Case Study: The Old Townhouse, Hvar

This gorgeous spot in Croatia is a total design dream, and our Soho House Dean Street tiles couldn’t look more at home in its beautiful courtyard. Owner Imogen Royall reveals why they were a perfect fit…

Full names: Imogen Royall and Matt Kenyon

Occupations: Interior Designer and Builder

Style and location of the property: An old stone house-turned-holiday-apartments on Hvar Island, Croatia, with a Mediterranean and earthy look.

Before and After: What a transformation!

Tell us about your project…

We purchased an old stone house in the oldest town in Croatia (Stari Grad) on the island of Hvar. The property had not been lived in for over 50 years, having been abandoned after a small fire. We love an underdog, and the house had been overlooked, so when we came across it, we knew it was the one for us. We moved from the UK to renovate the property and turn it into three holiday apartments which are now available to book. Starting in October 2019, we did all the work ourselves and completed it in April 2020.

How would you describe your interior style?

My interior style is sympathetic to the building and its surroundings - I wanted to use the colours and textures we saw around us in the landscape within the design, so we have lots of earthy tones, greens and blues. I love appealing to all the senses, using plenty of texture and layers that can be pared back in the warmer months and overlaid in the winter. I am really not a fan of greys or a feature wall, and I like to let the room or building do the talking - what does it have to say, and how can I showcase that in the best way possible?

Which Bert & May products did you use?

We used Soho House Dean Street tiles in our gorgeous outdoor pizza oven area. I had previously specified Soho House tiles at another project I had worked on in the UK and having seen them and how fab they were I just had to use them myself.

Day and night: Our Soho House Dean Street tiles suit the bar area completely

What do they add to your space?

The Old Townhouse is situated on an idyllic square in the heart of the Old Town, and we wanted to add a pop of colour to the square and our outside patio area while staying true to the natural tones of the environment, so the Dean Street tiles were just perfect. Now we have our Gozney sat there, ready for pizza nights under the stars.

The Old Townhouse is now taking bookings for 2022 and is available to book as individual apartments or as an entire house sleeping six. For more information, see theoldtownhousehvar.com or follow on Instagram: @theoldtownhousehvar

Feeling inspired? Explore more projects featuring out tiles in outdoor settings here and here.