How to lend a simple, contemporary touch to a Mediterranean retreat.
The project: Remodelling a farmhouse in Ibiza to create a flexible space for relaxing and entertaining guests.
The designer: Decorator Thomas Griem (020–7636 3838; www.tg-studio.co.uk) lends a simple, contemporary touch to everything from Victorian buildings and Parisian town houses to Mediterranean retreats and luxury yachts.
Oscar Norton says: The property is near Santa Agnes, a small village in the north-west of Ibiza that consists of a small church, a school, a bar and a handful of houses. It’s reached by a dirt road and sits in hilly countryside with distant views of the sea in one direction and forests in the other.
Before the current owner bought the property, it had been decorated in an Indonesian style. The brief given to Thomas Griem by the London-based owners was to reconfigure it to form a relaxed entertaining space and to make it ‘less hippy’. His solution was to simplify the structure and create a seamless join between inside and out.
Key to this are the double doors that make the most of the surroundings and create easy access to and from the main living space. The floors were laid with the same hardwearing sandstone and the walls re-rendered to create a more contemporary feel, which contrasts with the rustic appearance of exposed stone in other parts of the building.
How to get the look
Accessories
The first stop in any search for stylish garden furniture and accessories should, without a doubt, be Barbed, 3, Liffords Place, London SW13 (020–8878 1994; www.barbedltd.co.uk)
Furniture
Neptune sells garden tables with stone tops that are not only practical, but also ideal for contemporary terraces. The Hudson has a sleek feel and costs from £1,390. For details of your local retailer, visit www.neptune.com or telephone 01793 427300
Architectural features
Chesney’s Architectural Showroom in Battersea is a brilliant resource for anyone planning a terrace. It’s at 521, Battersea Park Road, London SW11 (020–7978 7224; www.chesneys.co.uk)
Lighting
Using indoor furnishings, particularly lampshades, offers a great way to create a seamless join between inside and out. For a great range of statement lighting, visit twentytwentyone 18c, River Street London EC1 (020– 7837 1900; http://twentytwentyone.com)
