Step Inside a Soulful Ibiza Retreat Crafted in the Shadow of Es Vedrà

Yet the easygoing spirit Ono cultivated reveals another side of his sensibility, one attuned to Ibizan vernacular and the languorous appeal of coastal living. Rather than saturate the rooms with gilded flourishes and glamorous details one might find in his firm’s repertoire of soigné hotels, Ono softened his decorative instincts in deference to the dwelling’s innate charm while taking advantage of the freedom that came with designing for himself. “It was about achieving balance, keeping the soul of the house intact while adapting it to a modern lifestyle,” he muses. “Here, we could experiment and create a personal space that celebrates our love for Ibiza.”  

That affinity for the house’s original character informed nearly every aspect of the renovation. Ono and Cuenca preserved the structure’s sun-washed white facade while opening the 1,600-square-foot interiors to postcard panoramas of the nearby hills and the Mediterranean, with Es Vedrà as a distant beacon. The floor plan already lent itself well to the indoor-outdoor lifestyle the couple desired. Spread across two levels connected by a sculptural white cement staircase, the two-bedroom home features a generous open living area that flows into the kitchen, dining spaces, and lounge, with expansive terraces extending the footprint in either direction.  

At the same time, they wanted the residence to read as an intensely personal sanctuary, shaped by how the couple actually lives and made unique by keepsakes and sentimental objects collected over years of travel. Across the residence, Ono artfully commingles an eclectic array of flea-market discoveries—including the living room’s painterly Japanese-inspired folding screen and earthy ceramics sourced on the island and across the sea in Marrakech—with more rarefied pieces that showcase exquisite Spanish and Parisian craftsmanship. In one corner of the living room, a low-slung wooden buffet with carved geometric doors proudly showcases an assortment of sculptural objects by local artists; above it hangs a wall sculpture by Christophe Gaignon that resembles a burnished sun disk beside two Pierre Chareau sconces. Each item, Ono notes, “was chosen to reflect personal memories.”  

For all that eclecticism, Ono gave the rooms a remarkably earthy backdrop. In the kitchen, expanses of warm-toned wooden cabinetry punctuated by slender metallic pulls practically sing against chalky white walls and counters, conjuring a distinctly 1970s warmth. A brass-finished sink subtly gleams, while ceramics gathered from Ibizan markets and Provençal dealers line the cabinetry. Travertine, meanwhile, envelops the two spa-like ensuite baths anchored by custom micro-cement sinks. “The home feels simultaneously alive and restful,” Ono says. Warm mustard and orange tones nod to the island’s sun-baked terrain, while washes of green and blue—most notably in the hallway’s abstract painting by François Mascarello—echo the hills and sea. The subdued palette offers welcome refuge from Ibiza’s more exuberant side.  

Ultimately, the house finds its fullest expression outdoors. Ono considers the main terrace, poised above the pine trees, the clearest distillation of contemporary Ibiza living. It’s a place to savor long lunches, late evenings, and time spent with family and friends. From this elevated perch, the Mediterranean stretches beyond the hills as Es Vedrà enchants from afar, returning the story to the same mystical presence that invoked Ono’s most personal undertaking yet. “This terrace exemplifies the house’s essence,” he says. “It’s an open, welcoming environment that encourages connection with the island itself.” For a home conceived as both a personal hideaway and a celebration of its remarkable setting, there could hardly be a more fitting final view.