Set in the heart of the village of Sant Francesc, Le Petit Atelier Numero 74 Formentera is the sister concept to creator Tara Sfez’s Ibiza store.

There’s a well-known saying that creative people need time to sit around and do nothing for their best ideas to crystallise. For Tara Sfez, founder and creator of Ibiza’s much-loved Le Petit Atelier Numero 74, this notion seemed quite unnecessary, given the fact she’s always generating creative ideas (even when on the move!) and yet, it proved to be true after escaping to the idyllic beach of Illetes in Formentera for some downtime in October 2023. At that time of year, Illetes is almost completely empty, its long, sun-drenched swathes of white sand and crystal-clear waters devoid of the crowds that descend in summer. If heaven is a place on earth, it is undoubtedly right there on that beach.

“I’ve always loved Formentera,” says Tara, when reflecting on the series of events that led to the opening of the new Le Petit Atelier Numero 74 Formentera, in the quaint and charming village centre of Sant Francesc. “It’s just so beautiful, like the Caribbean, and only half an hour away from Ibiza. I often visit in the summer, even for just one day, and come back to Ibiza totally refreshed. It was always an escape for me. I didn’t ever have any intentions to open a store there.” Understanding and appreciating the restorative effects of time spent Formentera, she invited her friend and colleague, Francesca, to join her for some post-season days of peace and relaxation.

In between dipping in and out of the water, soaking up the sun, and enjoying picnics on the sand, it was almost inevitable that the two creatives would turn their mind to the island’s style and shopping scene. While similar to Ibiza in some ways, Formentera has its own pace and a slightly pared-back aesthetic, plus a very limited array of places to shop for homewares, décor, furnishings and even fashion. Tara and Francesca knew this first-hand from their own encounters with visiting Formenterencs who would pop across the Balearic Sea to shop in their Ibiza Atelier. And so, the first seeds for Le Petit Atelier Numero 74 Formentera were sown…

Serendipity is a phenomenon that Tara has often found herself struck with within her personal life and also in business. It was a series of serendipitous encounters in Thailand that allowed her to create the original Numero 74 brand back in 2009. It was serendipity that drew her to move to Ibiza that very same year, which turned into the opportunity to develop her own uniquely creative business on the island in 2019. It also led to the discovery of the ancient building in the heart of Santa Gertrudis that now houses her incredible concept store, Le Petit Atelier Numero 74, just as she was giving up her previous locale in 2022.

It was fate that introduced her to her ultra-creative team members, such as the talented Stefanie Mathurin – who is responsible for all the wonderful and whimsical marketing content and photography for the brand – and also to the wonderfully gifted Francesca Ronzoni, who she first met when embarking on the empowering women’s knitting group in Ibiza that is part of the brand’s core to this day. It comes as no surprise then, that destiny also played a major part in finding a premises in Formentera in 2024. “I was talking to my friend Georges, who is the owner of Casa Joana in Formentera, and I told him we were looking for a place to open another small atelier in Formentera,” Tara recalls. “We really wanted to be in the main village, Sant Francesc, close to Casa Joana, and so I asked if he could help us.” Immediately, Georges thought of a friend’s store right next door that might just be available…

The place in question was called L’Atelier 56, and as it turned out, the owner was contemplating the idea of returning to live in Barcelona. Not only that, but the layout of the store was almost identical to Tara’s Ibiza premises – like a finca, with an entrance hall that has small rooms off to each side. Trusting her intuition, rather than open a rival store, Tara instead initiated friendly conversations with the owner, and a deal was soon struck for the contract to be passed over to Le Petit Atelier Numero 74. The synchronicity of the timing, the similarity in the company name, and Tara’s desire to act quickly and open her new project in the spring resulted in a fast transfer, and Francesca and the Numero 74 team quickly got to work.

With the blueprint of the atelier already in place, it was obvious to Francy, Steffie and Tara exactly which rooms would become the Baby Room, the Laboratory and the Gallery Room, and within just one month, they transformed – with much love, care, precision and completely by hand – the space into a twin sister boutique to their Ibiza home. Whitewashed walls with white-tiled detailing, meticulously restored chandeliers, antique furnishings, stacked vintage wooden crates, rustic wooden shelving, walls of mirrors and their signature hand-painted signs – Le Petit Atelier Numero 74 Formentera feels as welcoming and as homely as its Ibiza flagship, with a déjà vu like sensation as if it had always been there all along.

Now open daily from 10am until 2.30pm, breaking for siesta, then reopening from 5pm until 11pm, big wooden doors open up to welcome you inside the intimate and stylish space, where you’ll find a hand-picked array of beautiful women’s clothing, including swimwear, in rustic, earthy colours to suit the landscapes of Formentera, and not forgetting the ever-popular Numero 74 crochet pieces that provide perfect wind-protection on the island after-dark (even in high summer, Formentera is cooler than Ibiza). Within the walls of Le Petit Atelier Numero 74 Formentera, you’ll find beautiful beach (and pool) accessories, gorgeously luxurious soft furnishings, cute homewares, fun gift ideas, bohemian children’s toys and clothing, and so much more. But that’s not all…

If you happen to be in Formentera and can’t find what you’re looking for, but it’s stocked in Le Petit Atelier Numero 74 in Ibiza, the teams from each island can quickly coordinate with one another to get what you need on a ferry, and over to the alternate island within as little as one hour. The dedication to customer satisfaction is unrivalled, with Raquel and Alejandra in Formentera in constant contact with Francesca in Ibiza, with a little help from their friends in each port! And just like in Ibiza, creative ceramics and painting workshops for kids take place in Formentera on Mondays and Fridays on the sunny terrace – booking in advance is essential.

Although opening a new outpost on a second isla bonita had never been part of Tara’s plans, she still sees the island as a place to escape, and an island that for her, represents freedom and is filled with endless inspiration, whether in the villages, on the beaches, or in the rustic heartlands. “I still love to take my jeep over to Formentera on the full moon nights, and just sleep beneath the stars,” she says, her eyes sparkling with joy and revealing her naturally vivacious and spontaneous spirit. “It has always been so special to me, and now I find it even more inspiring.” As it says on the wall of the new space, ‘Creativity + Beauty x Fun = L’Atelier Numero 74’ – and everyone is invited to take part in it all.