Distinguished journalist and long-time broadcaster, Emma Roig Askari is no stranger to stories that stir both intellect and emotion. Born in Valencia, she began her career at El País, where her quiet determination laid the foundation for a remarkable trajectory – from the high-stakes war rooms of CBS and CNN to serving as Content Director at Plural Entertainment – leading her into the upper realms of culture and politics.
Now a celebrated columnist and contributing editor at Vanity Fair España, Emma’s sharp, attentive eye – long attuned to the extraordinary – has recently shifted towards something more intimate, yet equally compelling: the untold stories woven into Ibiza’s most remarkable homes. “From the Phoenicians of olden times, to the hippies of the 60s and 70s, and today’s partygoers and style mavens, there is something about this island that brings people to express their most authentic selves, no matter where they come from or what they do. I hope the houses curated in this book bring that to light,” she explains.
In Inside Ibiza, her published book by Vendome Press, Emma embarks on a personal exploration of the island she now calls home. Guided by a deep, instinctive connection to place, she captures the essence of dwellings that speak through mood, texture, and detail. Steering clear of Ibiza’s party-worn clichés, the book offers a rare glimpse into the island’s more soulful side – revealing homes that radiate character, depth, and a free-spirited creativity. “Each space is one-of-a-kind, impossible to replicate – infused with a distinct design language that tells its own story and that of the dreams of the owners,” Emma explains. “They reflect the diverse visionaries who’ve been drawn to Ibiza over the years.”
Photographed by Ricardo Labougle and introduced by AD100 architect Daniel Romualdez, Inside Ibiza comes to life through Emma’s finely tuned journalistic voice, uncovering the quirks and nuances of its owners – many of whom she knows personally. For example, the radiant Miranda Makaroff’s villa bursts with colour, a kaleidoscopic celebration of pattern and psychedelic charm that mirrors her exuberant personality and avant-garde artistic career. In contrast, Stefan Brüggemann’s Ibiza home is a fusion of art and nature – carefully curated, with three circles in the garden representing earth, water, and fire, and gold-leaf panelling over sculptural elements, all adding to the home’s unique language and DNA.
And then there’s Emma herself – ever-present, narrating from behind the lens of lived experience. Her own house, perched high on a remote Ibizan mountainside and featured in Architectural Digest, became a sanctuary during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, where sunsets stir memories of Valencia and the vegetable garden evokes the beauty of simplicity, her home – bathed in classic Ibizan white light, inspired by the island’s vernacular style, and thoughtfully shaped by Blakstad Design Consultants – rekindled her passion for the decorative arts.
Having styled and renovated many of her family’s properties, what began as a retreat from global uncertainty blossomed into a new creative chapter – and perhaps something even more profound: the birth of her debut book. She describes this shift as “a destined whim,” echoing Oscar Wilde’s belief that “our greatest passions often arrive unannounced.” Yet behind the poetry lies grit, devotion, and a deep commitment to beauty. Emma’s home – adorned with mid-century tapestries, Roman mosaics, and subtle nods to Arab bathhouses – is more than a curated space. It’s a living archive of her multicultural heritage and her belief in an abundant, layered life.
“The items in my home were once scattered in storage – artworks, furniture, beloved objects gathered across time through instinct and my ideals of beauty,” she shares with a smile. “They waited quietly, until the right space revealed itself.” Now, these pieces inhabit sun-washed rooms that hum with muted yellows, organic greens, blush tones, and pale timber – creating a palette that feels both rooted and radiant.
Emma’s passion for art and interiors didn’t emerge overnight, but unfolded gradually, passed down through time and generations. Perhaps it began with her mother, a gallerist who raised her among the brushstrokes of artists’ studios. Years later, as an ambassador for Christie’s, the passion blossomed. There she created one-of-a-kind experiences for the world’s most discerning collectors – like orchestrating a magical, after-hours viewing of the Vatican or arranging a private ‘jam session’ with one of the most prominent collectors of Warhol and Basquiat. Either way, her journey reflects a lifelong devotion to art, design, and creating meaningful moments.
Emma’s intuition tells her what many of us forget: that true beauty – timeless, textured, and soul-stirring – lives in the details. In conversation, it becomes clear: homes, to Emma, are far more than investments or status symbols. They’re living self-portraits of personal expression. Though she never set out to write a coffee-table book, she found herself compelled to translate the silent language of soul and space. These aren’t sterile villas plucked from brochures – they are deeply human places, layered with life.
The homes she shares echo the essence of those who live in them. More than style, they represent a way of being – intuitive, unexpected, and genuine. Through her words, Emma offers a tender reminder: the soul of a home is never measured in square footage or trends, but in the beauty of life flowing within it. “Walking through a well-lived house is like walking into somebody’s mind and soul”, she shares. She doesn’t just tell these stories – she makes us feel them. With the wonder of a child and the wisdom of a well-travelled heart, she invites us to remember what it means to belong somewhere, completely.
Inside Ibiza by Emma Roig Askari with Photography by Ricardo Labougle
