Leisure Island: Fashion designer MALENE BIRGER combines vintage finds and modern classics to coolly relaxed effect in her Majorcan home
As the head of her own international fashion and interiors brand, Malene Birger, 60, spent many years living all over Europe – from Majorca and Greece to Italy and London – rarely staying in one place for more than a few years.
Apart from London, everywhere she chose to live was close to water, which was one of the reasons why she moved back to Majorca in 2020 – to a house in the rural town of Felanitx.
‘When I got divorced, my home in Lake Como started to feel too big for me,’ she says.
‘And the location didn’t seem right any more. I needed to move somewhere with lots of creative energy.’
Inlaid marble columns found by Birger on a trip to India flank the entrance to her Majorcan townhouse and draw the eye towards the beamed ceiling. For similar Moroccan-style pouffes go to graham andgreen.co.uk
Birger uses outdoor spaces as much as she does those indoors. With its wicker light fixtures and wooden furniture, the terrace feels welcoming and calming all year round. Try laura-james. co.uk for canvas dining chairs
Birger is originally from Denmark, but she doesn’t think of it as home. ‘Denmark is seen as having the happiest people in the world, but safety isn’t what I’m looking for now. I want to experience adventure,’ she says. This time she chose the eastern side of the island.
‘Majorca has many faces,’ she says, ‘and having lived on the west side, then Palma from 2007 to 2013, before moving to London, I wanted to try something new.’
A love of Majorca runs in her family. Birger’s grandmother, who was a single mother and a businesswoman, went on trips in the 1950s, and her parents took Birger and her sister there in the 1960s. She didn’t return until she was 40, but has felt a connection to the island ever since.
Birger was inspired by her surroundings when choosing and decorating her Majorcan home. It has a natural stone façade and the rooms feature wooden beams and white walls that reflect the rugged landscape. There’s also plenty of outdoor living space with dining, lounging and reading areas.
Each room contains a mix of mid-century pieces and items Birger has collected on her travels, all connected by a neutral palette. Art plays a key role in the décor throughout, with paintings she has collected over decades alongside her own work. ‘While I may move every few years, what’s inside my home remains the same,’ she says.
‘I just arrange it differently.’
This is an edited extract from Sense of Place by Caitlin Flemming and Julie Goebel, £35*, lannoopublishers.com
- *TO ORDER A COPY FOR £29.75 WITH FREE UK DELIVERY UNTIL 1 OCTOBER GO TO MAILSHOP.CO.UK/BOOKS OR CALL 020 3176 2937
Birger in the outdoor dining area; libertylondon.com sells decorative wall plates
Birger’s dining room table displays books and objects collected on her travels. 1stdibs.com sells vintage palm tree floor lamps
The walls are adorned with Birger’s treasured pieces. The side table from Beirut (right) showcases one of her sculptures. As is customary with many homes in Majorca, the floors are tiled to keep the rooms cool in summer
Bookshelves house Birger’s collection of World of Interiors magazines and favourite books. Go to trouva.com for similar decorative objects
The main bedroom looks out over the Majorcan hills, so Birger often keeps her window open. Try thewhitecompany.com for neutral bedlinen
The lounging spot by the pool is where Birger likes to read; business and pleasure co.com sells a range of hammocks
Malene’s Majorca
What is your idea of home?
For me, home is my bed and my studio. I love them both.
I rarely use my living room or dining room. It probably comes from when I started my companies – I worked with so many people and had so many fears in the beginning. Sleep is the only way I survived. After 20 years on the road, my bed is my sanctuary.
What is your favourite season in Majorca?
Every time of year holds something special. Early summer is beautiful – everything feels fresh and untouched – as is the warm spell in September. There are still a few tourists, but children have gone back to school so it’s calmer. And in February the almond trees bloom – there are around seven million of them in Majorca!
How does your home fuel your creativity?
Every day I feel happy with the freedom I have here. I can develop myself more as an artist. Plus it’s very peaceful.
How do you like to spend your weekends?
I take one day off and maybe go for a drive and see part of the island. I like exploring. But I do love to work in my studio – everything I need is at home. I paint, make collages and even work with clay.
Are there people or businesses close to home that fuel your creativity?
There is so much that inspires me. I love the work of the local glassmaker because it’s curvy and eye-catching. I also like the traditional baskets here and have even started my own collection.
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