CALA COOL

NESTLED DISCREETLY INTO THE HILLSIDE JUST ABOVE A SMALL BAY, THIS HOLIDAY HOME IN THE MALLORQUIN SEASIDE VILLAGE OF DEIÀ WAS RECENTLY RENOVATED, AND NOW COMBINES TIMELESS MEDITERRANEAN STYLE WITH AN EXPANSIVE SENSE OF EASE.

The ideal location for a holiday home? It doesn’t get much better than the picturesque village of Deià, on the sea’s edge among the beautiful landscape of Mallorca’s Tramuntana mountains. Petite and discreet, Deià plays host each summer to a glamorous visiting cast of celebrities and power players – most of whom stay in private villas that belong either to the stars themselves, or to their close friends. But even in a place as exclusive and seductive as this, some properties are inevitably even more enviable than others. As is demonstrated by this hidden gem of a house, which combines a completely private position with easy onfoot access to village and beach alike.

Purchased a few years back from its original owner by a family from the UK, the house is one of a select few built during the late 1990s and early 2000s, when permission was given for the development of some properties off the winding road en route to Cala Deià. The cala is a tiny bay and beach that is perfectly suited to dips in the sea – as well as offering the possibility of relaxed summer lunches at its pair of charmingly rustic and ever-popular seaside restaurants.

The new owners were faced with a spacious but very 1990s-style house, which included “glossy wall paint, dated direct light sources [and] heavy dark wood beams, doors and windows”, says Oro del Negro from Deià-based architecture firm More Design, which the owners appointed to renovate the property. There were also quite a lot of “smaller, segregated spaces”, adds Oro, and some slightly ostentatious fittings, such as gold-plated taps.

Briefed to create “the Mediterranean dream home”, More Design set about “opening up spaces, generating more flow and connectivity in the common areas, refreshing all the tactile elements and of course, adding some magic to the outdoor spaces,” says Oro. The practice has extensive experience in reworking

Linen Lounging

In the lounge area, built-in seating is complemented by upholstered seat pads and cushions in various shades of terracotta linen.

Bespoke Bathing

The main bedroom’s spacious ensuite bathroom features a bespoke bath finished in handmade tadelakt, with a step formed from aged local stone.

and updating homes in the area, and over the years has developed an aesthetic that feels refreshingly contemporary yet also reflects a considered, uniquely Mallorquin heritage in terms of style, design and locally handmade craftsmanship.

As a result of restrictions imposed by the island’s planning authorities, the “core envelope” of the structure had to be respected, Oro says, with no changes to either its volume or footprint being permitted. Central to the success of More Design’s spatial reorganisation of the interior was the firm’s core design dictum, “Flow Forms”. The layout was opened up and altered, with a new entrance hall added to decisively separate this space from the kitchen. The latter is now positioned to function in old-school “heart of the home” style by being linked in open plan to a previously enclosed porch, which has become a dining area that, in turn, opens onto a wraparound veranda overlooking the pool area and lush garden.

In addition to the spatial alterations, and just as important to the final feel of the house, is the use of finishes and fixtures that are appropriate to – and authentically reflect – the property’s Mallorquin location. These include natural clay and stone, traditional Albarracín plaster, and lime renders that are used in combination as the main interior surfaces. As Oro says, these finishes “embrace longevity in the truest sense”. Likewise, More Design’s selection of lighting fixtures, taps and other hardware seamlessly blends in with the timeless aesthetic.

Currently used by the owners for relaxed family holidays and frequent shorter breaks too – regular two-hour flights from the UK make getting here a breeze – the house enables its occupants to completely relax and unwind without ever leaving its environs. The beautifully redeveloped pool area and the surrounding garden are so spacious and inviting, it’s difficult to imagine ever wanting to go anywhere else once ensconced here.

That said, however, the property’s perfect location also makes for an easy walk – via a charming boardwalk path – into the centre of the village for dinner, or a quick stroll down to the cala beach for lunch or a swim in the Mediterranean. Its position and superb southwesterly orientation means it also has wonderful views, which include vistas of the Tramuntana mountains, a peek or two at the sea, and even a glimpse of the village church tower.

Aptly described by Oro as “so complete and well put together”, this is a substantial and sizable home that nevertheless feels both welcoming and cosy. Combining a sense of intimacy with a casual, very Mediterranean elegance, it’s a house in which to rediscover a sense of ease and equanimity with the world, one regenerative summer’s day at a time.