From England to Mallorca: The Reality of Renovating Homes in Mallorca: Justine Knox’s Story

This week, Helen sits down with long-time friend and renowned interior designer Justine Knox to explore her extraordinary journey from moving to Mallorca as a child over 40 years ago to building one of the island’s best-known interior design businesses.Justine shares the highs and lows behind creating a life and business in Mallorca - from her parents losing everything after buying a hotel on the island, to leaving school at 15, working on construction sites, and eventually building Knox Design into a trusted name for luxury homes and renovations.The conversation dives into the realities of renovating property in Mallorca today, including planning permission delays, legal pitfalls buyers need to watch for, the shortage of skilled tradespeople, and why patience is essential when building or reforming a home on the island.Helen and Justine also discuss entrepreneurship, family business, sustainable interiors, designing homes that truly reflect how people live, and the changing reality of Mallorca as a place to relocate.Whether you’re dreaming of moving to Mallorca, renovating a property, or simply fascinated by stories of resilience and reinvention, this episode offers honest insights and valuable advice from someone who has spent decades helping people create homes on the island.