A 17th-century fisherman's cottage in Mallorca transformed into a colourful and creative home
In the coastal village of Deià, in Mallorca, Scottish decorator and antiques dealer Amanda Pickett has added her name to a creative cognoscenti of writers, artists, musicians and interior designers who have succumbed to the charms of this world-heritage site, an hour north of the capital, Palma. With a magpie eye, Amanda has turned a run-down 17th-century casa de pescadores (fisherman's cottage) into a creative studio where she can make, transform and imagine. And has become a go-to source for both designers and private clients, who share her affinity for the colourful and extraordinary.
Born in Scotland, Amanda came to Mallorca on a whim eight years ago, with her partner Gary Clarke, after the premature arrival of twin girls and in need of a change in scenery to recuperate. Arriving with all five of their children, a dog and a trailer full of antiques to sell, they fell in love with the bohemian vibe and the unspoilt, rugged landscape at the foot of the Teix mountains. Deià cast its spell, they married, and the rest is history.
The couple opened a stand-alone antique and interiors business on Deia's main street, but with lockdown, Brexit and the cost of importing antiques, they shut up shop and moved their studio to a quieter part of the village. They shifted their focus to interior projects, the design and decoration of handmade beds and day beds, and one-off textile creations that have become synonymous with Pickett's House style – and a business ethic that values quality craftsmanship and the restoration of old, or the transformation of the time-worn, into something new.
‘I wanted the space to feel like an extension of home, a private sanctuary where I could create, but where our kids could hang out and run free with the dog after school’, says Amanda. With a workroom, relaxed living spaces, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a simple kitchen, the cottage-turned-studio spirals up to a magnificent rooftop terrace, with views of the 14th-century Sant Joan Baptista church, where you can listen to the sound of joyful bells. Surrounded by natural beauty and a rustic array of 'Sóller-style, green-shuttered' properties, the turreted roof - adorned with Amanda's colourful, hand-stitched banners - adds to the quirky appeal. Encouraging her to do what she does best - make magic.
The restorative interior has become an incubator for design ideas, layered alongside an ever-changing collection of antiques. ‘My father was a professional restorer who specialised in fine English, Georgian and Regency furniture - I have always gravitated toward pieces for both their beauty and backstory’.
Simple whitewashed walls, original dark wooden beams and an abundance of natural rugs form a restful backdrop to a profusion of colour and pattern. ‘Stripes and scallops are my favourite motifs and appear a lot in my projects’, enthuses Amanda. And throughout the house, they can be found embellishing fireplace edges, curtains and cushions.
A bold red, blue and white stripe, from Pickett's House's own fabric collection, adorns a 17th-century giltwood day bed - a seat where dreams have been played out for centuries and where conversations and music are shared daily. 'My designs are inspired by fragments of vintage fabrics collected over many years - everything comes with provenance.
In the main living room, an 18th-century, hand-painted Dutch armoire is offset by new stained-glass-effect windows, created by Amanda - using jewel-like shades to brighten up dull, frosted panes. ‘When the sun streams in, they bring the house to life’, she smiles. And similarly, naive wall murals - including garlands, birds, animals and flowers - add an eccentric and colourful charm throughout the cottage. They were painted by Amanda and the twins, who share her creative DNA.
‘The cottage is our haven - it encourages us all to imagine. Life should always feel like an adventure - we have found that here.’
'Cocoon: Creating Homes with Heart' by Ali Heath, published by Mitchell Beazley, 19 June 2025. £30 hardback.
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Brent Darby4/6An antique clock, salvaged locally, is framed by Magnus Reid paintings.
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