Tucked away in Valverde, a charming neighbourhood in the north of Madrid characterised by its narrow streets, tapas bars and bohemian spirit, lies a slice of California in the form of entrepreneurs Mike Leflore and Danny Mitchell’s home.
The couple, co-founders of Los Angeles-based Zia Tile, had long ago fallen for the Spanish capital, so when the opportunity arose to buy this once-tired three-bedroom apartment in a traditional 19th-century block, it proved impossible to pass up.
At 250 square metres, this is no pokey pied-à-terre, spanning, as it does, the entire third floor and forming a square around a central courtyard. The extent of work required to turn the property into the stylish home Mike and Danny envisaged was in no doubt, but neither was their choice of interior design studio: London-based Lind + Almond.
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Founders Pernille Lind and Richy Almond were behind the design of Copenhagen’s Hotel Sanders – famous for its blend of mid-century design and inviting cosiness, and also one of Mike and Danny’s favourite places to stay. ‘They got in touch off the back of seeing it,’ recalls Richy.
But, needless to say, creating a mini replica was never on the cards. ‘As designers, we’re very conscious that we want to keep evolving. So we went on a bit of a journey of pushing them on their own design.’ That journey had a clear direction. As well as being a home for them and their two young children, Mike and Danny wanted this to be a place to showcase their tiles to potential clients.
As a starting point, they were heavily influenced by historical European buildings, while other inspirations were far more local. The colours of the Estatua Ecuestre de Carlos III statue formed the primary bathroom’s muted palette, while the bespoke panelled screen that divides the kitchen from the entrance hall is a clever reference to the city’s wrought-iron window balconies.
Colour plays a crucial role, with spaces transitioning from warm neutrals to deep, moody hues most evident in the family room and adjoining formal lounge. ‘The light and the dark spaces have varying functions and experiences.
The guys jokingly call the dark one “the hangover room”,’ says Pernille. Furniture was sourced in Spain and across Europe. ‘Our general approach is not all vintage, not all traditional, not all contemporary. It’s about the right balance.’
Of course, the couple’s tiles are used to dramatic effect, from the bespoke mosaic featured in the entrance hallway to the deep-plum zellige in the new Jack-and-Jill bathroom (one accessed from two separate bedrooms), which was formerly the kitchen.
Most striking is the floor-to-ceiling contemporary fireplace clad in unglazed trapezoid zellige tiles. ‘We proposed this because it has Old World connotations, but feels fresh and uses the tiles in an interesting, unique way,’ says Richy.
While working in Madrid had the occasional logistical problem, it was a challenge that Lind + Almond embraced. ‘Mike and Danny say the apartment still takes their breath away every time they walk in,’ says Pernille. ‘As designers, you can’t ask for much more than that.’ lindalmond.co; ziatile.com
