ceiling, rustic fireplace and handmade terracotta tiles, in keeping with the farmhouse tradition.
WHAT EFFECT DID YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE?
The interiors needed to reflect the local rural style, but with a chic, contemporary feel. Here, the soft palette of mainly neutral shades serves as a calming contrast to the hot climate and we’ve used several textures – seagrass, rattan and timber – in a nod to the nearby beach. The ceramics introduce colour in fresh notes of aqua, celadon and leafy greens that enliven the quieter hues.
HOW DID YOU DEVISE THE LAYOUT?
The villa is a place where friends and family come together on holiday, so it needed relaxed, sociable seating. The generous sofa with chaise longue accommodates many guests, while the seagrass armchairs embody the
breezy feel of the scheme. Squaring off the arrangement is an ottoman; it provides a useful perch without disrupting the sight lines to the fireplace, which is flanked with built-in benches topped with deep cushion pads.
WHAT DOES CRAFTSMANSHIP BRING TO THIS SCHEME?
The wood and iron table was made by a local artist and encapsulates the rustic yet contemporary aesthetic we wanted to achieve. The artisan textiles on the benches and cushions are traditional Majorcan designs, and stud detailing brings a crafted element to the sofa and ottoman. The artworks are by local artist Pablo Fernandez Pujol; their palette works perfectly with the black accents that run through the room.
CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU CONCEALED THE TELEVISION?
A TV can spoil a beautifully designed room, so we are always looking for ways to hide them. The display cabinet here is crafted from antique pine and inset with two bookcases that slide to the sides to reveal a large TV mounted on the back. The shelves are made from wrought iron. This is the perfect foil for the blue and green ceramics, which create strong visual impact against the black.