Miami-born, London-based Tom Lawrence-Levy started his working life as a lawyer. His interest in interior design began as a side gig – an outlet for creativity and a way to earn a little extra during college and law school. “I thought law would give me a better quality of life,” he says. “People say design is oversaturated, but I realised if you go into that mentality, you’ll never love what you do – you’ll never be happy in your job.”
A move to London to be with his partner ultimately set him on his true path. Unable to practice law in the UK, Tom turned to Instagram during the pandemic, documenting his interior projects. His following skyrocketed from 10,000 to over 300,000 in a short time. It was the confirmation he needed to launch his company, Natural Asthetik, finally seeing that his life’s passion could also be his life’s work.
Fast forward five years and Tom has worked on projects in the Middle East, USA and the UK. Can Daisy, a beautiful Blakstad design located outside of San Antonio, is his first foray into Ibiza. You can read a profile on the villa’s landscape design here.
The owners discovered Tom through Instagram and invited him to bring his distinctive aesthetic to their island home. “It was a dream. They were so warm and welcoming,” he says. “Most of my work until then had been on pre-construction projects, which means it takes years to see the results.”
The construction of Can Daisy was almost finished when Tom arrived in Ibiza. Although it was his first time on the island, he had long admired its architectural style and had already worked with Ibiza-based suppliers. “There’s a lot of micro cement companies in Ibiza and because that’s a style I like very much, I did know some vendors beforehand, which was convenient,” he explains. “I had also reached out to some other designers who know the island and were super helpful. The whole experience was just very enjoyable.”
After doing a deep dive into the history of Ibiza’s vernacular architecture and the signature Blakstad style in addition to extensive conversations with the owners, Tom created a design that straddles both the historic rusticity Ibiza farmhouses are known for and the contemporary lifestyle the owners lead. Many pieces are bespoke, designed by Tom himself and manufactured around Europe, such as the beautiful two-metre-wide nesting coffee table. The interiors radiate a quiet luxury where quality takes precedence over extravagance. “I wanted to create a clean sanctuary, something very relaxing and warm.”
Tom found working with Rolf and the Blakstad team to be refreshingly collaborative. “Working with a team like that was such a great experience,” he says. “Rolf and his team alleviated any stresses I had. They were so attentive to the vision and things would just get done. Overall, it was a very positive experience, and I’d love to do it again.”
Tom Lawrence-Levy’s journey from law to design, and from Miami to London – and now Ibiza – is a testament to the power of passion. Can Daisy marks his first project on the island, but likely not his last. With a growing international portfolio and a deep appreciation for Ibiza’s architectural heritage, it seems only a matter of time before his work becomes a defining presence in more island homes.
