“The beginning is always very special,” shares Jaume Gual Bennàssar, Interior Designer at Rialto Living, “when the clients arrive excited about their future home, full of hopes and dreams.” The clients in question were a Nordic couple who had bought an apartment in the centre of the Mallorcan capital. It needed a lot of work, however, and Palma-based Vidal Architects were called in to carry out the initial renovation, careful not to lose the unique character of this old town apartment.
Island inspiration
For Rialto Living’s part, it began with the living room rug, a colourful piece they found at the Paris trade fair. The couple loved it, so it became the starting reference point behind the fabric concept. Most of the fabrics in the project are from the ‘Mediterranean Seaside’ collection designed by Klas Kall, owner of Rialto Living. His island-inspired designs, such as the ‘Puerto Pollença Wave’ prints or the ‘Calobra Rocks’ of the living room cushions providing a touch of warmth and connection with Mallorca.
For the furniture, Rialto Living used their own collection of upholstered pieces, such as the curved New York sofa that softly breaks with the straight lines of the space. To add a sophisticated air they continued with the brass accents that were introduced as part of the renovation, in the light switches and door handles.
Elegantly modern
In some cases, pieces designed by the Rialto Living department were custom-made, such as the bedside tables and the dining table, in order to link up the disparate elements. For decorative lighting, they used the British Porta Romana brand, such as the ceramic lamps behind the sofa, which bring an interesting texture to the space. Altogether, the result artfully balances a warm and inviting atmosphere with the ‘elegance’ and ‘modernity’ the clients had requested.
While the beginning of a project is special, Jaume adds “the final delivery is the most gratifying moment for us.” And with an outcome as impressive as this one, we’re sure the owners feel the same.
Photos by Rialto Living
Written by Leon Beckenham
