This whitewashed house, in the prettiest village in Mallorca, mixes traditional rural charm with chic modern touches
Away from the lager- soaked resorts of the southern coast is another side to Mallorca, one that few visitors get to see. The island, in fact, has a long history as a magnet for artists, writers and musicians, and towns such as Deià, on the mountainous west coast, have long been a destination for bohemians and celebrities. It was here that Lorraine Elkins and interior designer Pat Renson headed in search of ideas when they were renovating a traditional property in nearby Fornalutx.
Lorraine and her husband Stuart bought their Mallorcan hideaway in 2013. The Comrie-based couple had viewed dozens of properties on the island, but it was this 150-year-old house at the end of a narrow bougainvillaea-lined alley that they fell in love with. And Fornalutx, a UNESCO world heritage site in the hills above Deià and Soller, is charming and beautiful.
The structure of the house was sound, but the interiors were badly in need of an overhaul. “It was very dark inside,” recalls Lorraine. “It felt enclosed and the layout was all wrong.” With the right touch, though, she knew it could be special, so she and Stuart turned to Pat Renson, who’d worked on their previous homes.
This is just a taster, you can browse the full article with more stunning photography on pages 427-438, issue 100.
DETAILS
Photography Philip Rogan
Words Catherine Coyle
