Category: News

Our clients and peers know ID Latinia as one of the leading interior design studios in Marbella, a company with a solid reputation and a proud portfolio of projects to its name. At the heart of this creative residential and commercial design firm are María Florido and Ruth Torre, who founded the company 16 years ago.

The careers of both designers took them to different parts of the world, María working for French Connection and Joseph in London, and Ruth designing sets for motion pictures and TV commercials in Spain and South America, before the duo settled back in their home region and dedicated themselves to Marbella’s prominent interior design field.

Together they form a creative, effective team augmented and enhanced by the people they have selected to work within them, both within ID Latinia and as trusted suppliers. This includes production assistants who help with the coordination of projects, but also seamstresses, carpenters, technicians, lighting specialists, home automation engineers, constructors, artisans and specialists in upholstery.

It is a team that combines creative conceptual thinking and aesthetic flair with the need to be efficient, stick to budgets and remain true to deadlines. In the process, ID Latinia produces beautiful Marbella living environments in which form and function – style and practicality – are harmoniously matched, and clients’ expectations exceeded.

“We also work closely with architects and landscapers,” says María, who along with Ruth has decorated show flats, villas, penthouses and country properties as well as restaurants, golf clubhouses and entire hotels. Their work has been featured in interior design magazines and extends beyond Marbella to include the UK, Malta, Italy, Colombia, the USA and the rest of Spain.

“We are very happy to be working in such a creative and rewarding field,” adds Ruth, “and it is only because we have such a fantastic team of skilled and dedicated professionals that ID Latinia can call itself one of the leading interior design companies not only in Marbella but indeed this part of Spain.” The team enhance one another and add a broad range of skills and options for clients, so get in touch if you want to know how your home can become everything you ever wished it to be.

There is much focus these days on modern properties, but a contemporary home with all the style and mod cons you desire from 21st century living does not limit itself to new-built Marbella villas and apartments only.

In fact, many an existing property can bring fantastic advantages to the table, such as a top location (the best ones are always taken first) close to the beach or right on the golf course, an attractive mature residential area and a far lower price than a newly constructed home – especially when measured in price/square metre.

Older properties with great renovation potential in Marbella therefore represent fantastic value for money and a great investment, as well as giving you the first-hand choice of materials, colour tones, textures, layout and all the other factors that go into making the property your modern dream home. And you don’t have to be handy or have experience in renovating real estate to make it your own project, for companies such as ID Latinia are specialised in managing the process for you.

We bring your style to life

We have the technical skills, experience and design flair but you have the vision. After all, it’s your dream home, so we invest our time in understanding exactly what our clients have in mind so that we can deliver the homes and living spaces they have always dreamed of. Be it a small apartment or a large Marbella villa, one thing we assure you is that your property will be the very best it can – a reflection of your personal style, practical requirements and preferred way of life.

One of our most recent projects involved an older villa that was dark, boxy and rather unwelcoming. This did not do its saleability or value any good, and indeed it was easy to overlook such a home even though its price was certainly a selling point. But when a property has little else but price and a good location that is not always enough to appeal to the imagination of buyers…

Creating a stylish new Marbella home

Some vendors renovate their home to not fall into this spiral of lower values, while others see the potential of an older Marbella renovation property and snap up it for a good price. Especially in the latter case the next step is to transform a tired, dark and uninspiring villa into a home that is both a showcase of style and a comfortable place to live in 21st century luxury.

This is exactly what we were tasked to do with this villa, which we are proud to say has been transformed into a beautiful contemporary home full of light and modern features. The project involved not just the interior but also the garden and pool, a job which we relished as we turned unloved bedroom suites and guest rooms, tired bathrooms and a series of enclosed kitchens, lounge, dining and family rooms into a welcoming flow of open-plan living spaces and private quarters.

The bedrooms and guestrooms now each feature their own character and interpretation of contemporary decorative themes with a touch of retro-inspired chic. Fine wallpapers, soft furnishings and carpets create a sense of refinement comfort and a personal space just made for retreating into. The attached bathrooms have gone from very standard to stand-out, with the use of modern furnishing, large tiles, pebble stones, sleek sanitary ware and highly effective soft lighting. Transforming a dull washroom into a private spa.

The main living spaces have been similarly opened up to views of a clean, crisp landscaped garden in which space and green lawns provide the backdrop to daily life in the house with natural light brightening a lounge, dining room and kitchen now connected to each other. The terrace and renewed pool area offer a stylish extension of the elegant lifestyle of indoors, complete with a refined chill-out lounge feel for relaxing and entertaining.

In keeping with this inclusive lifestyle concept, no room is purely a functional space and all add to the beauty and desirability of the home. This is also particularly true of the tasteful kitchen, with its large cooking island/bar where it is a pleasure to socialise and linger. The same is true of the family room that extends from it, which like all other parts of the home blends form and function to create a sense of sophistication and style that is in harmony with its practical role and function.

Once again views are let in as you watch television or enjoy the modern gas fireplace, completing a renovation that was designed from a complete lifestyle concept in which the final furnishing and decorating is the cherry on the cake. With a renewed technical infrastructure, recessed ceilings and ambient light detailing, this Marbella villa is no longer an old home but now every bit as modern, stylish and valuable as a recently completed one.

In a previous blog we explained our philosophy and business ethos of offering a bespoke service to our clients when designing an elegant new interior for their villas or apartments.

We recently completed a new project in the Puerto Banús, Marbella, complex of Playas del Duque. This was the latest apartment we totally renovated and refurbished within the complex recently—the first can be seen here—and we thought it presented an excellent opportunity to show how we can take two similar apartments and come up with unique results, whilst following the same modern trends. Yes, there are some similarities, but the end effects differ in not just detail but also in how they are tailored to the lifestyle options desired by the respective owners.

While the apartment in our latest project offers more space—three bedrooms instead of two, and larger living areas—the basic challenges remained the same. The shapes of the main living rooms are basically rectangular, meaning care and attention to the smallest detail was required to ensure the desired open-plan arrangement provides a clean aspect without losing a ‘homely’ and welcoming feel.

As our picture shows the secret is to create ‘spaces within the space’, that flow naturally into each other. In this case the main lounge area was of particular importance to the owner, who needed ample seating both inside and out.

By carefully selecting the outdoor furniture we ensured that the colours and patterns used complemented those of the interior despite being strikingly different. As a result, the indoor living area flows through the large patio doors onto the terrace, thus creating one extended living space.

Whilst in our previous project the concept of outdoor dining was of prime importance—hence the siting of a dining table and chairs on the terrace—here an ‘outdoor lounge’ entertaining area was the preferred option—as can be seen from this picture. Ample, comfortable seating with a large, stylish coffee table reflects the indoor arrangement—but both are perfect spaces in which to relax with friends and family.

The dining area had to be functional as well as look good—this unusual table and chairs added just the right touch to emphasise the style we wanted to achieve, while the hanging lamps over the dining table and in the main television zone add a three dimensional aspect to the design that is crucial in softening what would otherwise be a hall-like space. Equally as important is the attention to detail shown by the selection of vases and ornaments, the clean-line cabinets and especially the beautiful marble-vein effect ‘highlight wall’. This spectacular feature offers the contrast needed in such a room, where the other walls are presented in lighter hues.

If you compare the two apartments it can be seen they both follow the latest trends—but each is unique, reflecting the personalities and preferences of their owners—and that’s what we consider to be our main objective.

Marbella apartments feature a diverse variety of terraces, many with Mediterranean Sea views. They can differ greatly in size, orientation, configuration and décor but many are not used to their full potential. A stylish, comfortable outdoor area is a true enrichment to your home and lifestyle – here are some tips on how to create your own outdoor paradise.

Enhancing your terrace is usually a lifestyle decision aimed at expanding and beautifying your available living spaces, but naturally as you do so, it also greatly increases the desirability of your property by improving its saleability and value. Moreover, it isn’t limited to large terraces either, as you’ll be amazed what can be achieved even in a relatively small terrace area.

Common mistakes to avoid

 As people have a tendency to decorate outdoor living areas with a very standard set of furniture smaller terraces end up looking cluttered and large ones cavernous and empty. The trick is to avoid either wanting to fill every space or ending up in just one corner of a large expanse of tiles or marble. Neither is particularly attractive from a design point of view or likely to create the kind of space where you love being – and that is exactly what we’re after!As people have a tendency to decorate outdoor living areas with a very standard set of furniture smaller terraces end up looking cluttered and large ones cavernous and empty. The trick is to avoid either wanting to fill every space or ending up in just one corner of a large expanse of tiles or marble. Neither is particularly attractive from a design point of view or likely to create the kind of space where you love being – and that is exactly what we’re after!

Most of us have moved on from the garden set, parasol and BBQ, but just placing a mock reed lounge and dining set possibly accompanied by a jungle of potted plants is not the answer either.

Professional stylists create designs with wow factor because they assess each space with an open mind that sees endless possibilities, so take a page out of their book and resist the assumption that a terrace must have x, y and z. It can actually be anything YOU want it to be, so make it personal, stylish and suited to your lifestyle.

See the possibilities

So empty your mind and your terrace of clutter and start with a clean slate. A small terrace should be comfortable and intimate, which means that you should focus on the elements that are important and add value to the space. If your terrace is actually too small for a lounge and dining set decide which you need/want the most and leave the other one out. One idea is to create a comfortable, stylish lounge area with compact but tasteful furniture that you can also eat at. Add style and ambience with such details as lighting, candles and a modern sun sail, further enhanced with quirky details such as muslin curtains or a hammock. Also stick to a dominant decorative theme and colour tone, such as plain white or blue and white combinations to achieve a sense of style and harmony.

If your terrace is large you should create different zones such as a cosy, comfortable covered lounge area, an ambient dining area that makes the most of night sky views and a sun lover’s space with sunbeds, hammocks and the like. If you want to take things up a notch and you have the space, why not create your own chill-out lounge with bar?

Some attractive lamps, large reclining cushions, muslin curtains and sun sails go a long way, and yes, a Jacuzzi can complement it all very nicely, but always make sure that there is a dominant tonal theme and enough breathing space between the different zones to ensure your personal chill-out zone is the sort of spot where you feel fantastic relaxing and entertaining. It can even become the highlight of your Marbella apartment or penthouse!

One of the glories of being a boutique interior design company is the liberating ability to work exactly as we would like, giving free rein to our creativity and permitting ourselves to commit totally to our clients in terms of time and energy.

Our ethos is to offer a tailored service that results in each property we work on having a unique interior look and ambience, often with custom made furniture designed specifically for the space we are working with.

For us the allure of interior design as a career is the capability of using our creative talents and hard-won skills on a daily basis—each day brings a new challenge, whether in simple refurbishments or complete renovations. Not for us the bland corporate world of designing a ‘lowest common denominator’ interior aimed at offending nobody intended to be shoehorned into every apartment in a development—we use flair and imagination to produce memorable eye-catching, tasteful interiors on a bespoke basis.

In order to achieve this we include each client in the design process—we talk to them and form a clear picture of the sort of lifestyle they envisage, any particular needs they may have and to gain an idea of their tastes and preferences. Once that is done we examine the property in question—whether it be a villa, apartment, restaurant, shop or boutique hotel—with uppermost in our thoughts the wonderful challenge of making each room totally unique, while at the same time following a well thought out theme.

The client is involved every step of the way so they can not only be sure they will love the finished article, but can also enjoy the process and know the result will be an expression of their personality. It is this sort of personal relationship with our customers that is central to our ethos and sets us apart from other firms. We don’t do interior design simply as a job but because we love the dedicated attention to detail and customer interaction inherent in our profession.

In fact, we are proud to say that we not only create stunning interiors, but often make new friends too.

Should you have a refurbishment or renovation project please contact us for a friendly consultation—we have available a skilled team of artisans to help turn your ideas into stunning creations.

The art of interior design is informed by creative inspiration backed up by a deep knowledge of trends past and present from the worlds of art and architecture, combined with empathy for the needs and aspirations of modern homeowners.

When we were asked to give an apartment in the Puerto Banús complex of Playas del Duque a makeover, we brought all these skills to bear in order to not just smarten up but totally transform the home into the very epitome of stylish contemporary living.We are very proud of the finished article, which we think is right up to date with a light and airy open-plan interior, but also features art-deco elements to provide an elegant and stylish air to the spacious living areas.The original interior décor and furniture was looking a little dated and the homeowner wanted a functional laundry room as well as a sleek modern kitchen, which required a little structural work. There was plenty of spare space in the guest bedroom, so we used some of it to create a laundry room.

Moving into the kitchen, it can be seen that although of good quality, the original was, with the exception of a serving hatch, separated from the main living area.

This was de riguer back when the complex was built, but modern aesthetics call for open plan spaces that flow into each other while maintaining specific areas for everyday living.The stylish contemporary kitchen we had fitted is very much to trend, with clean lines and a hint of natural wood to emphasise the elegant design. A breakfast bar is not only a convenient place to eat at, but also provides an additional work surface when required.

The next photos show the view from the kitchen out to the balcony, and one from the opposite perspective. They give a very good impression of what we were trying to achieve—as one moves from the kitchen there is a natural flow and progression through the dining and seating areas out on to the enclosed terrace.

We also replaced the now rather tired décor and furniture using wallpaper and fabrics by Romo in the living room, while the striking dining chairs, dinner table, TV units and coffee table were custom made. The unusual light fittings are by Heithfield and Frato, with recessed LED spotlights providing ambient lighting.

The beautiful art deco style mirror and cabinet are also by Frato and were essential in adding interest to the spacious interior. The skill of the designer comes out when designing open plan—get it wrong and you may end up with a ‘hall-like’ space that seems cold and impersonal. The key is to make use of interesting furniture and to create defined living areas within the larger space—as can be seen from these pictures.

This apartment was totally refurbished from the floors up—in effect we were given a blank canvas to work with, which made it a very special project to work on.

We are particularly proud of the master bedroom, which suffered from out of date and fussy fabrics—as can be seen here.

By using warm-toned fabrics from Lamadrid we created a welcoming boudoir—a cosy nest in which to not just sleep but also relax in lovely surroundings.

Moving into the bathrooms, they were completely refurbished using marble, natural woods and expansive mirrors to achieve an inviting ambiance.

We leave you with pictures of the enclosed balcony that also benefited from our makeover. As you can see it was an uninspired space previously. We had ‘glass curtains´ fitted to provide further year-round living space that flows seamlessly into the interior.

A new wooden floor helps lend the terrace a conservatory-like feel, with comfortable new furniture providing an inviting place to relax or dine while enjoying the views.

We hope you enjoyed this little tour of our latest project—we are definitely very happy with the result, and more importantly, so are the owners!

If you would like advice on a refurbishment project please call us, we are only too happy to have a chat.

Even a beauty salon needs a beauty make-over every now and again, and that’s exactly what we did for Alqvumia in San Pedro Alcántara. The business is popular and well-established, but it has been operating for a while and the décor was beginning to look a little tired.

In addition to revamping the style and giving it an appealing contemporary look, we were also brought in to optimise the available space whilst making it feel welcoming and uncluttered – the kind of place where you begin to relax as soon as you step through the door. You see, people know us for creating attractive interior spaces, but we are also specialists in using space, light and textures. In fact, all of the above go hand in hand!

Creating a welcoming environment

The first step to creating a soothing, relaxing setting at Alqvumia is naturally at the entrance, so one of the most important spaces is the reception. The venue didn’t allow for an expansive one, so we had to use the space well. The process began by uncluttering the area, creating a new colour palette in copper and cream tones, and following this up with surfaces that are smooth and slick as well as warm and welcoming.

This set the tone for the whole salon, with modern parquet floors and soft tones used throughout. The reception desk was repositioned for optimal functionality and the room was allowed to breathe. We even found the space to fit a comfortable sofa and let natural light flow in, with a relaxing, ambient element provided by Terzani. The wall coverings and decorative pieces were mostly Casamance and Lamadrid, and we carried the theme of uncluttered, calming and also elegant spaces throughout the treatment rooms too.

Soft earthy shades combined with the wooden floors to produce a chic setting enlivened with touches of cherry red and beautiful floral murals. Again, we allowed natural light into the rooms, coupled with warm, ambient lighting, and made optimal use of almost invisible storage space. Sleek white modern doors and frosted glass partitions kept the areas fresh and functional, while the bathrooms were brought right up to date with attractive decorative pieces and a quality finish.

In all, the whole transformation was carried out in five weeks, from concept to finish – and that includes the cabinetry and displays custom-designed and made by us! It was a fun project to work on and the limited space and very specific professional requirements of a beauty salon provided us with a wonderful challenge to design around. In other words, we love adding value through our functional solutions and visual beautification, and Alqvumia looks and feels like the five-star salon it is!

We live in an era where contemporary style is often interpreted as having to be white, minimalist and impersonal, but fortunately there is no such limitation. In fact, modern styles are all about creativity and expression – expressing your taste and personality and daring to be unique by surrounding yourself with the things that make you as an individual stand out.

A home designed and decorated around this principle will not only be comfortable and stylish but also a one-off that is just yours. This is what interior designers can help you achieve, using their skills and design flair to create a living environment that puts a personal stamp on a home whilst also making it look superbly elegant – whether you prefer avant-garde, retro or eclectic styles.

Colourful Spanish

Our most recent project involved an instruction by the owners of a luxurious apartment in Doncella Beach, Estepona, to create just such an environment for them. Set right on the shore, this exclusive complex has panoramic views across a wide expanse of the Mediterranean, so the brief was all about balancing the indoor and outdoor areas and providing tones enlivened by the abundant natural light.ID Latinia Inderior Design Marbella

The owners wanted a Spanish feel that was in touch with the home’s surroundings, but also an interior where colours add a joyous touch. They liked the idea of traditional and retro elements combined with modern flair and comfort, so we added classic Moroccan wall plates to stylish contemporary furniture in a neat terrace where a glass curtain offers fantastic sea views.ID Latinia Interior Design

The Moroccan and retro elements were fused in carpets by Gan and James Malone cushions and puffs featuring fifties-inspired prints, while red chairs added a sense of stylish fun – all illuminated by ambient LED lighting. With a private terrace pool, this is the ultimate setting in which to enjoy the Costa del Sol’s inimitable climate.ID Latinia Interior Designers Marbella

Inside, the retro modern chic continues with earthy tones enlivened by red and azure touches in carpets, soft furnishings and lamp shades – the warm red tone adding a touch of Spanish passion that is cooled by the clear blue of the Andalusian sea and sky. The fifties-inspired dining room furniture is further personalised by adding bespoke dining chairs in matching tones of Casamance fabrics, while the wall paper by Elitis evokes the texture and tonality of colourful mosaics.ID Latinia Interior Design Marbella

Traditional Spanish elements set within a contemporary environment are found throughout the apartment, but always presented in a highly personalised way. In this ways even the hallway becomes a pleasant design feature that uses the traditional Spanish ‘a la cal’ wall finish to highlight artwork and continue the theme of a home that is stylish, comfortable, personal in its use of cultural and vintage references, yet also fully contemporary and functional.

ID Latinia is an interior design studio run by Maria Florido and Ruth Torre. The creative duo has a great track record in creating imposing and welcoming bespoke interiors in homes, restaurants, hotels and other spaces designed to tingle the senses, so contact us if you are looking for that special décor in your home or business.

Contact us if you are looking for a special atmosphere in your company or home.