Tired of Ibizan design clichés? This home sidesteps them all…
High in the mountains of northern Ibiza, where even phone signals refuse to reach, British interior designer Peter Mikic has created a home that is, in many ways, the antithesis to expectations of Ibizan living.
‘They didn’t want a party house, just something calm and serene, away from the crowds,’ he recalls of the homeowners’ initial brief, which extended to banning all white-island clichés – no oversized rattan lampshades, no dedicated disco room.
From the ground up, this was a project intended to honour the serenity of its setting. A new build (Peter and his team worked on the drawings and had them signed off by a local architect), it’s placed to make the most of its vantage point. ‘I wanted it to blend into the surroundings and be discreet – not like a big wedding cake on the top of the hillside,’ says Peter.
‘The pool,’ he adds, ‘has been angled to be in line with the sunset.’ He’s a man who knows the importance of small details. The stone used for the house’s façade, for instance, is taken directly from the mountain, but has been cut as precisely as puzzle pieces, fitting together to create a look that is rugged but not rustic. The windows are large in order to frame the views, and the furniture inside is kept low-slung so that nothing stands in their way.
Inside, the colour palette is neutral, but with texture and interest in abundance. In the main living room (which is so large it contains three separate breakout seating areas), classic pieces like the sheepskin-upholstered ‘Clam’ chairs by Arnold Madsen are placed in conversation with artisan works, largely by UK-based craftspeople.
Peter directs our attention towards the wooden coffee table, a piece by Simon Gaiger, whom he describes as ‘like the Henry Moore of wood’. Indeed, wood is important to the make-up of this home, with most rooms warmed by oak joinery. The kitchen, however, is a point of difference, with very dark wood, blackened-steel cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances – a request from the owners, who love to cook and entertain.
With its pro-style kitchen and multiple dining areas (from an intimate breakfast nook to a generous outdoor table surrounded by Tom Stuart-Smith’s planting), this is a home for good times, but at a slower pace.
For the owners, it’s when guests leave that the house is best enjoyed– ‘she wanted a place where she could fall asleep while reading a book, whereas he loves to walk around the gardens with a glass of wine listening to classical music,’ Peter tells us, painting a picture of utter relaxation.
‘I tend to get caught up in projects that are colourful, but to do something that’s the opposite of what you are expected to do is great,’ he adds. ‘The interesting thing about this interior is that it’s all about the exterior. People just walk straight outside. They want to stand on that terrace and see the sun and the sea.’ A chance to experience a moment of quietude. petermikic.com
