It was a need for change that prompted the move of a lifetime for Sophie Bell, founder and designer of lifestyle brand Peppa Hart. While many had decided to renovate their homes during the pandemic, Bell had bigger plans.
“It was a spur of the moment decision,” she tells marie claire. “We felt that every weekend was repetitive and we were doing the same stuff all the time. I’m creative and I want to design furniture and clothing so we felt we could move to Bali and be on the ground and start doing a lot of the things we’d been speaking about doing forever.”
Turning the dream into a reality, Bell and her husband Michael put their home at Cabarita Beach, 30-minutes north of Byron Bay, on the market, packed up their lives and moved to the quiet seaside village of Seseh in Bali with their two children – Peppa (now four) and Hendrix (now seven) – and pet dalmatian, Duke.
The family had swapped rural bushland for sprawling rice fields, but soon encountered their first roadblock. “Originally our plan was to buy land then build a home from scratch, and rent a home while it was being built,” recalls Bell. “But when we arrived, rental prices were astronomical because so many people had moved [to Bali] after Covid. So we decided to change course and found these incredible concrete villas that were about 85 per cent finished. We [added] our touches and finished the home and moved into these pretty quickly. They were too good to pass up.”
Decorated to perfection in her signature cool, vibrant, Mediterranean-influenced style, Bell and her family occupy one of the luxury villas, known as La Playa, and rent out the other one adjacent. Each of the three-bedroom homes has crisp white and neutral interiors, with injections of colour throughout, creating a calm space that reminds you to have fun. Also featured are Bell’s own artworks from Peppa Hart, as well as pieces created by her mother, the founder of Min Ceramics. Complementing these are pieces by artist Stanislas Piechaczek, and photographers Stuart Cantor and Akila Berjaoui.
Photography by Ruben Beeris; Sophie Bell.
“Virtually every piece in my home is handmade on the island by local artisans, from the custom marble furniture to even the soap in the bathroom,” says Bell. “Every detail has been created with love.”
When it comes to curating an eclectic-yet-inviting feel for her interiors, Bell turns to one muse in particular. “My biggest inspiration is travel,” she says. “We recently spent two months in Europe and I absolutely fell in love with Spain. The colours, textures, food, architecture and lifestyle really spoke to me and filled me with so much inspiration.” Unsurprisingly, Bell can’t stop the creativity flowing from her newfound source, and later this year she will be opening her own lifestyle store in Bali.
What is your signature home scent?
In every room – from my desk to the lounge – I have my own collaboration burning: This is Incense x Peppa Hart.
How does your home make you feel?
Where I live is so calm. There’s no noise or crowds and my balcony looks out to rice fields. It’s very much my sanctuary.
What is your at-home uniform?
I live in oversized shirts and shorts from Peppa Hart Recreation Club.
Where are your go-to Bali hot spots?
I love dining at Bar Vera. For something more low-key, Times Beach Warung and Seseh General Store are great for families. My favourite spas in town are Spring Spa and Sundaymood for their ice baths and sauna.
