Houzz Tour: An Eclectic Home in Barcelona Lets the Light In
Luxe fabrics, jewel-coloured accents and global finds set against a white backdrop make for a light yet soft and welcoming Spanish home
Interior designer Mireia Pla created this eclectic-contemporary apartment in Barcelona, Spain, without a specific style in mind. Instead she concentrated on evoking a feeling of warmth without losing the stylish sensibilities of her client, a professional woman in the fashion industry.
‘We wanted a home that was timeless, cosy and comfortable,’ says Pla. Using white as her base colour and purple as her accent tone, the designer transformed a ground-floor flat ‘without any special views’ in Barcelona’s Eixample district into a light-filled, warm and feminine home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A woman in the fashion industry
Location Barcelona, Spain
Size 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Design challenge Flooding the ground-level apartment with as much light as possible
‘We wanted a home that was timeless, cosy and comfortable,’ says Pla. Using white as her base colour and purple as her accent tone, the designer transformed a ground-floor flat ‘without any special views’ in Barcelona’s Eixample district into a light-filled, warm and feminine home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A woman in the fashion industry
Location Barcelona, Spain
Size 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Design challenge Flooding the ground-level apartment with as much light as possible
The designer made a conscious effort to not have everything in the room match. ‘The word I had in mind to describe how I wanted the place to feel was “soft”. A soft home is where someone can exhale. It’s a home, not just a house, where you can recline on the couch or sit on the floor comfortably,’ says Pla.
Plush cushions, a plump sofa and a casually placed throw all speak the easy language of an informal living room.
Sofa: Mayfair Modular, Ascensión La Torre
Sofa: Mayfair Modular, Ascensión La Torre
Pla created a lounge area that’s just below the apartment’s main level (marked here by steps). The space mixes a prehistoric statue, a Victorian bust and a neoclassical stool with contemporary pieces.
‘My design philosophy is that you can mix different styles and furnishings and art – but you have to know when to pull back and edit,’ says Pla.
She added splashes of colour and visual interest to the back wall with leftover wallpaper arranged in a collage.
She added splashes of colour and visual interest to the back wall with leftover wallpaper arranged in a collage.
Before the remodel, the ground-floor flat was hungry for light. Pla installed floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding doors and skylights, allowing plenty of light to flood the entire flat.
The light wooden worktops, custom-built plank table and accessories balance the squeaky-clean appearance of the white tile splashback and sleek cupboards.
Pla softened the covered patio with a heavy sprinkling of throws and cushions, leaving the client the option to use the space for naps on a lazy afternoon.
Bench and day bed: custom by Vuong Interior Design; banana-fibre low stools: Alseda, Ikea
See how to transform a city patio
Bench and day bed: custom by Vuong Interior Design; banana-fibre low stools: Alseda, Ikea
See how to transform a city patio
Potted trees and plants and a view of the sky bring nature into a space surrounded by high walls and with no street-view windows. Furnishings and textiles from Indonesia and other parts of Eastern Asia add a global touch to the eclectic-contemporary home.
Get ideas for displaying global finds
Get ideas for displaying global finds
Purple is the chosen accent colour for the client’s bedroom. The plum, aubergine, lilac and violet tones make a fresh and luxurious pairing with the crisp white bedding and decor.
Upholstered headboard: customised, Vuong Interior Design
Upholstered headboard: customised, Vuong Interior Design
A pair of grape-coloured and -shaped light fittings make room for the most dramatic piece in the bedroom: an ornate Spiridon table lamp dripping with crystals.
Teak shower panels add warmth and an outdoor feel to the contemporary shower. Sleek drawer handles echo the strong lines in the space; they also show how Pla maximised the under-basin storage for her client, who has loads of accessories and toiletries – and wanted them out of sight.
Do you like this Spanish apartment? Tell us why in the Comments below.
Do you like this Spanish apartment? Tell us why in the Comments below.
Rocking chair: PS Gullholmen, Ikea