Barcelona Houzz Tour: An Australian Florist's Pastel Paradise
The colourful terrace of Barcelona-based, Australian-born florist, Donna Stain, brims with eclectic market finds
For Australian-born Donna Stain, director of floral design for the Hotel Arts Barcelona, her cosy home in a two-storey modernist block in Spain “is a little jewel surrounded by tall buildings”. The property is divided into two houses. She lives with her two dogs, Bingo and Cara, on the top floor where there is no shortage of plants, flowers and even an outdoor bathtub. With the help of an architect friend, Barbara Appolloni, the redesign was a success. The spaces are open and integrated, always looking for contact with the flirtatious – and very pink – outdoor terrace.
For the redesign, Stain contacted her friend, architect Barbara Appolloni. The project was delayed by two years because two neighbours could not agree on the roof, but the work finally started and today, Stain is happily ensconced in her revamped home.
Find a local architect on Houzz to navigate planning regulations and design your dream home
Find a local architect on Houzz to navigate planning regulations and design your dream home
The original home was compartmentalised into small rooms, which made it uncomfortable. “Together with the architect, we designed a loft space, open and bright,” says Stain. “We were lucky to discover that we had a roof of up to six metres high. This allowed us to build a mezzanine where we put my bedroom.”
From her old furnished rental apartment, Stain left the large pieces and only took smaller decorative objects. In the image above, you can see the balcony that overlooks the front facade, and an iconic Barcelona armchair and pouf by Mies van der Rohe in the living room. On the left is access to the outdoor terrace. The ceiling makes a statement with exposed timber beams.
From her old furnished rental apartment, Stain left the large pieces and only took smaller decorative objects. In the image above, you can see the balcony that overlooks the front facade, and an iconic Barcelona armchair and pouf by Mies van der Rohe in the living room. On the left is access to the outdoor terrace. The ceiling makes a statement with exposed timber beams.
The building’s shared staircase provides access to Stain’s home.
Three pieces stand out in the living area: the vintage leather sofa, a handmade Moroccan rug and an original coffee table constructed from an old door. “I would not know how to define the style of my house,” says Stain. “I’m just filling the rooms with pieces and objects that I like.”
Born in Adelaide, SA, Stain opened her first florist shop at the age of 17. She then moved to Melbourne, Victoria, where she worked for different stores to gain more experience. Eventually, Stain left for London, where she was hired by Jane Packer Flowers.
Born in Adelaide, SA, Stain opened her first florist shop at the age of 17. She then moved to Melbourne, Victoria, where she worked for different stores to gain more experience. Eventually, Stain left for London, where she was hired by Jane Packer Flowers.
Stain with her two dogs, Bingo and Cara, who have ‘unrestricted’ access to every corner of the house.
“Jane has been my great mentor,” says Stain. “Thanks to her, I went to New York and opened a flower shop there, as well as a school for Jane Packer Flowers. In addition to that, I got a contract to provide floral arrangements to The Ritz-Carlton Central Park hotel. At that time, the director was Victor Clavell, who then offered me a job at the Hotel Arts in Barcelona. I accepted for a year, and it’s been almost 15 years!”
“Jane has been my great mentor,” says Stain. “Thanks to her, I went to New York and opened a flower shop there, as well as a school for Jane Packer Flowers. In addition to that, I got a contract to provide floral arrangements to The Ritz-Carlton Central Park hotel. At that time, the director was Victor Clavell, who then offered me a job at the Hotel Arts in Barcelona. I accepted for a year, and it’s been almost 15 years!”
Stain bought this original three-tiered side table at an antique shop in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, in southern France.
The height of the ceilings let the architect locate Stain’s bedroom in a mezzanine level above the dining room, kitchen and bathroom.
The kitchen and dining room are open to the outdoor terrace courtesy of large sliding doors. The table is a Blankslate design, the signature label of two Australians who reside in Barcelona. “I like it because the top is reversible, so I can make it blue when I feel like it,” says Stain. The chairs are the 66 Chair, designed by Alvar Aalto for Artek.
On the table are a pair of chrysanthemums, one of Stain’s favourite flowers. To keep cut flowers for longer, Stain says, “You have to follow three golden rules: change the water regularly, keep the vessel clean and cut the stems”.
On the table are a pair of chrysanthemums, one of Stain’s favourite flowers. To keep cut flowers for longer, Stain says, “You have to follow three golden rules: change the water regularly, keep the vessel clean and cut the stems”.
The kitchen is black and open to the dining room. A local carpenter was commissioned for the job, who breathed life into both the architect’s design and the owner’s dream to have a kitchen with an island.
“There is an idea that a dark colour can dwarf a space, but here it has the opposite effect: it gives a sense of depth and breadth,” says Stain.
Cat painting by Australian artist Jim Morrison; range hood: Franke
“There is an idea that a dark colour can dwarf a space, but here it has the opposite effect: it gives a sense of depth and breadth,” says Stain.
Cat painting by Australian artist Jim Morrison; range hood: Franke
The only bathroom in the house is located next to the kitchen, past the laundry area. The floor, walls and furniture are cast concrete.
The bright pink outdoor terrace is adjacent to the dining area and kitchen.
Stain enjoys every corner of her home, but the outdoor terrace is where she usually eats, rests, takes a nap in the hammock, reads, listens to music and cares for her plants. “There will be people who think that being a florist, I should have knowledge about caring for plants, but it’s not like that because I work with cut flowers,” says Stain. “Now, thanks to this terrace, I am learning.”
In a corner of the terrace is a bathtub where the owner can shower and bathe outdoors – the alfresco space enjoys total privacy.
In a corner of the terrace is a bathtub where the owner can shower and bathe outdoors – the alfresco space enjoys total privacy.
Back inside, perched high in the mezzanine bedroom, you can see the whole ground-floor area.
The bedroom has a white painted timber floor. To take advantage of every last centimetre, the built-in wardrobes subtly vary in height. Stain found the painting at the Les Encants market in Barcelona, which she visits often.
The staircase wall acts as a headboard thanks to the colourful carpet acquired in Fes, Morocco. The oval mirror with the black lacquered frame finishes the dressing area; we also see a nice vase with Alliums.
“I always put a camellia or some other seasonal flower in an old vase in the bathroom,” says Stain, who tells us she inherited her passion for flowers from her mother. “She was and still is an avid gardener who showed me the complexities of flowers, leaves and their personalities.”
“I always put a camellia or some other seasonal flower in an old vase in the bathroom,” says Stain, who tells us she inherited her passion for flowers from her mother. “She was and still is an avid gardener who showed me the complexities of flowers, leaves and their personalities.”
Stain’s dogs, Bingo and Cara, have two favourite places to rest: the living area and the bedroom where they have a crowning view.
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What do you love about this Spanish home? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Donna Stain and her dogs, Bingo and Cara
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Area: 65 square metres
Project: Barbara Appolloni Arquitecta
Stain has lived in this house in the Barcelona neighbourhood of Poblenou since 2016. She fell in love with the house, and its beautiful modernist facade, which bears the date of 1910.