In the heart of McLaren Vale, a considered interior brings Scandinavian design principles into a home shaped by its landscape, lifestyle and sense of place.
The Vineyard Retreat with Valtteri Bottas and Tiffany Cromwell
Set among six hectares of working vineyard in South Australia's McLaren Vale, The Vineyard Retreat is the private residence of Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas and Olympic cyclist Tiffany Cromwell. For two people whose lives are defined by constant movement, the home offered an opportunity to slow down, gather and reconnect.
The brief was simple in principle, but considered in its execution. The interior needed to feel calm, contemporary and welcoming, working equally well for everyday living and entertaining. It also needed to feel personal, reflecting the couple's appreciation for Scandinavian design while responding to the character of its Australian setting.
For the local Adelaide team, this meant creating an interior that complemented rather than competed with the landscape. The surrounding vineyards, warm earth tones and natural light informed a palette of soft neutrals, warm timber and tactile materials, creating a sense of continuity between the home and its surroundings.
The relationship began with a sofa. In late 2024, Valtteri and Tiffany visited their local showroom in Adelaide to select upholstery for a Salamanca sofa destined for their home in Monaco. When their purchase of The Vineyard Retreat was announced soon afterwards, the local team reached out, and what began as a courtesy conversation developed into a complete interior design project.
With the clients travelling between Formula 1 and international cycling commitments, the project had to be developed across countries and time zones. In-person meetings were limited, so technology became an important part of the design process.
The Adelaide team created interactive 3D room models that allowed layouts and furniture arrangements to be reviewed together remotely. Material samples also travelled between Adelaide and Dubai, giving the clients the opportunity to experience fabrics and finishes in person while travelling.
The Vineyard Retreat project
The design took its cues from both Scandinavian simplicity and the natural character of McLaren Vale. Clean lines and considered forms provided the foundation, while warm timber, ceramic finishes and layered upholstery brought softness and depth to the spaces.
The approach was deliberately restrained. Rather than introducing a large number of competing materials or strong colours, texture, form and subtle tonal variation were used to create interest. This allowed the surrounding vineyard to remain an important part of the experience from inside the home.
The Santiago collection became a key part of this approach, immediately resonating with Tiffany. Its combination of sculptural form and natural materials worked particularly well within the relaxed, contemporary setting, establishing a visual language that carried through the living and dining areas.
There was also a conscious decision not to furnish the entire home in one moment. Each piece was selected with care, allowing the interior to develop naturally rather than feeling overly designed. It was an approach that helped create a home that felt personal and lived in from the outset.
In the main living area, the Milano corner sofa creates an immediate sense of invitation. Upholstered in a soft neutral beige, its generous proportions encourage people to sit together, while cushions introduce a subtle pop of purple that gives the otherwise understated palette a little personality.
Alongside it, the iconic Imola chair adds a contrasting sculptural element. Its distinctive silhouette brings another layer of visual interest without disrupting the calmness of the room.
The Santiago coffee tables continue the natural material palette, combining dark oak with brown ceramic tops. Their tactile finishes complement the warmer elements of the room while adding variation to the softer upholstery and neutral tones.
Together, the pieces create a living space that feels relaxed rather than formal. The furniture is arranged around conversation and connection, with different shapes and heights creating a layered composition that feels natural within the larger space.
Dining area of The Vineyard Retreat project
Elsewhere, a quieter corner of the home offers a different experience. Positioned to take advantage of the view across the vineyard, the Ø lounge chair creates a place to pause and take in the surroundings.
It is a good example of how furniture placement can influence how a space is experienced. Rather than treating every area as part of the main entertaining space, creating smaller moments for retreat gives the home a greater sense of rhythm and allows the landscape to become part of the interior experience.
The dining area continues the material and tonal language established in the living space. A Santiago dining table with a brown ceramic top provides a strong central element, while Hamilton dining chairs introduce softness and comfort around it.
The combination of ceramic, timber and upholstered seating creates a balance between architectural structure and everyday comfort. It is a space designed to work just as naturally for a relaxed meal as it does for entertaining guests.
Princeton barstools extend this approach into the more informal areas of the home, bringing the same considered palette and Scandinavian influence into spaces intended for more casual moments
The Ø lounge chair looking onto the vineyard
For us, The Vineyard Retreat demonstrates how Scandinavian design can be adapted to its surroundings rather than applied as a fixed aesthetic. The result is a home that feels contemporary but not clinical, considered but not overworked, and connected to the landscape at every level.
Most importantly, it feels like a home. A place to return to, slow down and spend time together, with the vineyard beyond the windows providing a constant connection to the landscape that makes The Vineyard Retreat unique.
Becoming a BoConcept trade partner opens the door to exclusive benefits—from bespoke discounts and customisation options to a dedicated account manager and real-time project insights. Apply today and discover how we can support you every step of the way.
To learn more, visit our flagship showroom on Tottenham Court Road, call us on 020 7383 3226, or email tradeenquiries@boconcept.co.uk—our team will be happy to help.
Sign up for our newsletter today to get instant access to our most popular articles. You will be among the first trade professionals to learn about new products, collections, services, trends and events as they become available.