Home Couture Magazine Spring

Issue 01 | autumn/Winter 2010 | € 4,50 Issue 02 | spring 2011 | € 4.50

Mallorca

design. interiors. trends. art. dÉcor. lifestyle. design. interiors. trends. art. dÉcor. lifestyle

Exclusive interview with international design sensation

Fabrizio

Plessi

Harmony in contrast

AUTUMN IN VOGUE Dreamy designs Seasonal trends to cosy up your home for the bedroom Eco-Chic

Building a Green living at its most stylish

greener future Dream Kitchens The ultimate in streamlined design Captivating colours International STYLE for Spring Contrasting collaborations

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reader competition

Win a Fireplace!

Editor‘s Note Setting the agenda for mallorcan

style

The launch issue of Home Couture was exceptionally well received in a market yearning for positive news about the property scene and an authoritative insight into Mallorcan home and décor trends.

Mallorca’s top surveyors and technical architects, for example, agreed to give formal recognition to Home Couture as their lifestyle magazine of choice within the English-speaking community. As part of that agreement, all members of the Colegio oficial de Aparejadores y Arquitectos Técnicos de Mallorca will be receiving copies of the magazine and keeping us informed of their latest projects.

We are also delighted this issue to feature an exclusive interview with celebrated artist and designer Fabrizio Plessi, who has a close and affectionate association with Mallorca. He and his wife Carla have a holiday home in Es Llombards and Fabrizio – one of the world’s foremost and most visionary video artists, though his work encompasses a far broader spectrum – is preparing a stunning project to coincide with the re-opening of Palma’s La Lonja this summer.

In our pacesetting “Stylish Living” section, we reveal how to design the bedroom of your dreams; check out the latest in bathroom chic; and, with spring in the air, suggest ways of enhancing your outdoor areas for stylish entertaining.

In “Seasonal Living” we offer some timely advice for adding a touch of vibrant colour to your home, well and truly dismissing any lingering winter blues; and learn how spring can be the perfect time to get back to basics in the garden – even growing our own herbs.

Respect for the environment is, arguably, the key consideration in contemporary design and interior decoration and this issue’s “Green Room” offers more ideas for adopting a natural approach to décor, furnishings and products, from innovative split wooden walls and velvety bamboo to Bohemian recycling and a new generation of “green” cookware.

EDIToRIAL editorial@homecouturemagazine.com GRouP EDIToR James Bellevue james@homecouturemagazine.com EDIToR Sarah Hughes sarah@homecouturemagazine.com ART & PRoDuCTIoN Stefan Arens (cobra5 Design) stefan@homecouturemagazine.com ADVERTISING ursula Peer ursula@homecouturemagazine.com Tel. 622 179 017 Melanie Brett mel@homecouturemagazine.com Tel. 660 980 556 David Edwards david@homecouturemagazine.com Tel. 665 689 907 ACCouNTS MANAGER & oFFICE ADMINISTRATIoN Anita Bailey anita@mallorcalifeandstyle.com

In “Boutique Chic”, we discover the elegant art and intimate charm of a rustic hotel on the spectacular south-eastern coast of Mallorca; while in “Estilo Internacional” we bring you up to date with cutting edge style at Europe’s premier home exhibitions, in Cologne, London, Milan and Paris.

CoNTRIBuToRS & PHoToGRAPHERS Adriano Bacchella, Trish Dynes, Justine Knox, Eduardo Pons, Carde Reimerdes, Elena Sánchez

In additional to featuring the Plessis’ captivating home, “Property Showcase” steps into the lap of luxury in Nova Santa Ponça – a magnificent villa that offers high-class living while also being ideal for families.

CoVER PHoTo Adriano Bacchella for Fabrizio Plessi

once again our experts answer some common questions on subjects ranging from matching colours to valuable pool maintenance tips and spring planting advice. And, finally, we have a fabulous competition exclusively for Home Couture readers, with the possibility of winning a bio-ethanol fireplace, for both inside the home and outdoors.

We hope you enjoy this latest edition of Mallorca’s definitive guide to avant-garde living on Mallorca, and are able to take full advantage of the island’s magnificent spring season.

James Bellevue

Carla and Fabrizio Plessi give Home Couture an exclusive preview of the renowned designer‘s La Lonja project.

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PuBLISHING DIRECToR Mark McCafferty mark@homecouturemagazine.com

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DEPÓSITo LEGAL MA 2123-2010 CoNTACT AM Media SLu Calle Solo 43 Pueblo Español Palma 07014, Mallorca Tel. 971 450 432 The views and opinions expressed by contributors to Home Couture may not represent the views and opinions of the publishers.

AM Media slu takes no responsibility for claims made in advertisements or advertorials in this magazine.

No part of Home Couture may be reproduced or copied in any way without the prior written consent of AM Media slu.

Contents

10 IN VOGUE Avant garde style and cutting-edge trends…

14 STYLISH LIVING Choosing your ideal bathroom The bedroom of your dreams In the mood for spring entertaining

34 DESIGNER PROFILE Fabrizio Plessi: breaking down the barriers between art and science

44 PROPERTY SHOWCASE Minimalism at the cutting edge of art Luxury living and comfort for families

58 ESTILO INTERNACIONAL European showcase: crème de la crème of home décor

64 THE GREEN ROOM Sustainable innovation… and a healthier environment

70 BOUTIQUE CHIC Art and charm on Mallorca’s stunning south-eastern coast

76 SEASONAL LIVING Getting back to basics in the garden Vibrant colours for a fresh new spring

88 COMPETITION Exclusive for readers: win a bio-ethanol fireplace

92 A WORD FROM

THE EXPERTS

Mallorca’s top specialists answer some common questions

96 CHIC LIST The definitive directory of local home and décor services and outlets

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In Vogue

In Vogue Fun and functional Designed and made in Catalonia, this fun outdoor furniture features a unique design and function. The Gat (or Cat) has been created with real cats in mind: “living in balance and harmony with nature... prepared for survival and respectful of its environment”. Designed for Calma by SerradelaRocha, Menu is a collection of outdoor furniture “with lines and colours without a complex – essential, authentic and sincere features”. meridiano-mallorca.com

Iconic Mediterranean concept

Objects of Desire

Gandia Blasco’s 1996 collection Na Xemena revolutionised the contemporary outdoor furniture market, creating an iconic concept in the process. Now, after spreading the word about Mediterranean design to all corners of the world, the company is presenting its latest concept, Gandia Blasco Passdoor, featuring new materials, colours and models. To mark the 15th anniversary of the Na Xemena Collection, Gandia Blasco has launched a new limited edition finished in thermolacquered aluminium in colours of white, sand and tobacco. Their Palma showroom is in Barón de Pinopar. gandiablasco.com

AVANT-GARDE STYLE AND CUTTING-EDGE TRENDS TO MAKE YOUR HOME THE TALK OF MALLORCA

Versatile party pieces These colourful “multi-cubos” – or art cubes – can be used as poufs, coffee tables or even as supports for a larger table – around the pool or anywhere in the home to add a touch of original style when entertaining friends and family. They have been individually made, “with lots of love and dedication”.

Inspired by nature Created in “shintotex”, a new synthetic fibre for outdoor furniture, these pieces from Intermobel have been “inspired by nature and perfected by technology to achieve maximum comfort, functionality and durability”. The Emmanuelle chair is resistant to weather changes, abrasive chemical agents and breakage and wear and tear; while another sleek and original new release is the Marilyn armchair. inter-mobel.com

sanna-art-design.com

UNIQUE and practical Designed with a great flair for the original, this chair by House Doctor is one of a kind. Also available from Mimar are these lemonade trays – doubling as a practical home accessory and a design statement in their own right. mimarbalear.com

Stylish contemporary fusion Designed by Philippe Starck with Eugeni Quitllet, the Masters collection has been created as a tribute to three “icons of contemporary design: Arne Jacobsen (Serie 7), Eero Saarinen (Tulip Armchair) and Charles Eames (Eiffel Chair). Designed as a “fusion of styles in order to obtain a stylistic combination”, they are available at the flagship Kartell store in Palma.

Tel. 871 953 162

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In Vogue SMArT SOUNDS Radical acoustic advances make Zeppelin Air the best sounding iPod speaker yet. Plus, Apple’s AirPlay® technology allows you to stream music wirelessly from your Mac or PC or directly from your iPhone® or iPad. digitalcinema.es

ArOMAS OF AFrIcA

SUSTAINABlE AND STATE-OF-ThE-ArT

Africa has provided the inspiration for these metal candle-holders from the Baobab collection, available at the Mar Sobron store in Port Andratx (now moved from Palma). The Elektrum collection comprises three models named after famous pyramids: Kheops, Mykerinos and Khephren. The store also offers candles for spas made from vegetal wax and essential oils, as well as a wide range of other decoration pieces, including paintings, upholstery, bed linen and curtains – for the home or boat.

This new toilet product from Lagares was designed with three concepts in mind: maximum hygiene, minimum water consumption and integration into any space. It has been made with a solid surface material, and can be installed in a variety of spaces, on a wall or in a wardrobe – builtin or otherwise. The bowl is opened and closed using a touch sensor, for optimum and simple hygienic functioning. once closed, the internal mechanism cleans the bowl by low-consumption water pressure. duchafresca-net

veri5aromas.com

Televisionary.

The new Loewe Individual with a sensational picture thanks to 400 Hz LED technology.

What gives a TV set today that extraordinary edge? A modular design that allows you to tailor it to your own needs? The range of multimedia options? Or simply a fantastic picture with LED technology and perfect sound? Know what we think? That when all these factors coincide in a TV system, you're talking about the new Loewe Individual LED.

4 Sec.

FUNKY hOME cOMFOrTS The late Holger Nielsen was a craftsman with a keen sense of aesthetics and quality. „Good design never goes out of fashion,“ he used to say. Now, as his company celebrates its 70th anniversary, the Vipp bin has hardly changed in design or materials since it was created in 1939. Except for the lid… originally made of chromium-plated steel with a wavy look, it is now manufactured in stainless steel, giving the bin its domed, smooth design. These Danish design classics are available at Interior House in Costa D’en Blanes. interiorhousemallorca.com

SMOOTh SOPhISTIcATION PAMPErED BEAUTY Looking after ourselves – both for health and beauty – begins in the bathroom, where we can relax and enjoy the tranquillity of this comfortable modular style of furniture. Codis offers made-to-measure solutions, for both large and small spaces. quilis.es

A contemporary icon of design bathrooms, Kaos 2 is an innovative bathtub that features sophisticated engineering to hide the motors under the tube edges. The visual impression is of “a large suspended tub-sculpture whose shape is designed by the weight of the water… an organic basin resembling a smooth, natural inlet where your body can find ideal positions and enjoy unlimited comfort“. quilis.es

loeweGallery Palma Brought to you by Loewe Design/Phoenix Design.

SHOWROOM LOEWE GALLERY Moncades, 2 (near Jaime III) 07012 Palma de Mallorca. Illes Balears T+34 971 724 951. M+ 34 629 609 680 comercial@loewegallerypalma.es www.loewegallerypalma.es

Your home entertainment specialist with Loewe and Bose by

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Stylish Living

Stylish Living

Choosing your ideal bathroom With a dream bathroom in mind you are probably swooning with delight at the latest in bathroom designs. However, as Trish Dynes stresses in this timely look at current styles and trends, it is important - as well as getting ideas from the glossy catalogues and enticing internet pictures - to spend some time assessing what is the ideal bathroom for you and your family .

Start by making a list of the things you

like about your current bathroom and the things you would like to change. Prioritising your needs and desires will give you food for thought and a point from where to start. Every household is different, so don’t be led by what’s in fashion.

A well-designed bathroom is a perfect balance of function and aesthetics but it is also a big investment so choose your colour scheme and fittings wisely. Think about whether or not you will still be in love with your choice of bathroom in 10 years time. People rarely stay in a house for a lifetime and if you think you may need to move in the next few years your choice of style and colour needs to appeal to potential purchasers, bearing in mind that the bathroom and kitchen are both major selling points.

Natural-coloured tiles and white sanitary ware are always a safe option, as they will not date. You can always add a personal touch with brightly coloured towels and accessories.

A daily shower is now central to our health and wellbeing. Extra-large shower heads and body jets are popular

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Photo: Zucchetti Kos

for an invigorating shower and therefore the area dedicated to showering within the bathroom continues to grow. A luxurious shower is now high on the wish list of every renovation project.

To ensure that you enjoy the full potential of your new shower take your time choosing a tray and enclosure that will not only enhance its looks but will also be convenient and comfortable to use. There is a tray shape to suit all installation requirements – from squares and rectangles to pentangles, quadrant shapes and circles. These are offered in a range of sizes to suit both small and large bathrooms.

For safety have an anti-slip finish as standard or as an optional extra – very important if you have children or are not so good on your feet.

The current trend for frameless glass enclosures gives a modern feel to the showering space. The lack of frame makes them a good choice for small bathrooms as visually they disappear into the surrounding area.

Many manufacturers also offer a range of double-width units featuring wet and dry zones. These feature a walk-in

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Stylish Living

Stylish Living so consider both at the same time. Countermounted vessel basins require a wall-mounted or high tap so that the water is delivered in the optimal position.

If you have the space, double basins are great for multi-user households and add symmetry while creating a focal point in the bathroom. For a cohesive look, your choice of WC and bidet should match the style of your basin. If you have chosen a wall-hung basin, then choose a wall-hung WC and bidet to complement it.

Today’s bathroom furniture comes in an abundance of designs and offers a storage solution for every situation. From bright, glossy lacquer finishes to pale woods, units range from small cubes to long stretches of cupboard and drawer units. Wall-hung styles will enhance a minimalist bathroom and provide a place to hide away the loo rolls and other mundane trappings of hygiene, leaving only the beautiful on display.

Lighting and sound can help us to wake up in the morning or unwind at the end of the day, while heating brings comfort to

Photo: Zucchetti Kos

the bathroom environment. A good lighting scheme will be flexible enough to create a number of moods, whatever the time of day. Additional feature lighting over the bath, within recessed shelving or even in the shower floor, will create atmosphere and allow you to benefit from a number of different lighting scenarios.

Floor and wall tiles create the background for your bathroom. They bring colour and texture to the surfaces and set the tone of the space. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are the most popular choice for walls. Largeformat porcelain tiles give a contemporary look, while small hand-glazed ceramic tiles will give a rustic feel and are best suited to traditional spaces.

Your choice of bathroom flooring should combine looks with practicality. As the surface will often get wet it is important to choose a finish that is both anti-slip and water-resistant. Ceramic tiles come in an endless range of colours and finishes. By using two different designs you can highlight different zones in the bathroom.

screened area for showering and an adjacent drying area, often with a slatted wooden board. Understated glass screens, paired with large trays, are used to prevent splashes rather than enclose the entire shower area, creating a spacious walk-in or walk-through wet area. This re-creates the look of a wet room but is a more practical choice for a main bathroom.

Starting your day with a shower is invigorating but ending it by luxuriating in a warm bath is hard to beat. Don’t choose your bath based on looks alone. Visit a bathroom showroom, take off your shoes and try a few out. Is it long enough? Wide enough? Does it support your back?

From the smallest room in the house to the most palatial bathroom there is a bath to suit your lifestyle, from large double-ended models with centrally mounted taps to corner baths and roll-top baths. If you need a small bath then consider one that allows you to fill up without a spout taking up precious space.

Although your choice of tiles and colour scheme sets the tone of your bathroom, it is the sanitary ware and fittings that determine its design style. Modern wall-hung basins in graphic shapes will give a clean look to contemporary spaces, while Art Deco-style pedestal basins add an element of grandeur to traditional bathrooms. Basins made from stone, glass and resin have become increasingly popular and add another layer of texture and colour to the bathroom environment.

Your choice of basin will also influence your choice of tap Photo: Zucchetti Kos

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Stylish Living Consider introducing a bold band of colour behind the basin or maybe choosing a different tile for a walk-in shower.

Due to their resilience, porcelain tiles are now available in sizes up to one metre – ideal for a large modern bathroom but totally unsuitable for the smaller ones. The tiles can be butted up close to one another, allowing for almost invisible grout lines.

For the floor, natural stone tiles complement traditional and modern settings and can have either a polished or a honed finish and be sealed after installation.

Under-floor heating is becoming a must-have item, especially beneficial when floor surfaces such as stone or ceramic tiles are naturally cool to the touch. Systems can either be electric or hot water, depending on preference and your household heating system. Heated towel rails come in a range of styles, colours and shapes from the classic ladder-style to more adventurous pieces. The heat source can be electrical, hot water or a combination of the two.

Do you dream of having speakers in the ceiling, or a television next to the bath? These features are already

commonplace in hotel bathrooms and an increasing number of people are now introducing this technology into their own bathrooms. Multi-room entertainment systems allow you to listen to the radio or a podcast during your morning shower, while bathroom televisions complete with floating remote controls are offered in a range of screen sizes.

When did keeping clean and fresh become so much fun?

Photo: Zucchetti Kos

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Stylish Promotion

Stylish Promotion This Sabbia wash basin, designed

by Naoto Fukasawa, is part of a range of moulded, round-shaped models made from composite material (Cristalplant), coloured white and stylised by a soft shaping inside the basin.

The wash basins are available top-mounted, wall-mounted or floor-mounted, or integrated into Cristalplant tops with subtly protruding edges.

BATHROOM INNOVATON

Aquaquae Boffi Studio Aquaquae Boffi Studio is located in El Portixol, one of Mallorca’s increasingly fashionable and stylish suburbs – epitomising the essence of its Palma Bay setting.

Extending over nearly

1,000 square metres, the showroom comprises a rectangular, 200 square metre indoor patio with extensive glass areas to showcase the kitchens and bathrooms.

But Aquaquae is much more than bathrooms and kitchens: it is a philosophy of life that enables clients to create, develop and realise their dreams, while satisfying their demands and requirements with comprehensive projects for the home.

Offering a new dimension in kitchens and bathrooms, creating unique and exclusive styles featuring the latest trends in design, Boffi Studio is the exclusive distributor for Vola in Mallorca.

Latest trends

Designed by Naoto Fukasawa, this Terra bathtub in white Cristalplant features solid surface materials produced using a casting-moulded technique. It is the first large mono-block moulded bathtub without jointing points. The basin is moulded and integrated into the entire volume of the bathtub; and the lateral water supply is like a waterfall.

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Bathrooms are no longer just a small space between bedrooms, with access from a hallway: they are now one of the most carefully planned and thought out areas in the home.

There is a trend towards homes without walls, to flexible living areas where the bathroom is a fullyintegrated part of the bedroom – the same as, in recent years, kitchens have been linked more closely to the dining and living rooms. In that respect, the industry expects growing popularity in 2011 for spectacular bathrooms located in the bedroom.

Bathrooms with shower recesses at floor level also remain popular, and this trend is having a major impact on the design and distribution of these spaces. This style means the shower area is in natural harmony with the rest of the bathroom, makes the bathroom area more versatile than a conventional one with partitioned shower, and opens up more design options. It also enables people to shower without completely enclosing the area with screens.

In general the current trend is for an ambience of soft, ergonomic and round forms.

Getting there From Palma’s Paseo Marítimo, head in the direction of Portixol and continue along C/ Llucmajor to number 38.

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Stylish Living

Dreamy designs Designing the bedroom of your dreams is a cinch when – notes Trish Dynes – you take a good look at your lifestyle and personal preferences.

Stylish Living

The colours you love,

the way you set a table, and even your favourite fashion designer can be helpful indicators in realising your ideal bedroom. But there are other considerations. Who will share your ideal bedroom? Will the man or woman in your life be happy with romantic satin and bows or the clean masculine lines of the modern bedroom?

Photo: Roche Bobois

Contemporary Design This refers to the styles and trends that are current today. Furnishings can be inspired by traditional, modern, romantic, eclectic or even cottage design, but you can extend the boundaries with more stylised contours and have a focus on colour, shape and space.

Contemporary bedrooms are sophisticated and fresh, featuring simple furniture with little or no decorative elements or carving.

Linens with graphic design, bold colours and modern-looking monograms offset this look perfectly.

For a contemporary twist on a headboard try hanging drapes on the wall behind the bed and hanging artwork from the ceiling in front of the fabric. Light-coloured wood, frosted glass, glazed pottery, and chrome and stainless accents complete the look

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Stylish Living

Family-Friendly Bedroom Designing a bedroom is not just about style. It’s no use designing a glamorous, romantic bedroom if you need a place where the whole family including pets can chill out. If you need a family-friendly room, where you and the rest of your family can do some major relaxing and bonding, what you really need is a place where you can all kick off your shoes and climb into your bed for a movie marathon.

The must-haves for your ideal bedroom are a large bed a good-size TV, a DVD player and some trays or collapsible tables for when you bring food into the room. Also consider investing in a stylish armoire to house your TV and other equipment. That way, when your room isn‘t playing host to the family, you can shut the doors and hide everything.

Finally, be sure to set limits on your open-door policy. Make sure your kids know to knock before entering so that you can sometimes use your bedroom as a grown-up retreat.

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Stylish Living

Cottage-Style Bedroom Picture a room a room filled with simple painted furniture, hand-sewn quilts, gingham fabrics and cotton-braided rugs. The cottage-style bedroom is uncomplicated and the ultimate in comfort. A quick and easy way to set the stage for your cottage bedroom is by painting your hardwood floors.

To achieve the look, blend the fresh with the familiar. Flank windows with gauzy curtains to allow natural light to pour in. Decorate with painted furniture, textural accessories, time-worn finishes and colours inspired by nature. The cosy atmosphere is enhanced by softly hued but lively patterns such as checks, stripes and florals.

Plump for a comfy duvet or a quilted bedspread in a traditional design over white iron bed, and fill the room with a multitude of table lamps and wicker accessories.

Modern-Style Bedroom This style promotes a sense of symmetry and serenity through the use of streamlined design elements. The focus of a modern bedroom should be on function so you are advised to avoid excessive ornamentation and concentrate on creating an uncluttered, open feeling throughout the room.

Start with a low platform bed which will enhance the space and make the room seem larger. The finish, lines and colour of a modern bedroom should all have a common theme. Look for simple pieces with sharp edges and angles in chrome, metal and glass.

For a personalised approach to the modern boudoir try putting a different spin on the popular black-and-white colour scheme by substituting a dark, but warmer shade such as chocolate brown to pair with clean white.

Photo: Roche Bobois

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Turn your bedroom into a five-star hotel

Stylish Living

Eclectic Bedroom The beauty of this style is that you can bring just about anything into your room that makes you happy. You can mix your favourite contemporary designs such as a Lucite table (a synthetic polymer that is highly transparent and colourless) alongside a well-worn side chair; add a shag pile rug and a floral duvet to the mix and you have a look that is unique to you.

It‘s about mixing all different types of furnishings and décor from all different eras to achieve an unorthodox and collected look. With no rules, the sky‘s the limit when choosing your design elements. Incorporate statement pieces you love, and look to revamp old items to fit your needs.

Traditional-Style Bedroom This style of bedroom is rooted in English country style, with its matched sets of furniture, saturated colours, multiple patterns, and heavy layers of window treatments and accessories.

But modern life has changed how we use our rooms and what we expect from them.

The new traditional is characterised by formal furniture with more comfort, sleeker forms and personal touches.

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Photo: Roche Bobois

Romantic Bedroom The word romantic when applied to a bedroom conjures up images of all things elegant and feminine, such as mirrored vanity tables and gauzy curtain panels. A romantic style encourages intimacy and cosiness by placing an emphasis on comfort and beauty by using soft, supple fabrics, floral patterns, antique linens and a muted colour palette.

Sparkly and reflective touches like crystal, glass and mirrors give glamour to the look.

Add details such as a faux-fur throw tossed on the edge of the bed to add a deluxe appeal.

You can create a dreamy boudoir with a beautiful canopy bed and a comfortable, yet elegant chaise lounge.

Your must-have accessories are ultra-soft or silky sheets and plenty of scented candles and pretty throw pillows. In warmer weather, pastel fabrics and lace look great; for colder weather, consider luxurious velvets in rich hues. Long curtains that pool on the floor can give your room a romantic feel.

Also, consider replacing the regular light bulbs in your lamps with pink or ambercoloured ones that will cast a soft, flattering glow. And don‘t forget to treat yourself to fresh flowers every once in a while.

Miami’s world-famous hotel, The Setai, leaves nothing to chance – especially a perfect night’s sleep. That’s why the Setai chose only DUX beds for its ultra-luxury suites. You too can experience the quality of a DUX bed and bring the contemporary style and comfort of the Setai to your bedroom. Stop by a Duxiana store and find out why luxury hotels around the world trust their reputation to DUX beds.

www.duxiana.com Available at DUXIANA stores worldwide.

DUXIANA, Plaza de Rosario 3, 07001 Palma de Mallorca, Tel: +34 971 72 72 27, Fax: +34 971 72 94 40, E-mail: mallorca@duxiana.es

Stylish Living

Stylish Living

Springentertaining

Outdoor entertaining

is one of the best parts of living on Mallorca. But, after months of cold snaps, your garden or terrace may not be up to par for stylish entertaining.

To have a garden that is ready for impromptu as well as planned parties you need a designated space for outdoor entertaining.

Even the smallest terrace can fit in a place to sit and some special decorative touches.

Find a level spot defined by decking, pavers or an outdoor rug. Create shade if needed with a pergola, patio umbrella or plantings.

However, the ultimate in outdoor dining is a purpose-built outdoor kitchen.

It may be necessary to consult a professional outdoor kitchen designer or contractor when considering an outdoor kitchen. It is important that you know exactly what you want in your outdoor kitchen before you make the first mark. Are you looking for an area to grill a few burgers and store cold drinks during summer pool parties? Are you looking for a wood-burning bread oven, a commercial quality propane grill or a formal dining area?

Whether it is one of those choices or something in between, the first step is to define your needs as well as your budget.

The first day that‘s warm and sunny enough to eat your lunch outside marks a turn of season, and of mood. Spring has definitely sprung and – as POLLY JACKSON notes – it‘s time to think about getting out into the garden.

Photo: Kettal.es

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Stylish Living If you are limited on budget in these stringent times you can improvise your outdoor kitchen and still have bigger plans for better times ahead. Grills and smokers can be installed on a rolling cart with an adequate number of side trays and some storage beneath, and then removed later and reinstalled into a pit if your budget increases. This is a great idea if you want the feel of an outdoor kitchen on a tight budget.

Location is very important. The kitchen will impact the look of both your house and garden. It is important that it be a beautiful addition rather than an eyesore. Many people build the outdoor kitchen very close to the house. This keeps it convenient but also means that the style will need to flow with the look of the house.

Keep in mind your privacy when you are planning a location, as well as your neighbours‘ comfort. If you are having a late night cookout and the kitchen is located near the neighbours‘ bedroom window, your good time may keep them awake.

Once you have decided where to place

Stylish Living the kitchen you need to create a site map.

This is little more than a piece of graph paper, with your kitchen plans drawn to scale. Include any large trees, gardens, walkways, a pool or other features that could have an impact on your project.

If you build your outdoor kitchen on an existing patio, make sure that it can support the weight of whatever you plan to install. Otherwise you will have to choose a flooring material such as concrete or flagstone. Creating a floor for your outdoor kitchen will be much like building any patio, with the exception of any extra water, gas and electrical lines that may need to be run. The placement of the appliances, sinks, refrigerators and other items must be planned far ahead of time, and the necessary utilities installed. The sinks and any dishwashers will be hooked up so that they drain into the household‘s main sewer line and the grey water is disposed of properly.

Many people choose stainless steel for their outdoor kitchens, because it is easy to maintain, is not a fire hazard and will not

Photo: dedon.de

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surfaces will need to be made of material that can withstand harsh conditions and a lot of use.

Plumbing costs can make a sink one of the most expensive outdoor kitchen propositions but you can opt for a heater that goes under the worktop and thus takes away the need to plumb hot water from the house.

be affected by weather – but if you decide on wood cabinets don’t put them too close to the grill or wood-burning oven.

The cabinets will not only be handy for storing your grill brushes and forks as well as spices and paper napkins, but also they will link the various components of the outdoor kitchen together to make a cohesive whole. The countertops and other

Some of the newest trends in outdoor cooking include side burners on grills for cooking pasta, simmering barbecue sauce or cooking vegetables, Other trends include wood-fired pizza ovens, outdoor bread ovens, infrared cookers, warming drawers, refrigerators, outdoor heating and outdoor sound systems.

As for a table and chairs, wrought iron

Photo: Kettal.es

Photo: dedon.de

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Stylish Living

is perfect, but only if it has a good undercoat and powder coating, just like a car. Another option is an aluminium dining set. Make sure you examine the pieces for superior welding and buy the heavyweight stuff. Good quality teak tables and chairs are also a good option.

If you‘re looking at seat cushions, the ones that last the longest and look the best are made from 100 per cent acrylic, solution-dyed fabric because they are mildew and water-resistant and will last three or four times longer than canvas or other washable cushions. If they do get dirty, you can scrub them with a little bleach and hose them down and they‘ll look as good as new.

Whether you choose an awning, arbour, gazebo or standard roof, cover for an outdoor kitchen can be very expensive. If you can get by covering only your counter space or dining area, consider doing that with an umbrella, at least until your budget allows for something more elaborate. There are cantilevered umbrellas available in many patterns and price ranges that attach to the side of a counter or table surface. Consider an umbrella with a cover that comes off so you can throw it in the wash and put it back on damp, which will take care of bird droppings and other dirt.

At last you’re cooking! Now all you need to complete your outdoor experience is a bar. Decide if you want an outdoor bar with a roof, and if it is going to be a dry or wet bar. Make sure the area you choose has access to water and electricity if you want a wet bar – it may be better to install a dry bar with sections for coolers.

Decide on the height of the bar and bar stools. Some

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people prefer outdoor bars that are the same height as tables while others want the full effect of a tall bar with tall bar stools. One affordable option for bar-height seating is director-style chairs with colourful slings that come off so you can throw them in the wash. However, since they are not that durable in bad weather, you will want to bring them in for the winter or if you‘re going to have rain for several days. The good thing about these chairs is they are comfortable and can be folded away out of sight when not in use.

If you want to take the drinks to a more comfortable place, conversation patio sets are becoming popular. Instead of the traditional dining set, conversation sets generally feature large sofas, comfortable chairs and relaxing ottomans to help you achieve the perfect entertaining space for those warm spring afternoons and evenings.

Now you really are ready to party. Bon profit!

Photo: dedon.de

Designer Profile

Designer Profile Fabrizio Plessi

Breaking down the barriers between

art and science Born in Reggio Emilia (Italy) in 1940, Fabrizio Plessi attended the Liceo Artistico and studied at the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Venice – where he later was to become a professor of painting.

He was one of the first artists to combine art and the new technologies of the 1970s, specifically focusing on “arte povera”, an Italian art form using so-called “poor” materials such as wood, leaves, rocks, lead-glass, plants, coal, clay and even waste products.

A central theme of his work – present in his installations, films, videotapes and performances – has always been water, while other recurring elements are fire and lava.

He has been described as being “like an alchemist… Fabrizio Plessi attempts to make two apparently opposite and contrary elements coexist with the ultimate objective of humanising technology by filling the video with emotional meanings.

“Pressi’s artistic research revolves around breaking down the barriers between art and science. However, the main theme of his research is always water – an ancient, ancestral, primordial element represented through a contemporary medium, an element of today, namely video. The poetic element in his work was born precisely from this unusual coexistence, in which water is seen as a primary form of energy contaminated by the quintessential technological element: video.”

As a video artist, his works have been

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exhibited in the world’s premier museums of contemporary arts, including the Venice Biennial, Centre Pompidou in Paris, New York’s Guggenheim Museum and the Guggenheim in Bilbao, and the Museo Español de Arte Contemporaneo in Madrid In 1990, his ambitious exhibition “Videosal” was presented at Palau Solleric in Palma de Mallorca; and that same year he created set designs and costumes for the opera “The Fall of Icarus”, performed by the La Monnaie national opera in Brussels – in cooperation with choreographer Frédérick Flamand and musician Michael Nyman.

A pioneer of video art in the context of contemporary European technological advances

Two years later he presented a complex show of photographs and project sketches at the Sa Nostra foundation in Palma, dedicated to “a typology of the island and its materials”.

In 1994, he created “Cristali Liquidí”, an installation commissioned by the venerable and celebrated Café Florian in Venice which was shown there during the Biennial; and he designed electronic scenographies for the Luciano Pavarotti concert in New York’s Central Park. He also designed the monumental video installation “Liquid Time” produced by Philips for the Berlin Trade Fair.

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Designer Profile

Designer Profile

In 1996, Plessi developed two video installations, “Fuochi Fatui”, for the Fundació Pilar i Joan Miro in Palma, one of which was set up in Miro’s own studio.

He received the 2000 artist of the year award from the Nord/LB bank in Hannover; and the following year designed the sets for the production of “Sogno di una notte di mezza estate” by the Aterbaletto, with original music by Elvis Costello.

In 2003 he launched an “intensive” cooperation with Calvin Klein, designing a series of room-filling moving installations for the designer in New York, Dallas and Paris, with the recurring themes of trees and electronic fire.

Three years later he was invited to redesign a vast industrial-archaeological site for the Kistefos Museet in Norway.

In the grounds of an old sawmill he created “Memory Motions”, nine large installations made of tree trunks that were randomly set in mechanical rotation on various levels. This same year he also began working with BMW to create a project series “combining automotive research with the poesy of artistic creation”.

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Mari Verticali at La Maddalena for the Louis Vuitton Trophy

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Designer Profile

Designer Profile FrEEDom oF ExPrESSion

In 2009, Plessi began working with Louis Vuitton to mark the opening of their rooms in Canton Road, Hong Kong. For this occasion he created “Luxury is slow”, a series of huge fusions of gold with brilliant LEDs; “Fusion”, comprising a series of sculptures and black stones; and a highly innovative technological bag with an ultra-slim TV and batteries with images of liquid gold in constant movement. This was considered to have been the first “digital bag” in the world.

His association with Louis Vuitton currently includes the “Mari Verticali” creation for the Louis Vuitton Cup (presented to the winner

of the America’s Cup challenger series), an extraordinary work composed of 12 steel boats “in which the 12 seas of the world are loudly flowing”. Developed on the Maddalena island of Sardinia, this work will be shown in top museums around the world over the next few years “a journey within the journey”. It was showcased inside a 40-metre Louis Vuitton-branded pyramid during the last leg of the Louis Vuitton Trophy Cup held in Dubai last November, when Plessi hosted a workshop on video art organised by Dubai Culture.

He collaborated on the design of the new

Louis Vuitton boutique in Palma, opened at the end of 2010; and his “La Llum del Llaüt” creation, featuring traditional Mallorcan “llaüt” fishing boats, will be on show at Palma’s La Lonja, in conjunction with Louis Vuitton, from 24 June to 2 october – open until midnight to cater for summer visitors.

During a visit to Mallorca in March (he and his wife Carla have a stunning home in Es Llombards – our featured “Property Showcase” this issue) he spoke exclusively to Home Couture about his illustrious career and his passion for art and technology.

the man

behind the artist you were one of the first artists to start combining art and new technologies. How would you define that style?

I would define my style as a kind of “arte povera” contaminated by technology.

That was in the 1960s and 1970s… how has your style evolved using the new technologies of the 21st century?

Mari Verticala in Dubai

I have always been curious about discoveries in technology, and it was inevitable that I would follow these developments.

Water remains a central theme of your work? Why water?

Living in Venice, the city has become the alibi for my relationship with water.

Another recurring element is fire. Why two such opposite and contrary elements – fire and water?

I think water and fire have secret and deep complicities. your video art has been exhibited in some of the most important international museums over the past four decades. Is there any particular exhibition that has a special place in your heart and memory?

For the historical and cultural impact, my solo exhibition at the Guggenheim in New York was a fundamental platform for my career. Another very challenging moment was the exhibition at the Martin Gopius Bau in Berlin in 2004, where I had a space of 6,000 square metres.

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Designer Profile

Designer Profile

you taught art as a professor in venice. What was the most important lesson – or philosophy – you taught your students?

Freedom of expression… tireless research for emotion… a deep belief in one’s own work.

In 1981 you won the “citta di Milano” award at the venice Film festival with your film “Liquid Movie”.

What was the inspiration behind the film?

It was incredible that an experimental movie could take part and win the festival. The inspiration was a perception of reality: what you observe is not what is real – but perhaps its opposite.

The following year you presented a French production, “Underwater”, the first time electronic media had been included at a film biennial. How was that received by the public and critics?

For “Underwater”, for the first time the public had to be resigned to the fact that electronic media would form an essential part of cinema.

What was the original idea, concept and inspiration behind your “room-related video installations”?

The idea that a visitor can pass through my installation and not only observe it frontally but have a meeting between two physical entities.

From 1990 to 2000 you were professor for “Humanising Technology” at the Academy of Media Arts in cologne. In what ways can we “humanise technology”?

I have always been convinced that we have to dominate technologies through thought and a historical conscience in relation to our culture. If this doesn’t happen, it will be technology dominating us.

La Flotta di Berlino

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Designer Profile What technological developments do you see in the future?

La Llum del Llaüt.

Coming to La Lonja this summer.

Technological development is meaningless compared to the development of our thought. you have worked with Louis vuitton, including the opening last november of their boutique in Palma – and the flagship store in Hong Kong in 2008.

What exactly is your involvement with the famous brand?

My relationship with Louis Vuitton can be summarised as an osmosis between creativity and the unlimited possibilities of putting that into practice.

What is the future of “video sculpture” – in what way is it evolving?

What inspired you to design the Louis vuitton “ultimate bag stravaganzza” – with the option of an ultra-fine LcD screen?

Is it true that this was the first “digital bag” in the world?

What is the work you are most proud of?

It could only have been me inventing such a bag! And it was inevitable to put the screen inside. one of your latest projects is the “Mari verticali” for the Louis vuitton Trophy. What does this consist of? What was the inspiration behind the work?

I had to re-think the idea of travel, which is fundamental for Louis Vuitton, and I remixed it with 12 digital ideal seas of the world. you are best known for your video installations/sculptures but do you also work with other art forms?

Every day, out of biological necessity, I have to draw.

What is the secret to successfully incorporating video installations/sculptures in interior decoration?

These digital structures energetically enrich the spatiality of a house.

In what ways can people incorporate video installations/sculptures in their home in a simple, inexpensive way?

By buying them!

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It will develop in relation to our desire to be in contact with art, by short circuit.

Always the latest on which I’m working.

What was your most difficult project?

Difficulty is hidden in every work. respect for the environment is an important factor in contemporary interior decoration? Is it also an important consideration in your work?

Art, technology and nature have always been the starting point of my work.

What project, or projects, are you currently working on?

Right now I’m working on two.

One, “Mari Verticali (“Vertical Sea”), will be exhibited at the Biennale in Venice at Padiglione Venezia. The second is “La Llum del Llaüt”, for the re-opening of the La Lonja in Palma after a lengthy restoration. Meanwhile, I am also working on the opening of my museum in Italy.

Do you have any unfulfilled creative dream? Any dream project you would like to work on?

I have thousands of projects that are sleeping in the drawers in my studio, waiting to be awakened.

Property Showcase

Property Showcase

Minimalism at the cutting edge

of art

Photos: Adriano Bacchella

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Property Showcase

Property Showcase

Internationally acclaimed artist Fabrizio Plessi and his wife Carla come to Mallorca whenever possible to relax, recharge their batteries and simply enjoy the Mallorcan lifestyle. On their last trip in March they gave Home Couture a rare glimpse inside their stunning Es Llombards home.

What first brought you to Mallorca?

The light.

How often do you stay at your Mallorcan home?

What is your favourite season on Mallorca?

Last February I was emotionally shocked by the extreme beauty of the “snow” of flowers of the almond trees. I come to Mallorca every time I need a refuge.

Why did you choose Es Llombards rather than another part of Mallorca?

Because it’s the driest part of the island and also the brightest.

What is it you like most about Mallorca?

The natural lifestyle.

How would you describe your Mallorcan home’s style?

A sort of barbaric minimalism – a profound homage to stone.

In what ways does building/decorating a home on Mallorca vary from, for example, Italy or the UK? In respect of the genius loci!

How much does climate influence contemporary design?

Climate is the basis of design diversity.

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Property Showcase

Property Showcase Does your own home feature Fabrizio Plessi video installations? If so, what was the inspiration behind them?

All preserved with loving care. My home is my oevre.

What is your favourite room at home in Mallorca – and why?

The absolute white space of my studio.

How do you ensure a tasteful and practical balance between “rustic Mallorcan” and contemporary “stateof-the-art”, or “cutting edge”, styles?

Respect for the natural environment and the needs of contemporary life.

Any plans for creating another home in the Balearics?

I could not even think about another home here, because this is my only authentic “my home”.

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Property Showcase

“My home is my oevre.“

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Property Showcase

Property Showcase

Luxury living for all the family

It is rare to find a property in Mallorca that strikes the perfect balance between elegant design and ease of living. However, this property located in the prestigious area of Nova Santa Ponรงa is proof that a home can be exquisitely designed and luxuriously furnished while still also catering for all the family at the same time.

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Property Showcase

Property Showcase

This traditional stone-faced villa is located on a large flat plot with panoramic views and beautifully landscaped gardens. Five bedrooms and five bathrooms are spaced within the 800 square metre living area and are perfectly designed for a family with children.

Two of these bedrooms are split across two levels, with staircases leading to a separate playroom or dressing room. The master suite has a lavishly spacious living area, offering a haven from the chaos of family life for when some tranquility is invariably needed!

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Property Showcase

The entertaining areas are what really sets this property apart from the rest. The contemporary al fresco dining and lounging areas contribute to a picturesque Mediterranean ambience. To make entertaining even more convenient a fully equipped outdoor kitchen has been installed, overlooking the minimalist and inviting swimming pool.

The property is built to the highest standards, ensuring no detail has been overlooked. There is under-floor heating, air-conditioning, an open fireplace and marble flooring – not to mention a state-of-the art kitchen and breakfast room.

In addition to these stunning embellishments, the property also offers something far more special – the ambience and functionality to enjoy spending time with your family and friends.

For more information contact Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty: Tel. +(34) 971 674 807 mallorca-sothebysrealty.com

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Calle Bisbe Verger 6 | E - 07650 Santanyi Mallorca | Tel. & Fax: +34 971 16 34 38 | Movil: +34 687 45 08 73 | info@galeriasailer.com

Estilo Internacional

By Justine Knox

Estilo Internacional

EUROPEAN SHOWCASE

Crème de la

Crème

of homes and interiors We are spoilt

for choice in terms of unique and innovative design here in Mallorca.

However, at Home Couture we have always taken pride in keeping up-to-date with trends in international design as well as uncovering the hidden allure of our resident designers.

With this in mind, we decided to take you on a tour of all the major international interior exhibitions that have taken place or will be occurring in 2011. Inspiration from Cologne, Paris, Milan and London is featured over the next few pages, meaning you now have even less reason to leave the cosmopolitan treasure trove that is Mallorca!

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Estilo Internacional

Estilo Internacional Ongoing…

Ideal Home Show – London, UK 11-27 March

Been & Gone…

IMM Exhibition – Cologne, Germany 20-22 January

variety of ways in which consumers can build for a greener future.

Located in the prestigious Earl’s Court in London, the Ideal Home Show is renowned as the “marathon” of all interiors exhibitions. Running for a total of 17 days, this exhibition can test the endurance of even the most hard-core enthusiasts among us.

This year‘s Ideal Home Show is host to a staggering nine-shows-in-one, including: Ideal Show Homes, Ideal Interior, Ideal Home Improvements, Ideal Gardens, Ideal Food, Ideal Shopping, Ideal Woman and, new for 2011, Ideal Gadgets where you can take part in the gadget trail and try out the latest gadgets and gizmos for the home.

Sponsored by Anglian Home Improvements, the Ideal Show Homes – with its full-scale, real -street set-up – was a huge hit in 2010, and has returned with a new selection of four properties for 2011.

Visitors can once again experience and explore different builds of today and a series of properties that demonstrate easy home improvement ideas, and a

Our global tour begins in Cologne (Germany) for the IMM Exhibition. While the city itself is not considered as glamorous or edgy as Milan, Paris or London the exhibition proved to be a real surprise for our team.

IMM Cologne drew some of the top brands from all over the world.

There was a good turnout from brands in France, Austria, Germany and Spain but the Italian group seemed to be by far the biggest in terms of exhibitors. Brands such as Kartell, Potocco, Bonaldo, Cappellini and Matteograssi were just a handful of the prestigious Italian firms flying the flag within the “Pure Design” Hall at the Cologne exhibition.

The impressive exhibitor turnout was only eclipsed by the incredible increase in footfall

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at the event. There were over 138,000 visitors attributing to the 38 per cent increase in traffic year on year. This figure speaks volumes for the increased quality of the exhibition, cementing the IMM’s place as one of the “Big Four” exhibitions of the year.

* LED lighting technology has made its breakthrough. The majority of wardrobes, wall units, sideboards and display cabinets are being equipped with this energy-saving lighting technology. LED fulfils two functions: brightness and atmosphere.

As reported by our correspondent at IMM, these were the trends that really rose to the surface this year:

* Sustainability is playing an increasingly important role in furniture construction too.

Wood is becoming more and more popular, not only for storage and kitchen furniture but also for comfortable chairs and loungers and as a visible component of sofas. Wood is reclaiming its former status in the furniture sector. One striking development: the many items featuring untreated oak, sometimes even complete with bark.

* When it comes to covering fabrics, plain colours dominate. Colourful stripes or abstract graphics are popular choices for accentuation; while white remains the megacolour. In the leather segment, thick, barely treated natural fabrics with a tactile, inviting character are particularly popular.

Visitors can also taste a wide range of culinary delights within the Ideal Food section hosted by Gregg Wallace, or pick up the latest home wares and accessories in the Ideal Shopping section, or even relax and take some time out in the Ideal Woman section presented by Fiona Philips.

In addition, there is advice and tips from the UK‘s leading industry experts and some of the nation‘s favourite celebrity experts on hand, offering hundreds of helpful hints and tips on home improvements, in workshops and theatres.

With the widest collection of the UK‘s biggest brands, over 600 exhibitors, the largest selection of industry firsts and UK product launches, the Ideal Home Show satisfies consumers’ requirements on any budget, helping visitors create their very own ideal home… a great day out for all the family, with something for everyone.

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Estilo Internacional

Estilo Internacional

Coming up...

Salone Internazionale del Mobile – Milan, Italy 12-17 April

Coming up...

Maison & Objet – Paris, France 9-13 September This year will be an important milestone along the illustrious design highway travelled by Saloni. This is the 50th Salone Internazionale del Mobile, etching its place as one of the most successful interiors exhibitions in history.

The Salone is the largest decoration trade fair, showcasing the latest in furniture and design from all over the world. The huge exhibition area is nearly 230,000 square metres, so you will need to set aside the whole five days to try to see all of it!

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This year’s Maison & Objet exhibition can be summed up with just one word: intensity. The somewhat ambiguous terminology is further broken down into three key sections, which will serve as the categories and logistical boundaries in which exhibitors display their designs.

Stage 1, or “Un-plugged”, will comprise “the new luxury of simplified design”.

Stage 2, or “Haute Tension” design will highlight “the use of opposing design etiquettes in order to intensify the emotional reaction”.

Stage 3, or “Hypnotic”, will portray “how the use of motion, light and 3D effects are revitalising spaces and revealing new perspectives”.

Maison & Objet are continuing to lead the field in terms of the interpretive and artistic means in which they approach their exhibition. This will certainly be the notto-miss exhibition this year!

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The Greenroom room the green

The Green room

Bohemian recycling Carolina Fontoura Alzaga’s bike chain chandeliers are made entirely out of old bike parts, and are a nifty combination of interior décor and creative “upcycling”.

What is especially impressive about Carolina Fontoura Alzaga is how she manages to make her chandeliers seem just as luxurious and spectacular as any that could be made from new materials. In fact, rather than suffering for their source material, her works seem to take on an even more elegant beauty as a result of their eco-conscious origins.

Bourgeois commodity verses the bike as self-propelled movement – it’s a metaphor for potentiality.

By Carde Reimerdes

Embrace the change Every moment, nature and the needs of the individual are at the forefront of my

thoughts. In past years a green consciousness has challenged me in my professional work and I have learned to appreciate new sources and materials. There are plenty of fascinating new everyday things to discover that are beautiful and practical, yet merge with sustainable living.

We are fortunate to live during a time when eco-conscious living coincides with market availability. Car manufacturers are becoming more and more inventive in using naturally growing materials such as banana leaves as isolation. How reassuring to know that your Audi A4 is built of cotton and sisal, hemp and wood.

In the near future, it will be possible for cars to be fully recycled; the outer shell will end up on the compost heap while the electric motor, batteries and aluminium frame will enter a recycling process of vast effectiveness.

I am very excited about the great new products for the building and interior sector. Prof. Dr. Braungart has revolutionised production processes with his cradle-to-cradle approach. Inexorably, he develops new global ways and products, from sofas to carpets, soon-to-be-manufactured, so that all elements can be fully led back into the cycle once they have reached the end of their lifespan.

An increasing number of home and garden resellers have a sizable collection of green products in addition to the conventional ones. And often it only takes a few changes to actually feel the transformation towards a healthier environment.

If you have been wanting to make your home “greener“ there are furniture/textiles and non-toxic cleaning solutions that work just as well as the ordinary products. Have you ever had the pleasure of wrapping yourself in bamboo-linen or bamboo towel?

Bamboo grows super fast and also produces an exceptionally fine thread that is not only as soft as velvet but also antiseptic and exceptionally absorbent.

Nature offers plenty of good green materials… lime, wood, cotton, banana fibre, India rubber, linoleum and even foam produced out of plants.

So, while browsing for your new furniture or design object, ask yourself: does this product have a long lifespan? Is it free of chemicals? Can if be re-used or recycled? Sometimes it just needs a slight shift of thinking. Start small and act big. Either way, we will all gain from it.

a vision of conscious living International interior designer Carde Reimerdes is known for her unique interior design projects, all of which are grounded in natural design and “mindful living”.

Her diverse body of work includes upscale private residencies, chic restaurants, luxurious spas and forward-thinking shop designs; and her style reflects the various areas where she lived, including San Francisco and Cape Town and, since 1993, Mallorca.

Carde’s projects have been featured in local and national publications across Europe; and her design practice is the culmination of her passion for art, design, architecture and the environment.

She says her company Flow-Motion Living stands for interior design that “creates spaces for flow-like and peaceful living. This is achieved by a combination of thoughtful analysis of personal needs, sustainable concepts and materials, as well as a talent for combining colours, textures and light.”

an “ecological” sofa Moroso Patricia-urquiola’s spring sofa is filled with new foam created on a vegetable base.

The current trend at international furniture fairs and among the main designers is “ecological furniture“, which combines the highest desires of design with the sensual experience of natural materials. As it takes around 100 years for plastic to decompose, it feels good to have a choice of recyclable sofas and furniture fillings.

“In my opinion, the best interior concepts combine nature’s resources with outstanding design, the saving of energy and ecological building. Finally to walk barefoot on solid wooden floor panels, smoothened by pure oils, offers a delight for all senses and is the purest form of real luxury.”

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The Green Room

The Green Room

The Fascinating World of

Split Wood Walls German company Art Aqua

is already well known for its vertically planted green walls and water features.

Now the European market leader for natural installations is adding a new genre to interior design: innovative split wooden walls.

An excellent reason for Home Couture to take a closer look…

It is indisputable that the presence of nature is good for body, mind and soul. With this in mind, 20 years ago Art Aqua began to develop water and plant installations that, due to their vertical construction, maximised the perception of nature in relation to available square metres.

With its new split wooden walls the company is once again choosing the vertical option, arranging wood panels on a mounted frame. These wood panels are not ordinary panels: they are made of hardwood that is cleaved by a specially developed technique to create a high-contrast surface.

This builds the characteristic relief structure that distinguishes Art Aqua’s split wooden walls. The result is “a unique atmosphere of calm, strength and nature, enriched by the indescribable feel of the surface and its rhythmic play of shadows”.

The relief structure of these walls also acts as a kind of soundproofing, contributing considerably to an improvement in the acoustics.

Out of respect for the environment, the required wood comes from sustainable forestry. Then, using special stains or oils, additional artistic accents can be added. Even individual interpretations with LED lights, integrated in the panels, have been created in the past.

These fascinating split wood walls are on show in the company’s showrooms in Cologne and Zurich. The Art Aqua showroom in the old town of Palma is not yet equipped with a split wooden wall but interested readers can take a look at the wooden wall of the Escada store in Palma.

Art Aqua – The Balance Gallery España Palma de Mallorca Tel. (+34) 971 22 89 70 artaqua.com

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Green In Vogue in vogue

healthy Cooking in Style

AVANT-GARDE STYLE AND CUTTING-EDGE TRENDS IN HARMONY WITH THE ENVIRONMENT...

AND YOUR HEALTH

Bringing ecology and gastronomy together simply makes sense!

Not only is locally sourced organic produce scientifically proven to be best for our immune system, it enables us to savour the tasty flavours of fresh produce and brings us closer to our local culture.

And to top it off the sustainability aspect rewards us with a happy clear conscience. Interested in reading more on biodiversity?

Check out slowfood.com or illes-balears.slowfood.es.

A TOUch OF NOSTAlGIA Demonstrating that enamel is not necessarily oldfashioned, these pots from Riess have become cult objects – “awakening sentimental memories of grandma‘s cooking”. This sense of nostalgia has been re-introduced for today‘s kitchens, with “clean lines, simple materials and strong colours for organically and sustainably-minded people”. They can be bought online (magazin.com) or ordered via email direct from the producer (truehomeware.com) – as they are not available yet in Mallorca.

clASSIc TrADITIONAl DESIGN This casserole pot is such a design classic that it was featured on a Finnish postage stamp! Combining design usability with a traditional cast iron pot, influential designer Timo Sarpaneva’s inspiration came from his blacksmith grandfather. A timeless and ingenious design, the pot is as functional in the kitchen as it is appealing on the dining table. It is produced by the Iittala design company. bambolini-cocina.blogspot.com

ThE ArT OF cOOKING As specialists in slow cooking, the philosophy behind Cucineria is “L’Arte del Vivere” (“The Art of Living”). Their ovens are available at the Cuisinale quality kitchen and design studio in Felanitx. cuisinale-mallorca.com

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NEW GrEEN GENErATION OF cOOKWArE Eco-friendly and healthy at the same time, these award-winning, Belgian-made pans have been developed using a natural ceramic non-stick layer Thermolon terminology, which does not release toxic fumes (even above 260 degrees) and is manufactured without PFoA and PTFE. This means there are 60 per cent less Co2 emissions during the application of the non-stick coating. You cook and fry in “a safe, sensible and delicious way”. green-pan.com

Boutique Chic

Boutique Chic

Art &

Charm

S‘Hotelet de santanyí

A new experience for lovers of Mallorca’s stunning southern coast Located in the heart of Santanyí, next to the village church, S’Hotelet de Santanyí is an old family house converted into a boutique hotel.

Balance and harmony

were the two key considerations when plans for S’Hotelet de Santanyí were on the drawing board. The owners were keen to ensure that “every nook, cranny and corner of the hotel has its own personality, softness and uniqueness”. To that end, the hotel – open all year round – offers the comforts and authenticity of local traditions, in the rooms, the lounge and even the patio and terrace.

Another of S’Hotelet’s rare charms is its collection of contemporary art. Created and coordinated by owner Francisca Verger and an experienced group of art and interior decoration professionals, the collection represents “a consolidation between style and art”.

Present in each room, the lounge and library and villa, the artistic style is described as a combination of elegance, beauty, warm, romanticism, sensitivity, deliciousness, light, tradition and rustic history.

Local, national and international artists have been brought on board to create and assemble the paintings and art pieces for the hotel – “inspiring guests to discover a new aesthetical experience”.

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Boutique Chic

Each suite is equipped with full-sized bathroom; hairdryer, bathrobes and slippers; double “king size” bed; air-conditioning and heating; telephone and cable television; internet access; and mini-bar.

An old house transformed into a hotel, S’Hotelet comprises five rooms and a private villa. All of the themes are different and personalised, and each bedroom has its own individual style and charm. The themes have been named after a typical plant or flower found in the south of the island: Bruc, Jonc, Lavanda, Caputxina and Olivera.

Situated on the second floor, the Lavanda and Caputxina rooms have a salon and can be converted into an intimate space for the whole family – with a private terrace offering fabulous views.

The S’Hotelet patio is part of the Olivera room, which is independent from the rest of the establishment – its special charm residing in a private solarium with superb views.

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100.000 m2 Plot with a Project in sa Montana

S’Hotelet de Santanyí

Plaça Major, 23 Tel. (+34) 971 653 585 info@hoteletsantanyi.com hoteletsantanyi.com

Just a few steps away from S’Hotelet is the charming Casa Sempreviva villa, named after a plant found in sunny places and the coastal sands. The house comprises three storeys with a private solarium and fully-equipped kitchen, lounge, junior suite and additional room with a full-sized bathroom – as well as the general hotel room amenities.

S’Hotelet de Santanyí has been designed to help guests “relax, recuperate and discover the surroundings throughout the year”.

On sunny days, guests can relax in the swimming pool and solarium, luxuriating in a comfortable and pleasing nook surrounded by stones and vegetation.

During the winter months, S’Hotelet is easily transformed into a hospitable home. The living room, fireplace and large library are open for guests to enjoy a warm and friendly soirée, or for quiet moments reading or playing chess.

To start their day, guests can savour a delicious breakfast, changed each morning and created using Mallorca’s best products.

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Unique selection of real estate in all price ranges islandwide Jerome Ledin Inmobiliaria, S.L. - Calle Centro No. 8 - ES 07650 Santanyi, Mallorca Officina +34 971 653 557 - Fax +34 971 163 416 - Movil +34 65 1100 182 info@jl-immobilien.de - www.jl-immobilien.de

Seasonal Living

Seasonal Living

Last autumn

Vibrant colours for a fresh new

spring

Pantone, one of the largest paint companies in the world with branches in over 70 countries, decreed that this spring’s colour would be Honeysuckle.

“Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating colour that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother colour, red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.” Those are powerful words to describe a colour to the American nation, 80 per cent of which prefers white walls.

Just as we are influenced by the fashion houses as to what we should all be wearing, these fashion colours also become musthave decorating colours. However, you will most certainly have your own ideas about what constitutes a spring colour by thinking of the colours of spring itself – green for instance, symbolises new growth.

If green is your colour then you are in tune with Dulux, who have named Forest Falls as their choice for spring. The botanically themed shades range from a bold, gel-style green to subtler, more calming shades.

Fashion designer Henry Holland agrees, saying, “Forest green was the predominant colour in my SS11 House of Holland collection. In both the fashion and decorating worlds, this colour works well with all shades of grey and tan leather accessories.“ So should it be Honeysuckle or Forest Falls? The truth is neither, unless you absolutely fall in love with the look and have the home to suit. There are thousands of colours and shades of colour on the market and all manufactures will only be too happy to send out paint cards in your preferred shade range or mini pots of colour for you to try.

Last season’s paint palette was Living Coral, Purple Orchard and Oyster Grey…

Spring is a time for new beginnings, new actions and new colours after the drabness of winter but – asks POLLY JACKSON – who decides what colours we use to refresh our homes?

Photo: Missoni for Roche Bobois

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Even though we all love colour, many of us live in boring white or beige boxes – and most of us don’t know how to begin to use colour in a powerful way in our home. The quest to find the perfect colours and colour combinations is a common thread that runs from those who have painted great masterpieces and graphic artists to interior designers and landscapers. As French impressionist Claude Monet said, “Colour is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.“ Because humans assign colours to objects such as green leaves or red apples, we tend to think of colour as a constant even when we know that white wine can be yellowish or golden and that the blue sea can range from dark grey to turquoise. We overlook the fact that colour interpretation is a complex process that taps into our sensations and our moods, as well as our eyes, neurons and brain wavelengths.

Colour consists of light and biology, which means that no two people see colour exactly the same. Colour originates in light but sunlight, as we perceive it, is colourless. In reality, a rainbow is testimony to the fact that all the colours of the spectrum are present in white light.

So send for those colour cards, buy several mini pots of paint and aim for a bold change of colour even if it is only one wall. Paint your chosen colour (or colours if you are brave) onto a large piece of paper or card and place it in the room you intend to decorate and note how the colour changes at different times of the day. This is particularly useful when you are decorating a room which you will only use at certain times of day. For instance, if you are decorating a dining room which is mostly used in the evening, check the colours in evening light to ensure you get your desired look.

Photo: www.rieeliselarsen.dk

Roche Bobois

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Photo: www.rieeliselarsen.dk

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Seasonal Living

Live who you are...

When it comes to choosing colour, there are no strict rules but there are many factors to take into consideration. Architecture, the purpose, shape and direction of a room and, above all, light should be taken into account as they will contribute to the changing appearance of colours. Start by thinking how light moves through your house and the effect it has at different times of the day; consider the period of your property and whether this also influences your choice.

Interior Design Projects | Refurbishments | Property Styling Furniture | Accessories | Gift Items | Upholstery | Curtains

info@interiorhousemallorca.com www.interiorhousemallorca.com

Avda. Tomas Blanes 41, 07181 Costa D’en Blanes, Mallorca. Next to the First Mallorca Headoffice | Tel. +34 971 676 252

Photo: www.rieeliselarsen.dk

Think about the colours you are comfortable with, colours you have already chosen for your clothes, your car, furniture and fabrics. Monochromatic schemes are particularly good for irregularly shaped rooms as they help to iron out any visual faults.

The colours you choose for your home are colours that you will need to live with every day for probably the next couple of years. It is therefore important that you make the right decision; for some, choosing colour isn‘t always that easy.

It can be daunting starting with a blank canvas and equally difficult trying to match colours with existing pieces of furniture and furnishings.

So how do we get inspiration for spring colours? It doesn´t necessarily mean you have to paint the whole house in Forest Falls. Just use some pastel colours, together with the light green and also some floral motifs where pos-

Photo: www.rieeliselarsen.dk

sible. For example, you can change the curtains to some that are in pastel colours, such as pink or yellow with red and orange combinations, but make sure you match them with the carpet or the bedding.

Buy a new colourful sofa or chair or some wall paper with floral patterns, throw around a few cushions, lay down a small rug and, of course, the whole spring-time picture will be completed by a vase or bowl of fresh flowers.

Photo: www.rieeliselarsen.dk

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Seasonal Living

Seasonal Living

By Trish Dynes

When the news is sometimes a little negative, spring is the perfect time to return TO basics and – suggests Trish Dynes – get a bit of earth under your fingernails.

Spring is when

Getting down to

earth

this spring Photo: Burger-Precht Garden: Lucie Hauri

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the garden wakes up after winter, with spring bulbs, flowering shrubs and glorious tree blossom. Although there is all this to enjoy, there is also some hard work to be done; spring is the busiest time of the year in the garden.

Photo: House Doctor

You don’t need a huge garden to take pleasure in planting your own flowers and watching them burst into colour. There is just as much enjoyment to be had in growing flowers in pots to place on your patio, or in your window boxes.

Growing from seed can be a very economical and satisfying way to stock both your garden and your cupboards. The thrill of seeing your

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Seasonal Living

Seasonal Living checking the pH to see if it needs balancing prior to planting, and it‘s a natural organic way to make your garden just that much better.

As parents, one of the most difficult things we can try to do is get our children to eat vegetables. Often vegetables are seen as tasting horrid and anything but fun, when the opposite is most certainly the case; but children, being children and being of their own independent minds, need help and encouragement.

Children also need encouragement when it

comes to the outdoors, especially in today‘s society where video games, the internet and the most sophisticated of toys are on offer.

Children love getting dirty, they love mud and they love water so a vegetable patch is a good place to combine all three.

Give them their own children‘s gardening tools as this will make them feel grown up and let them help you dig over their plot.

Also, mud and soil is full of creepy crawlies and worms which children also love, so getting them to help you will be educational for them.

You may find it easier to get your children to eat their greens if they know where they come from and, indeed, if they have had a hand in their growing. Encourage them where possible to help you plant seeds or plantlets and also – with their notepads – have them take measurements and record the dates the vegetables were planted.

If you can encourage them to participate in the growing of something like carrots, for example, and then allow them to see what happens when the carrots go from the ground to the dinner table you may find that

Photo: Burger-Precht Casa Lucie Hauri

seedlings push their heads up through the soil never wanes.

It‘s really very easy to grow your own, whether you have a large garden, a tiny terrace, a courtyard or even a windowsill. If you are planting in containers such as terracotta pots, old watering cans, sinks, a half beer barrel or anything else that will hold a plant or two, make sure they have drainage holes and that the planters you use for taller plants are wide at the base to prevent the plant from toppling over.

Choose plants that you will use and enjoy and, even if you‘re new to gardening, you can still be adventurous.

Many more plants than you would ever believe are edible – often the flowers too – and having an edible garden doesn‘t mean you have to compromise on aesthetics. Your garden can look beautiful yet still give you a tasty selection. Don’t forget that your new plants rely on you for food and water. Water them well, and give them the nutrition they need with a slow-release general fertiliser.

Weeding the garden is the number one spring tip, and requires a minimum amount of time and energy. Compost works especially well when you add it; spring is also a time to prepare your soil. This means

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Photo: House Doctor

Photo: Burger-Precht Cas Perillo

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GROWING YOUR OWN HERBS • Hierba buena – spearmint: mint will thrive in

most soils, to the extent that it can easily become a nuisance. To avoid this, try growing it in a container on the patio. Use the leaves to flavour new potatoes and peas.

• Romero – rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis):

this pretty herb produces blue flowers and has highly-scented, needle-like leaves. Plant in a sunny, sheltered area of the garden.

• Tomillo – thyme (thymus vulgaris): grow thyme

in a well-drained, sunny area of your garden.

The leaves of this evergreen herb can be picked throughout the year. Their distinctive taste goes well with a variety of dishes. they are more willing to try them than they were before.

Many children see vegetables as coming from tins or from bags but if they are involved in the growing of their own food, and watching it happen, they may look forward to eating them.

Encourage salad-eating habits by letting your children plant their own salad crops such as lettuce, spring onion, rocket, nasturtium, pot marigold, cherry tomato and peas.

They don‘t have to grow the crops in rows – they can plant in patches, spirals or even in pots and windowboxes if they wish. Just ensure they leave enough space to be able to get to the plants for watering, weeding, slug removal and, of course, picking.

Ask your children to water them every evening if they look dry – seeds must be kept moist to germinate. When they start to grow, your children should ensure the slugs don‘t come and eat everything. They could try by making a slug trap with some beer in a jar – make sure you dig a hole

to place the jar in so that it sits at soil level.

Remember to point out the difference between weeds and seedlings and show them how to weed without disturbing the seedlings. Help them hunt the garden for twigs to support the peas. Explain to your children that it is not strange to plant nasturtiums and pot marigolds in with the salad crop. They are there for two reasons: they encourage garden pest-eaters to come into your garden; and you can eat the flowers or use them for decoration.

Where you can – and again depending on their age – you can allow the children to help you prepare the vegetables and salad crops. Let them wash the earth off anything that comes out from the ground, and pick anything that comes from plants above ground. Let them shell the peas and get them involved in as many stages of the process as you can and you will soon notice just how much they like eating their greens.

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• Cebollino – chives (allium schoenoprasum): grow in moist soil and full sun. For a regular supply of delicious leaves for your salads cut off the flowers before they open.

• Lavanda – lavender (lavandula): a pretty herb

that produces beautiful scented flowers during the summer months. Cut and dry some to make pot-pourri.

• Salvia – sage (salvia officinalis): this strong-fla-

voured herb has grey-green leaves and spikes of blue flowers. Grow in a sunny area of the garden.

• Orégano – oregano (origanum vulgarea):

planted in a sunny area of the garden, marjoram will grow as vigorously as mint. Children may recognise its taste as it‘s often used in pizza and pasta.

• Cilantro – coriander (coriandrum sativum): this

popular herb, frequently used in Indian cookery and salads, favours a sunny, sheltered area of the garden. Both leaves and seeds can be used for flavouring.

• Laurel – sweet bay (laurus nobilis): this ever-

green shrub or small tree likes a sheltered position in the garden. Its leaves are the key ingredient for bouquet garni and are great in stews.

• Estragón – tarragon (artemisia dracunculus): grown in a sheltered spot, tarragon can spread at the same rate as mint but is not totally hardy, so cover with straw in colder areas as winter approaches.

Competition

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how to win: To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize all you have to do is answer the following question: What is the main theme of this years Maison & objet exhibition? The answer is somewhere in this issue!

Please send your answer along with your name & contact number to: competition@homecouturemagazine.com Closing date for entries is 13th May 2011. The winner will be contacted via email on the 20th May 2011.

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Specialist Advice

a word from

the experts

ouR TEAM oF SPECIALISTS ANSWER SoME CoMMoN QuESTIoNS ABouT HoME AND DÉCoR...

We have dedicated the rest of the magazine to showcasing tasteful interiors, ground-breaking design and the talented designers who spearhead these initiatives. However, there are still those among us who, although unrivalled in their passion for interior design, may perhaps lack the necessary “know how” to fulfil these aspirations. These aren’t just people who take a pair of scissors to wallpaper, but those of us who know the basics and want to take on a big project but do not know where to start.

With this in mind, we have created our “Word from the Experts” section. Each issue, we are giving our readers the opportunity to ask our esteemed panel of experts any design questions that currently have them stumped. So, if you have any design queries, uncertainties or problems that need some

Specialist Advice

Trish Dynes A freelance writer specialising in art and interior design, Trish is based on the Costa del Sol and has written for several Marbella-based interior design magazines. She is currently a contributor to Home Couture, writing articles on current design trends for homes and gardens.

Tel. (+34) 951 376 683 trishdynes@mail.com

Eduardo Pons A dynamic and forward thinking company, Aubapool’s team of professionals offers more than 30 years of experience in the construction and installation of pools and spas sector.

Tel. (+34) 971 662 629 aubapool@aubapool.es aubapool.es

professional attention, contact us at:

Elena sánchez

editorial@homecouturemagazine.com

Magatzem Verd’s philosophy is to bring people closer to the balance and beauty that nature offers.

To that end they offer gardening equipment, fertiliser products, flowers and plants (natural and artificial), decoration items, pets and products for pets.

Tel. (+34) 971 205 816 (Palma); 971 744 514 (Coll den Rabassa) info@magatzemverd.com , magatzemverd.com

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Specialist Advice

Specialist Advice

Trish Dynes answers: I love the idea of converting my bathroom to a wet room.

Is there a lot of work involved?

Wet room design is something that takes time and can be expensive. It will be even more expensive if you make mistakes and don‘t get things right the first time. Remodelling your bathroom is a large, messy job.

You will have large amounts of building materials around your house, everything in the room has to be removed and the floor will be dug up to accommodate the pipework and under-floor heating.

I would love to mix and match colours in my home but don’t know where to start.

Colour matching can be easier said than done. You can see how other people’s room colours have been created, and why the schemes work, but when you come to put it into practice it isn‘t quite so easy.

A reliable guide is to have no more than three colours for the main areas of your room. So don‘t have more than three colours for your walls, floor and window treatments.

If your main colours harmonise, but you want to give some more life to the room, place items with accent colours that give contrast. Items such as pictures, vases, lamps, ornaments and plants are more a matter of form, balance and interest rather than the actual amount of colour.

Remember, these are just guides, so rely on your judgment – in other words, if you like it, do it!

Eduardo Pons answers: Are there any alternatives to using chlorine in the pool?

Quality of life plays an increasingly important role in people’s sensitivity to respecting the environment and adopting healthy and natural habits.

Salt electrolysis is an effective disinfectant for water, which impedes the formation of bacteria and algae without having to use chemical products. This means it eliminates the risks associated with some chemical treatments, does not damage swimmers’ skin, does not require storage, does not produce bad smells and is even cheaper.

What can I do if I want to enjoy our pool more than three months a year?

The heating pump system for pools is a more effective and cheaper method for heating water, be it to prolong the season or to enable the use of a pool all year-round.

The special pump we use for heating pools can be installed very simply and requires minimum maintenance. In just a few hours you will be able to enjoy a warm and pleasant swim.

How can we simplify the cleaning of our pool?

Enjoying your pool with clean and pleasant water calls for certain obligations, the same as cleaning a glass. Cleaning the pool manually is a tough and bothersome job. To avoid any inconvenience we recommend using an automatic cleaner. Electronic pool cleaners come with their own bag for waste and are quick and efficient. They get rid of the dirt and impurities to guarantee extraordinarily clean and crystal-clear water.

The Home Couture team answers: Elena Sánchez answers: What are the main things we should be considering for our garden after winter?

When choosing the flowers you want to plant, make sure you select the most appropriate ones for your garden or terrace. Of course, colour combinations are key to the look of your outside space, but more importantly do put some thought into which plants require more sun and which will need protection from the winter elements so as to prevent re-planting year on year.

Thinking about which of your choices need more shade is equally as important.

These should be planted at the base of larger specimens to provide natural shade. If your garden is very exposed, consider building up around key planted areas that need more shelter. Placing larger pieces of natural stone around these areas is not only aesthetically pleasing and the norm in a Mediterranean garden, but will also protect your plants from harsh winter winds.

Consider an automatic watering system, especially for potted plants, as these need daily watering in the summer months to prevent drying out. If you have significant grassed areas, a watering system is vital, as is the type of grass you choose. Consult a specialist as there are several different grasses now widely available in Mallorca that are particularly recommended for large lawned areas and, provided they are watered regularly, these types are resistant to even the searing sun of the high summer months.

Pay special attention to pests or diseased plants and, if you are in any doubt, ask the advice of a professional to prevent an infestation at the early stages.

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I’m about to redecorate my bedroom. I have a bed with a fabulous headboard which I want to design around, but I’ve no idea where to start. I want my bedroom to be a real talking point. Help – I need ideas!

We all know that wallpaper has made a huge comeback over the past few years and flock wallpaper is especially dramatic if you want to make a strong design statement. Although bold designs can be too overpowering if used on all walls, using it on just one wall – in your case the one your headboard would go against – would showcase your bed as the focal “piece” you want it to be.

In the same vein, upholstering a wall can also produce amazing results when done well. It’s the same principle as stretching an artist’s canvas on a frame but, instead, stretching a piece of fabric over wooden batons fixed to the wall. This technique is becoming increasingly popular and if, like a lot of Mediterranean homes, any of your walls are uneven and don’t provide the best surface for wallpaper, it’s a clever and forgiving solution. Just like wallpaper, the design of fabric you choose denotes the “theme” of the room – but a sub-conscious awareness of slight movement when there’s a breeze, for example, can add a real texture and softness that you can’t achieve with wallpaper.

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Chic List

The Useful Directory Interior design • building services • art galleries • bathrooms • kitchens • technology

BATHROOMS

Macodor Crta. Calonge-Cala d‘Or Cala d‘Or Tel. 971 658 210 macodor.com

Mobles Riera Ctra. Palma Arta Km. 48 Manacor Tel. 971 552 467 moblesriera.com

C/ Ferrer 6, Pol. Ind. Manacor Tel. 971 846 210 aquaaquae.com

Porcelanosa Gran Via Asima, 21 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 430 667 porcelanosagrupo.com

Negre Avda. Joan Miro, 262 Marivent, Palma Tel. 971 701 662 negre.es

Alou Barcelo Fontaneria C/ De Na Ravandella Santanyí Tel. 971 641 675 aloubarcelo.com

Quilis Ctra. Valldemossa, 12 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 756 769 quilis.es

AQUAQUAE C/ Capitan Ramonell Boix, 38 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 420 600

Aubapool C/ Marroig, 6A Llucmajor Tel. 971 662 629 aubapool.es

Calizas Mallorca Gran Via Asima, 7 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 432 210 calizasmallorca.com Can Cabot Camp de S‘ Oca, 13 Soller Tel. 971 630 796 cancabot.com Ducha Fresca C/ Ca‘n Cavalleria, 17 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 712 210 duchafresca.net Kera Gres 16 de Juliol, 28 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 434 240 keragres.es

INTERIOR DECORATORS Aidan James Hurren Tel. 667 953 359 mailme@aidan.eu.com Sophie Paint Effects Tel. 636 045 842 sophie.kneller@hotmail.com

INTERIOR DESIGN Ambientes, Interiorismo Ctr. Santanyí Campos Tel. 971 651 583 ambientes-mallorca.com 19 d Art i altres Placa dels Hostals, 19 Santa Maria del Cami Tel. 971 141 213 19dartialtres.com Chiton Deco Crta. Porreres-Campos Km. 0.4 Porreres Tel. 971 168 257 chitondeco.com

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Das Depot Pagesos, 14 Inca Tel. 971 502 822 depot-online.com De Batabat Eusebio Estada, 80 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 763 666 debatabat.es Domus Artis C/ Can Veri, 6 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 594 505 Holger Stewen C/ Tous y Maroto, 10 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 727 016 holgerstewen.com Incompar & Mimar Balear Carrer Obisbo Verger, 25 Santanyí Tel. 687 543 863 mimarbalear.com/ incomparbalear.com Interior House Mallorca Avda. Tomas Blanes, 41 Costa den Blanes Tel. 971 676 252 interiorhousemallorca.com

Intermobel Crta. Palma Km. 47 Manacor Tel. 971 845 048 Carrer des Port, 153 Port d’Andratx Tel. 971 671 359 inter-mobel.com KARTELL Ramon y Cajal, 6 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 871 953 162 Kokukan C/Illes Baleares, 37 Santa Ponça Tel. 971 694 055 kokukan.com Lares Decoracion C/ Francisco Casa, 17 Plaza Bendinat, Calvia Tel. 971 701 868 laresdecoracion.com Mallorca Style

Puyalto 16 de Juliol, 6 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 430 040 puyalto.com Rialto Living C/ Sant Feliu, 3C Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 713 331 rialtoliving.com Saiton Armarios 16 de Juliol, 8 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 430 880 saiton.com

Veri 5, Aromas Carrer de Ca‘n Veri, 5 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 495 322 baobabcollection.com

GALLERIES Alou Barcelo Fontaneria Art Aqua C/ Sant Feliu, 17 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 228 970 artaqua.com Empire Art C/ Metge Obrador, 3 Cas Concos Tel. 971 839 603

Galería Sailer C/ Bisbe Verger, 6 Santanyí Tel. 971 163 438 galeriasailer.com

Hella Maria Hofer Galeria Puerto d’Andrtax Tel. 971 674 300 hella-maria-hofer.com

GENERAL Carpadedomo C/ Colomer, 4 Santa Ponça Tel. 971 697 838 marquee-mallorca.com Cristaleria Calvià Crta. de Capdella, 25 Pageura Tel. 971 686 021 cristaleriacalvia.com

Tel. 626 817 724 mallorcastyle.net

Lovelace Carpentry Tel. 637 065 632 lovelacecarpentry.com

Midnight Blue Plaza Nova, 7 Port d‘Andratx Tel. 902 006 988 midnightblue.es

Topcret Microcementos C/ Barranco, 21 Genova Tel. 971 700 047 topcret.com

Chic List

Did you know....

HOME ENTERENTERTAINMENT TAINMENT Digital Cinema Protectora, 14 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 710 075 digitalcinema.es Loewe.Center Moncades, 2 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 724 951 loewecenterpalma.es

KITCHENS Bulthaup Groc y blau Calle Pau, 6 07012 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 726 119 Bulthaup Nicolau Rambla Duques, 15 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 717 863 nicolau.bulthaup.com Cocinart Eusebio Estada, 11 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 750 072 cocinart.com Cocinas Häcker General Riera, 26 07003 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 205 503 Cocina y vida – Birgit Müller Paseo Mallorca, 4 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 669 188

Isaac Peral, 59 Port d‘Andratx Tel. 971 674 633 birgitmüller.com

Cuisinale Via Ernesto Mestre, 40 Felanitx Tel. 971 582 011

Laranda C/ Can Rado, 1B Marratxi Tel. 971 605 602 laranda.net Miele C/ General Riera, 8 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 200 603 mielecentre.com Poggenpohl, Saloni Gran Via Asima, 20 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 964 343 434 saloni.com Prodi Cocinas Ctra. Palma-Artá, 100-102 Manacor Tel. 971 559 137 C/ Jaime I Santa Ponça Tel. 971 692 986 prodi-cocinas.com

Spazio Varenna, Poliform Sant Feliu, 6 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 713 258 info@spaziovarenna.com

Studio Mirna Alfons el Magnànim, Capitan Salom, 12 Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 751 947 studiomirna.com

OUTDOOR FURNITURE Konway & Nosinger Calle Colomer, 4 Santa Ponça Tel. 971 697 838 Meridiano Mallorca Ctra. Santanyí Campos Tel. 971 652 888 meridiano-mallorca.com

Terraza Balear C/ Islas Baleares, 18 Santa Ponça Tel. 971 698 258

• Home Couture is available island-wide from newsagents, leading interior design outlets and other high end venues • Home Couture is Mallorca‘s only English Interior Design magazine

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• There are over 900 interior design outlets in Mallorca

SOFT FURNISHINGS

• Every member of the Architectural Assoc. of Mallorca (1,100 members) receives a copy of Home Couture

Transformations C/ Mayor, 53, Calvia village Tel. 971 670 998 / 651 581 293 curtaindesign@hotmail.com

Universal Living C/ Islas Baleares, 36A Santa Ponça Tel. 971 691 043 universalnautic.com

• Home Couture prints 10,000 magazines per quarter • Home Couture is hand delivered to over 1,500 of Mallorca most exclusive addresses

Home Mallorca Tel. 697 914 233 home-mallorca.eu

Sie Matic Paseo Mallorca, 17D Palma de Mallorca Tel. 971 221 5 1 siematic.com

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