At Home in Bali with Magali Pascal
Tucked away in a personal paradise in northern Canggu, inspired by the vitality of precise Parisian design and a love for the freedom of Balinese architecture, you will find fashion designer and creative director Magali Pascal — although it may be fitting to add domestic architect and interior designer to her enviable reputation in the fashion industry. The Parisian born artist first fell in love with Indonesia in 2002 when she was assigned to the idyllic island of Bali to design a capsule collection. It was there Pascal found the architectural usage of nature and minimalism inspired a sense of freedom within her. A feeling she was eager to recreate. Pascal came to later relocate to Bali with her Australian born husband, and together they built a French-Caribbean oasis inspired by Balinese Paradise. With lush tropical gardens surrounding the property a sanctuary for Magali, husband Matt, and their twins was forged.
A Heavenly abode, remodeled with love and rebuilt from scratch, each piece of material was created with purpose and sourced from inspiration. The recycled wood used to frame the mirrors, the natural stone for the basin, the wall sconces and carefully selected furniture were all a collaborative design between the multi-cultural couple and brought to life by a local Javanese carpenter. “Matt and I have quite similar taste so we are very lucky,” beamed Pascal. “Matt has an incredible eye for details and is extremely talented with building a space and garden. We decided on the general look of the house together, talked about the details, but then I trusted him to project manage everything.” The towering ceilings offering generous volumes give the abode an airy and open feel, a sense of freedom much like what Pascal had felt upon her first visit to the island. The natural colors laced throughout the home bring an instantaneous wave of calm to the body. Pascal’s clear intention to utilize precise color pallets, textures, and shapes in cohesive harmony evoke a feeling or mood accomplished throughout each room.
“The French, Caribbean plantation house was definitely the first inspiration behind the design of the house,” revealed Pascal. “We wanted a place that would fit with the open Bali living lifestyle. There is a French influence in the shutters and all the door details throughout the house, but we also loved to mix the styles, adding a couple of mid-century inspired furnitures.” Her French roots are in the finer details. Benches and tables crafted from raw wood bring a sense of warmth to the open space design. Timelessness being an important aspect of architectural design and purpose to the designer, a blend of inspiration can be seen in the mid-century style furniture found in the beachside estate. “I still haven’t finished designing the interior of the house,” smiles Pascal as she contemplates the endless possibility of adorning each room; “it takes so long to figure out what looks the best and I’m trying to get it done room by room. I always start with the bigger pieces of furniture, then go into what’s going onto the walls.” “It took over two years to furnish the bedrooms and they are in my opinion still not finished,” laughs the designer. “It was after a recent trip to Palm Springs that I was so inspired by the mid-century style. At first I was worried it wouldn’t suit our French Caribbean style, but the wooden minimal furniture surprisingly fit in with the place.” Continuing with welcomed advice, “There are some basics and combinations of textures and colors that can never go wrong and this should be the core / base of the design,” says Pascal, “then it’s easy to accessorize the house with an object or change what goes on a wall to give it a mood.”
Building a sanctuary in which to escape and nest in the comfort of your home is as much a feat as it is a necessity. An 18-month revival project that Pascal and her family embraced with open arms, the style-savvy family with that coveted eye for design, forged an elegant canvas both effortless and free. “I would always recommend to have a very neutral wall color palette so it’s like a blank canvas, you can easily [add] to it without creating big clashing,” encouraged Pascal. “Starting with a white and wood color tone is always a risk-free choice.” Offering Parisian sensibilities, finely crafted amid the breathtaking foliage of laid-back Bali, the designer has created a paradise fitting for her family and true to the roots and homage of her two loves.
