The Story of Iberian Isles
Iberian Isles was founded by childhood friends Jean-Paul Peek and Pascal van Hasselt. This connection dates back long before the brand—like this 1997 holiday in La Nucia, Spain. We create furniture exactly how we live: honest, unposed, and real.
The Foundation
Iberian Isles didn’t start in a boardroom; it started with a friendship. Pascal and I have been close since high school. We are an unlikely pair for a business: I’m the free spirit who works on gut feeling and messy sketches, while Pascal is the logical one who keeps the numbers straight. He provides the structure; I provide the life. We chose to ignore the old advice about not doing business with friends because we realized that our friction is exactly what makes the brand work. He keeps us grounded, and I keep us moving.
The Spark, Not the Strategy
I’m not a typical entrepreneur. I don't care for pitch decks or exit strategies. I care about making things that feel right. Iberian Isles wasn't born from a market analysis; it was born from a personal craving for furniture that makes life feel lighter. I wanted something that didn't just look good in a photo but felt good to live with.
We didn't launch with a full collection or a 5-year plan. We launched with one sofa.
The First Piece.
We chose to start with a sofa because it’s the heart of the home. It is inspired by the built-in masonry benches found in Mediterranean homes—a solid, permanent base of wood or stone topped with thick, inviting cushions. It is a design born from necessity and simplicity. It’s a place for wet swimsuits, shared plates of food, and kids jumping around. We didn’t build it because we thought it would "sell well"; we built it because we wanted it in our own living rooms.
Our Philosophy: Light Living
We call our way of working Licht Leven (Light Living). It is a direct rejection of what we call "plastic interiors"—spaces that are frozen, sterile, and afraid of a wine stain.
To us, an interior should have wrinkles. We believe in "Perfect Imperfection." We use materials like raw oak, natural stone, and heavy linen because they have a soul and a history. They are meant to develop a patina over time. We want you to sink in, relax, and stop worrying about the cushions being straight. If there are creases in the fabric or scratches on the wood, it means life is happening. That’s the only thing that actually matters.