Houzz Tour: Playful Irreverence Meets Sophistication in Ibiza
Tim Weller wanted something a little more stylish than a typical whitewashed villa when he bought this vacation home on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza. He imagined a contemporary home away from home that incorporated his love of vintage pieces and eclectic style, but that had broad appeal so he could also rent it out.
Interior designer Ed Godrich stepped up to the plate with an eclectic fusion of styles and well-chosen pieces that ensure the property is full of life. “The house is very tucked away, so Tim wanted it to be a place where he could host parties as well as more refined dinner soirees,” Godrich says. “Because it was going to be rented out, we also had to ensure that any vintage pieces were good quality and able to stand up to a regular influx of guests, as well as the intense heat.” The finished house is a light, bright, colorful affair where guests can relax or party as the mood takes them.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tim Weller, founder and chief executive of Incisive Media
Location: Ibiza, Spain
Interior designer: Ed Godrich of Godrich Interiors
Size: 8 bedrooms (including a separate guesthouse), 8 bathrooms
Designer Godrich thought traditional-style sofas wouldn’t suit the huge living room, which is long with a very high ceiling, so he chose a big daybed. “The giant daybed, by Violet & George, is a wonderful feature that works really well in this space,” he says. “It was a bit of a risk not putting a sofa in here, but it really paid off.” He surrounded it with a mix of auction house and flea market chairs that have been reupholstered. A cluster of vintage pendant lights, meanwhile, ensures that the length of the room is illuminated.
A collection of shelves made from vintage cistern brackets and reclaimed wood forms the basis of an eye-catching glassware display at one end of the living room. “The shelves are all subtly different — anything goes in Ibiza!” says Godrich. The colorful glassware is by Shropshire, England, artist Amanda Brisbane, and the vintage pineapple lamps are another flea market find.
Former church fixtures and fittings were redone with a concrete-like finish to create this playful home bar. The irreverent scene is complemented by a collection of vintage Playboy magazine covers, which have been arranged in a cross on the adjoining wall. Tractor-seat bar stools — another of Godrich’s market finds — complete the look. “Tim was very involved in the renovation, and every piece has a story — we always encourage people to buy unique, vintage pieces that have added value,” Godrich says. “I see the whole process more like curating a client’s home rather than refurbishing it.”
Framed vintage silk scarves adorn the wall of the small guesthouse, which Godrich has imagined as a simplified version of the main residence. “It’s more pared back than the larger house,” he describes. “There are still lots of vintage finds, but it’s on a much smaller scale.” All of the artwork in the home is from Signed And Original, a vintage art store stocked with one-off finds.
A midcentury dining table is paired with classic Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs in this corner of the living room. It all seems unassuming enough until you notice that the base of the table has been deconstructed and fitted with a piece of farm machinery. The pictures on the wall are all vinyl records featuring various bands and singers, including Prince and Guns N’ Roses.
Polished concrete floors run throughout the house, including in this simple dining room, which is really used only during winter, when it’s too cool for al fresco dining. “We didn’t want to draw too much attention to this room,” says Godrich, “so we’ve kept it fairly simple, with traditional farmhouse Carver chairs painted vibrant blue.”
“We built up the collection of plates in the dining room to create a display. There’s probably around 30 of them,” he says. “They’re all blue, but there’s a wonderful mixture of styles, genres and eras.”
A custom table from The French House takes center stage in the outdoor dining area. A large pendant light casts an intimate glow for evening gatherings.
“The architecture of the house is very simple, so we wanted to make a bit of an impact in the master bedroom,” explains Godrich. “The room needed some height, so this neat four-posted bed worked beautifully without being too over-the-top.” A wooden sculpture by Andrew Martin injects a little drama into the scheme, while a vintage writing desk and pictures from a Madrid market add a touch of refinement.
A monolithic carved stone bathtub is an arresting feature in the bedroom. “It’s the first thing you notice as you enter the room, but that’s exactly what we wanted — a bold feature you can only get away with in a holiday home,” Godrich says. “It’s an opportunity to do something a bit different.” A collection of vintage maps of Ibiza completes the look.
Armchair: Sofa.com; bedside table: Julian Chichester
Godrich kept the styling simple in the master bedroom, allowing the polished concrete walls and carved stone basin to grab all the attention.
The finished vacation home is undoubtedly a party house. Colorful lighting in the pool announces sociable gatherings, but it can also be switched to a subtler effect for quieter, more refined evenings on the island.
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