When an Antique Dealer Meets an Interior Designer
Blending two creative forces is sometimes like mixing oil and water...however, in the case of the home of Dorian Caffot de Fawes (antique dealer) and Thomas Daviet (interior designer) in Mahón, Menorca, the result is more like magic: distinct ingredients, harmoniously melding into something that elevates each. Their second home is a tour-de-force of layers, timelines and cultural cross-pollination. All the more charming because it doesn’t feel forced.
1. The Setting: Menorca’s Secret-Chic Hideaway
First things first: Menorca isn’t just a postcard island, it’s the kind of place where understated elegance still feels fresh. The townhouse is built of local marés sandstone, its warm ochre hue giving the home a glow that’s equal parts Mediterranean sun and aged caramel. That texture is slightly porous, a little impermanent is embraced rather than hidden. Humidity? Charm, says Dorian. A refreshing mindset.
The architecture itself nods to the British occupancy of the 18th century, with Georgian hints (sash windows, terrace arrangements) that create the perfect backdrop for vintage antiques and 20th-century design elements to shine.
2. A Remix of Eras: Vintage Meets Now
What happens when a seasoned antique dealer and a practiced interior designer team up? You get rooms that read less “museum” and more “live here, love this.” In the sitting room, 1970s armchairs sit on Victorian-style floor tiles; a Dutch mid-century oak & seagrass chair sits in playful contrast to trompe l’oeil panelling and marbled walls.
Thomas comments on the difficulty of pinning the style down as it’s simultaneously 18th, 19th and 20th century; British, French and Spanish but we think they nailed it: it's layered, textured, inviting.
3. Entertaining in Style — Twice a Week
Gone are the days when second homes in paradise mean ‘dust-and-disappear’. Here, the dining room takes centre stage, and they actually use it. A rock-crystal chandelier—yes really—hovers above a heavy oak table surrounded by rush-back chairs. Vintage yet relaxed. The kitchen opens to a terrace that’s perfect for breakfast, making every meal feel like a little vacation.
Thomas says this room is used “maybe twice a week, as opposed to twice a year in London.” Practical luxury, folks.
4. Bedrooms with Restraint & Character
Upstairs, the couple’s respective rooms (and two guest beds) carry the feel forward but add something quieter. High sloping ceilings, white walls, simple tiled floors. The collected rugs and art pieces whisper story, rather than shout. There’s a second terrace off Thomas’s bedroom, overlooking terracotta-tiled roofs and the harbour beyond—“it could be Tangier,” says Dorian.
5. Lessons for Your Own Space
Mix eras boldly—but keep harmony. The downstairs tiles set a tone; vintage pieces reference them; modern moments highlight them.
Use architecture as framework, not obstacle. Width, height, local materials were embraced here, not hidden.
Design for actual use. That dining room isn’t for show—it’s for dinners with friends. That makes the look believable.
Let location speak. Menorca sets the scene, colour palette (warm stone, crisp white walls, sea beyond) and mood. Use your locale as inspiration.
Collect thoughtfully. Dorian’s antiques aren’t throw-aways—they have weight, character, story. Choose with intention.
If you’re thinking about infusing your space with just the right dose of collected-culture, this house is a master class. The way they’ve layered texture, era and character speaks to you—and you don’t need a Spanish island townhouse to take inspiration.
-Juliette