SPANISH PROPERTY DEVELOPER AND INTERIOR DESIGNER IRACHE VILLADA MIKKELSEN OPENS THE DOORS TO HER STUNNING MARBELLA HOME, COMBINING LAID-BACK U.S. STYLE WITH SCANDI CHIC

There's a very good ambience and the house brings you a great sense of peace

Irache Villada Mikkelsen is a fixture in the most select Marbella circles so, fittingly, her home here is a spectacular villa with stunning views in the heart of the Marbella Golf Country Club. Thanks to the tranquillity and privacy it offers, this luxurious resort, attached to the well-known Marbella Club hotel, has become a hub for high society on the Costa del Sol, with residents hosting a whirl of lunches, dinners and private parties.

Of course, it’s many years since Marbella won its reputation as the most glamorous of tourist destinations, but it still boasts the qualities that won it that title. Famous and wealthy people from around the world flock here.

Our hostess, Irache, is herself married to a Danish-born international financier, Kim H Mikkelsen, her second husband. Together Irache and Kim have created a happy and united family that includes her 16-year-old daughter Elena and his son William, 15.

Their villa, designed by acclaimed architects Villarroel Torrico, is a mix of laid-back Los Angeles style and Scandi chic. The two-storey residence is set among tall “starburst” palm trees in 6,000 square yards of subtropical Balineseand Japanese-style gardens.

And at 1,400 square yards, the house has space for everything, including a whole lower level devoted to leisure activities, with a spa and an indoor pool, a state-of-the-art wine cellar, a home cinema and a gym with a chill-out area. Above are eight ensuite bedrooms, a further three bathrooms, an impressive living room with picture windows, a library and a dining room.