A Mallorcan villa blends contemporary design with traditional finca style, set between the Mediterranean and the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, a UNESCO-protected setting that shaped its interior. The project, led by designer Katharine Pooley, prioritized natural materials and a connection to the surrounding environment. The home is situated in a secluded neighborhood where the sea stretches out in front and the rugged mountain range rises dramatically behind, creating a striking natural contrast that informed every design decision.
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Pooley described the home as inherently calm, with a strong existing character that guided her approach. The clients—a family she had worked with before—wanted a relaxed, elegant retreat using earthy tones and no synthetic fabrics. Their brief emphasized inclusivity, ensuring the space felt welcoming and functional for every family member. The guiding principle came directly from the clients: the house, its walls, light, and nature should all feel like part of the same conversation. This philosophy shaped the studio’s work, as they sought to balance beauty with practicality while maintaining a deep connection to the setting.
Craftsmanship played a key role, with bespoke furniture commissioned from local and British artisans. A stone side table from Dorset features steam-bent timber wrapping organically around the base, showcasing the collaboration between material and technique. The dining table, meanwhile, is a single, generous slab of raw-sliced wood, its natural edges left unrefined to highlight the timber’s organic beauty. Fabrics from De Le Cuona were selected for soft furnishings, ensuring even the textiles aligned with the commitment to natural fibers.
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Light wells pull natural light deep into the spaces, and rattan lampshades reference the island’s rural heritage. The rattan elements subtly echo the traditional finca aesthetic, while the light wells ensure that even the interior rooms remain bathed in daylight, reinforcing the connection between indoors and out. Soft furnishings in linen and other natural fibers add warmth without straying from the family’s preference for organic materials. The result is a home that feels both timeless and lived-in, with every texture and detail contributing to a cohesive, enduring atmosphere.
Logistics posed challenges, particularly with large, heavy pieces. One sculptural stone installation was too big to move through doorways or staircases, so it had to be craned over the property and lowered into place. Pooley emphasized that such moments demand on-site adaptability, requiring close collaboration with specialists to handle the constraints of the existing structure. The piece’s scale and weight made conventional delivery impossible, turning its installation into a carefully orchestrated effort that ultimately added to the project’s distinctiveness.
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The clients were involved at every stage, but Pooley said the final reveal still carried excitement. Her favorite piece—a coffee table in fumed English oak with hand-stitched goatskin leather—embodies the project’s balance of craft and function. Crafted in a British workshop, the table’s inlaid leather and rich, fumed finish demonstrate meticulous artistry, while its role as a gathering spot for family board games fulfills the brief’s emphasis on practicality. The piece’s dual purpose as both a statement object and a functional centerpiece shows the project’s success in merging elegance with everyday use.
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