As Chairman and Managing Director of one of the UK’s largest and most successful family owned hairdressing groups Clive and Tina Barrett lead  extremely busy lives. But as a complete contrast to heading their 18 hairdressing salons spread throughout SW England and the Midlands Clive, Tina and their family head for the Costa del Sol whenever possible.

The Barrett’s had previously used an interior design company owned by Alan Hall in the UK and Spain and decided again to seek Alan’s expert advice. Clive explains. “Alan lives in Marbella now with his wife Kate, who works with Alan, so we visited them at their home and fell in love with it. We commissioned him immediately to undertake our refurbishment asking him to create a style similar to his home that he would be happy living in. We were so confident he would come up with the goods that we just left him to it.”

Clive explains. “We manage to spend about 12 weeks a year in Spain it is so relaxing and the climate, especially on the Costa del Sol in fantastic.” Clive continues. “We have been visiting Miraflores for 16 years now. We love the area. It is so convenient as it is only 30 minutes from Malaga airport and 20 minutes from Marbella and Puerto Banus. And the facilities close by are superb, there is a community pool close to the house with a pool bar and just across the road is Hotel El Oceano, which has a superb menu, has superb views of the sea and offers live entertainment. And of course there is a huge array of nightlife, bars and restaurants only 20 minutes away in Marbella and Puerto Banus.” Clive laughs. “All of these things need to be taken into consideration when your family ranges from 16 to 30 years old with a grandson of 2.”

Getting to know the other owners at Miraflores during the Barrett’s visits enabled Clive to hear of properties in the area coming on the market. Clive had spotted the townhouse close to the community pool and bar and thought it would make an ideal holiday home. As soon as it came on the market he approached the owners and made an offer. The offer was accepted and within 3 months the purchase was completed. Clive and Tina loved the location of the 3 bedroom town house but as it was 20 years old they decided to completely gut it and start from scratch.

Clive continues. “The outcome was breathtaking. When we walked in for the first time it had exactly the wow-factor that we wanted. Our house now looks as if it has just been built. It’s perfect. We adore all of the effects that Alan has created. It is impossible to pick out any part of the property that we are not happy with.”

“Knowing Clive and Tina helped and doing a complete refurbish makes it easier as we start with a blank canvas. So once everything was ripped out we could get stuck in.” Alan continues. “I chose Travatine for the floors on the ground floor and the stairs. Travatine is a natural marble quarried in Seville. Upstairs we added light oak wooden floors.”

Although Alan and Kate were given a creative freehand on the overall design they consulted Tina on the curtains throughout the house and teenage members of the family on the style of their bedrooms. “We created a boys room and a girls room.” Explains Alan. “For the boys room I went for a strong black and white theme and for the girls room I chose quite a sophisticated look utilising silk fabrics in tones of pink and purple. For the ‘Hulk’ and ‘Drinks’ artwork I commissioned a talented English artist, Jacqueline Ives, who also lives on the Costa del Sol.”

Another artist that Alan commissioned for the Barrett’s home is G Vega, he is a member of a Spanish family of artists that live in Marbella. They create large pieces of artwork using a series of specifically created hand made ceramic tiles placed onto acrylic painted backgrounds. “G Vega’s creations work so well with the contemporary style I have used throughout the house.” Explains Alan. “I think it works particularly well with the Perobell contemporary easy chairs between the dining room and the main sitting room.” Alan continues. “I like using large art work and to achieve maximum impact I have applied flat ivory tones to the walls throughout with stronger panels of colour in specific areas to frame the artwork and give depth.”

Whenever possible Alan and Kate source their furniture and accessories locally. The frames for the glass topped tables, and the balustrades on the stairs were made by a local blacksmith. The furnishings including lights and the camel coloured suede sofas in the sitting room were purchased from local specialist shops. The only exception is the ‘living sculpture’ in the sitting room. Alan explains. “It is actually the trunk of a tree which has had the middle burnt out to create a giant vase. It comes from the Philippines.”