Madrid Houzz Tour: Creative Family Adds Flair to Their Apartment
With big spaces, designer pieces but a neutral palette, the owners' lives and belongings add colour to this flat
This nearly 200-square-metre flat in northern Madrid, Spain, has been home to Isabel Zayas and her family for 18 years. In 2001, Zayas enlisted her architect-father to help her update the house and tailor it to her needs. The result is a calm space – at least as far as its design is concerned – that comes alive through the personalities and belongings of its inhabitants and the outside views, which are pulled inside through the home’s huge windows.
The flat’s decor is restrained. She says, “I would add that it is a somewhat masculine style … and calm.” Calm? Not the most accurate adjective to describe the atmosphere of this home on Saturday mornings: “It’s a bit of a chaotic day, especially because of the teenagers’ schedules. Sleep, study, read, tidy up…,” Zayas says. Her three children are 15, 19 and 23 years old.
The living room is Zayas’ favourite corner of the house. ‘From the sofa there is a very green view of the terrace and the garden,” she says.
The coffee table is mirrored. “The mirrors further integrate the garden with the home, enhance the light in the space and balance out the flatness of the table.”
“We fell in love with the sofa, which was designed by Patricia Urquiola, because it breaks with the pure lines of our decor. It’s somewhat brazen but contained at the same time. Besides, it is very comfortable,” Zayas says. “I think a good design can be thought of as a piece of art. It generates emotion. When in doubt, I prioritise design over comfort.”
The coffee table is mirrored. “The mirrors further integrate the garden with the home, enhance the light in the space and balance out the flatness of the table.”
“We fell in love with the sofa, which was designed by Patricia Urquiola, because it breaks with the pure lines of our decor. It’s somewhat brazen but contained at the same time. Besides, it is very comfortable,” Zayas says. “I think a good design can be thought of as a piece of art. It generates emotion. When in doubt, I prioritise design over comfort.”
“During the renovation, we changed the windows. The old ones were also wide but featured ugly frames and bars,” Zayas says.
Beautiful green areas surround the building.
Beautiful green areas surround the building.
The dining room blends perfectly into the living area. “I like that it’s versatile. The table is clearly for eating, but you can also work or read there,” Zayas says.
The prominent shelves hold books and mementos. “I’ve loved reading since forever, but I have expanded my repertoire thanks to María Trincado, owner of the Ontanilla bookstore in Madrid. Through her, I have discovered many Central European and Russian authors.”
The prominent shelves hold books and mementos. “I’ve loved reading since forever, but I have expanded my repertoire thanks to María Trincado, owner of the Ontanilla bookstore in Madrid. Through her, I have discovered many Central European and Russian authors.”
“I love houses with lots of natural light that integrate the outdoor spaces with the interior. Ours has these two elements, but the house of my dreams would have a more modern layout, more open and clean spaces,” says Zayas, who loves classic 20th century and contemporary design.
During our tour, we see some iconic lamps. “I like the Arco lamp by Castiglioni, and the Tolomeo ones. You realise you picked the right lamp when you still like it years later,” she says.
During our tour, we see some iconic lamps. “I like the Arco lamp by Castiglioni, and the Tolomeo ones. You realise you picked the right lamp when you still like it years later,” she says.
There are two entrances to the apartment. Just outside the apartment by the main entrance hangs this sign. “A few years ago we painted and changed the spotlights in this space, and it was at that moment that we, along with our neighbours, decided to give the entrance a fun touch,” Zayas (pictured) says.
Initially, the kitchen was accessed from the entrance hall of the house. “My father suggested modifying it to add a breakfast area. It was also his idea to use blinds to separate the laundry space from the kitchen and to close off the utility closet.”
On the wall in the breakfast corner hangs a photo of a fishmonger in a market in Calama, a mining city in northern Chile. “It was a gift from my brother Manuel, who loves photography,” the owner says.
The entrance to the kitchen is now in the same hall that leads to the bedrooms.
The master bedroom also looks out over the garden. The beds were a gift from Zayas’ parents. “I would not part with our beds for anything in the world because of where they’re from: Mallorca. My great childhood memories come from there, and it’s a place of family reunion for me,” she says.
The second bedroom has a single bed. It looks like it belongs to a traveller. “It is the room of our nineteen-year-old son, Jaime, a traveller, especially with the imagination. After a summer in Canada, he brought home car license plates,” she says.
“I don’t make much of a distinction between decor for young people and adults – I prefer furniture that suits any age. The owners and their personal belongings give the personal touch,” Zayas says.
“I don’t make much of a distinction between decor for young people and adults – I prefer furniture that suits any age. The owners and their personal belongings give the personal touch,” Zayas says.
The living room and bedroom floors are fitted Australian wool carpet. “I know that fitted carpets aren’t popular in Spain, but it is comfortable in the winter months and I like the idea of continuous flooring. We made this decision since we were not entirely sure about the original wooden floor, so we looked for a cheaper solution,” she says.
The bedroom that’s shared by the two daughters, with corner windows and a certain Nordic air, is one of the jewels of the house. “Initially, there was a bathroom, but it was not well planned, so we decided to get rid of it. My father proposed several solutions for breaking it into two rooms, but we finally opted for a single space which, despite the column – which I don’t like at all – is particularly pleasant and attractive thanks to the windows and its spaciousness,” Zayas says.
The bedroom that’s shared by the two daughters, with corner windows and a certain Nordic air, is one of the jewels of the house. “Initially, there was a bathroom, but it was not well planned, so we decided to get rid of it. My father proposed several solutions for breaking it into two rooms, but we finally opted for a single space which, despite the column – which I don’t like at all – is particularly pleasant and attractive thanks to the windows and its spaciousness,” Zayas says.
The bookshelves play an important role, since they add colour without adding to the clutter. “The trick to maintaining order is to have few things … and to be a pain to your children,” she says.
“As for the colour, I prefer to use more neutral schemes in the basic pieces like furniture or carpets and to add colour through objects, which are easier to replace if you get tired of them,” Zayas says.
“As for the colour, I prefer to use more neutral schemes in the basic pieces like furniture or carpets and to add colour through objects, which are easier to replace if you get tired of them,” Zayas says.
Throughout the house, blinds and curtains filter light and highlight the silhouettes of the trees outside. “The filtered light and the greenery outside together create a relaxing atmosphere,” Zayas says.
The home’s two bathrooms have also been completely redone.
Both are practical, functional and have a bathtub. “I love the fact that they look outside. The perfect bathroom would have a shower, a bath and a wooden floor,” she says.
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Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join in the conversation.
More
Find a renovation professional in Singapore
Browse more Singapore photos for design inspiration
Flat at a Glance
Who lives here? Isabel Zayas, the director of the Spanish Federation of the Friends of Museums; her husband and their three kids: two young women aged 23 and 15, and a young man aged 19
Location: Madrid, Spain
Size: 200 square metres
“During the renovation, we changed the windows, incorporated a terrace and reorganised the area of the master bedroom,” Zayas (pictured) says. “My father, who is an architect, advised us … Also, I needed a decorator who could help me with the details,” she says.
In this photo, we see her in front of one of the two shelves in the living room, with her beloved collection of books and illustrations, which were made by a painter friend.