The Evolution of Interior Design in Marbella with Andrea Böck

Marbella has long appealed to those looking for more than a property. They are drawn by the climate, the sea and the ease of Mediterranean living. Yet the homes that leave a lasting impression are those that turn that lifestyle into something personal.

For Andrea Böck, interior designer and founder of Ambience Home Design, a home begins with the people who live in it: how they use each space and the feeling they want to create when they walk through the door.

In conversation with Mariano Beristain Managing Partner of DM Properties, Andrea Böck reflects on Marbella’s changing design landscape, the evolution of luxury interiors and what today’s buyers expect from a high-end home.

Andrea first came to Marbella in her early twenties, visiting friends in Elviria. What began as a stay by the sea soon became a longer connection with southern Spain. After spending time in Barcelona to learn Spanish, she returned to Marbella and began building a career in interior design that now spans almost 25 years.

As founder of Ambience Home Design, she has worked through a period of major change in Marbella’s property market. Her experience offers a clear view of how luxury homes, interiors and buyer expectations have evolved.

From rustic Marbella to contemporary Mediterranean living

When Andrea first arrived in Marbella, interiors had a very different feel. Homes were often rustic, colourful and traditional. Striped curtains, matching bedcovers and strong Mediterranean patterns were common.

Today, the market has moved in a different direction. Many high-end properties are now sold fully furnished, with interiors playing a key role in how a home is presented and perceived.

This shift has also changed the work of interior designers. In the past, Andrea often worked directly with owners after they had bought a property. Now, design is frequently part of the sales process itself. A well-designed interior can help buyers understand the lifestyle a home offers from the moment they walk in.

The role of service in luxury design

For Andrea, luxury is not only about taste, style or talent. It is also about service.

A beautiful design needs careful planning behind it. Every project depends on clear communication, strong project management and respect for timing and budget. As Andrea explains, a happy client is not only someone who likes the final result. It is someone who has felt supported throughout the process and has received what was promised.

This means looking after every detail. Orders, suppliers, deliveries, payments, quality control and installation all need close attention. Behind a calm and elegant interior, there is often a very precise system at work.

It is a practical and client-focused approach, and one that reflects the expectations of Marbella’s international buyers. For many, good service is not an extra. It is part of what luxury means.

Marbella’s clients are more informed than ever

Today’s buyers arrive with clear ideas. They travel widely. They know what good design looks like. They also bring inspiration from hotels, homes, magazines, Pinterest and social media.

This can make the design process richer, but also more complex. Clients may change direction during a project or arrive with several ideas that need to be refined.

Andrea sees her role as a guide. The aim is not to impose a personal style, but to understand how the client wants to live and translate that into a home that works.

A house should reflect the person who lives there. That means asking the right questions. How will they use each space? How do they entertain? Where do they relax? What do they want to feel when they arrive home?

What makes a house feel like home?

For Andrea, the answer is simple: understanding the people who will live there.

A home should do more than look good. It should make everyday life feel easy. It should feel personal, comfortable and natural. In high-end homes, this balance matters. The design must be refined, but never distant or staged.

This is especially relevant in Marbella, where many properties are used for holidays, longer stays or as second homes. Buyers are often looking for something different from their main residence in northern Europe or another major city.

They come to Marbella for light, warmth and ease of living. Increasingly, they want their interiors to reflect that. A house may be beautifully designed, but it only becomes a home when people can truly live in it.

The post-Covid shift: comfort, wellness and home working

The pandemic changed what buyers expect from a luxury home.

According to Andrea, comfort became a much stronger priority. Buyers now think more about spending extended periods at home. They want spaces that allow them to work, rest and feel well.

Home offices became important. Not just functional offices, but attractive spaces suitable for video calls and daily use.

Wellness areas also gained importance. Spas, gyms, saunas and quiet areas for relaxation are now high on the wish list. Terraces and outdoor living areas have also become more valuable, as buyers look for homes that allow them to enjoy Marbella’s climate throughout the year.

A contemporary style with a Mediterranean soul

Marbella’s design language continues to evolve. Andrea describes the current trend as contemporary style with a Mediterranean soul.

This means clean lines, natural materials, warmth and a sense of place. Buyers do not necessarily want the same look they have at home. They want to feel they are in Marbella. They want interiors that connect with the climate, the light and the lifestyle.

This is where the best design makes a real difference. It creates a home that feels elegant, but also relaxed and liveable.

Is Marbella reaching the level of markets such as Miami, Dubai or Los Angeles?

Marbella has grown quickly in recent years. Villas are larger, more ambitious and more design-led than ever before. Andrea believes Marbella is getting close to the level seen in markets such as Miami, Dubai or Los Angeles, although there is still room to raise the standard in some very high-end projects, particularly in furnishing.

The direction is clear. Marbella is no longer just a holiday destination. It is a global luxury residential market with increasingly sophisticated buyers.

Design as part of Marbella’s lifestyle

Andrea’s story mirrors Marbella’s own evolution. What began as a place of sunshine and sea has become a mature market where architecture, design, service and lifestyle all work together.

For buyers, interior design is no longer an afterthought. It shapes how a property feels, how it functions and how it is experienced.

In Marbella, the most successful homes are not only beautiful. They are personal, practical and deeply connected to the way people want to live.

Pia Arrieta, 30 Jun 2026 - Lifestyle - News