Houzz Tours
Barcelona Houzz: Style, Sustainability and Pattern in a Tiny Flat
Part-renovation, part-restoration, the owners of this Spanish apartment balanced historical style with forward thinking
High ceilings with characterful mouldings, shutters and double wooden doors: this beautiful 1910 apartment had everything that the young couple who own it wanted – everything but the layout. “We needed comfortable walkways and more light,” says Pablo Vargas, who lives here with his family. In 2019, Vargas contacted Aina Ardévol from Estudi a L’Àtic through Houzz in 2019 and engaged the design studio for a budget-savvy renovation. Work started in 2021 and today, the Vargas family is ensconced in their sensitively restored and renovated home.
Before Photo
Floor plan before works.
In the original floor plan, the apartment was very compartmentalised.
In the original floor plan, the apartment was very compartmentalised.
Floor plan (bottom) and section (top) after works.
Thanks to the redesigned layout, new rooms have been created and light now circulates freely throughout the interiors.
Ready to renovate? Find interior designers near you with experience designing eco-friendly homes
Thanks to the redesigned layout, new rooms have been created and light now circulates freely throughout the interiors.
Ready to renovate? Find interior designers near you with experience designing eco-friendly homes
Aside from preserving many of the original elements, this renovation sought to be future-oriented by choosing environmentally friendly materials and sustainable solutions. In that vein, the appliances, integrated within the interior furnishings to minimise their visual impact on the rooms, are highly energy-efficient.
“In the kitchen, made with zero-kilometre materials, we have opted for a porcelain benchtop made from 50-percent recycled materials, that is also 100-percent recyclable at the end of its lifetime. It is non-toxic and created with the minimum thickness to reduce the environmental and financial impact,” says Ardévol.
“In the kitchen, made with zero-kilometre materials, we have opted for a porcelain benchtop made from 50-percent recycled materials, that is also 100-percent recyclable at the end of its lifetime. It is non-toxic and created with the minimum thickness to reduce the environmental and financial impact,” says Ardévol.
The living room, dining room and kitchen now share the same 60-square-metre space. One of the walls, covered with handmade bricks, stands out. “We insulated the wall that is between us and the neighbour, in order to gain privacy and improve its energy efficiency. Air-conditioning for the warmer months is provided by very quiet and efficient fans,” says Ardévol.
Regarding the decorative style, the owners wanted it to fit in with the aesthetic of other properties in the Eixample district of Barcelona, restoring the original ceiling beams and adding a modern touch. “As for the resulting mix of beams, exposed brick and the combination of tiled and parquet floor areas, we love the industrial New-York feel that our main living space has taken on,” says Vargas.
Regarding the decorative style, the owners wanted it to fit in with the aesthetic of other properties in the Eixample district of Barcelona, restoring the original ceiling beams and adding a modern touch. “As for the resulting mix of beams, exposed brick and the combination of tiled and parquet floor areas, we love the industrial New-York feel that our main living space has taken on,” says Vargas.
The living room is now the homeowners’ favourite space. By having an open-plan kitchen they have gained an additional bedroom. The owners asked the designer to deliver two “decently sized” bedrooms in addition to the main bedroom and two full bathrooms.
The wooden ceiling beams and ceramic floor tiles were in good condition. The existing exterior fittings were also maintained. Some of the original doors were repositioned within the new layout.
“We restored some of the brick walls as they give texture to the hallways and help us to control humidity levels for improved energy efficiency,” says Ardévol.
“We restored some of the brick walls as they give texture to the hallways and help us to control humidity levels for improved energy efficiency,” says Ardévol.
A large storage area has been installed at the entrance, which brings cohesion between the sliding door of the living room and the general fixtures in the home.
The parents’ bedroom features a large custom-made wardrobe. The wallpaper contrasts with the simple, straight-lined aesthetic of the room.
Be inspired by more bedrooms with beautiful wallpaper
Be inspired by more bedrooms with beautiful wallpaper
With the new layout, a bathroom has been added to serve the main bedroom. “We designed a steel and glass sliding door that separates the bathroom into a separate suite and allows light into the room,” says Ardévol.
The entire house has been painted with silicate paint, which is non-toxic and compostable.
The entire house has been painted with silicate paint, which is non-toxic and compostable.
The low-pressure taps in the bathroom save water, while their durable materials are designed to withstand the hardness of Barcelona’s water.
The combination bathtub-shower is clad with tiles made from recycled and zero-kilometre materials.
Thanks to the new layout, there are now two equally sized rooms for the couple’s little ones. Both contain a trundle bed, a wardrobe and an area to play or study. The furnishings were chosen by the owners.
“The doorway is the distinctive element of each room. In one case we restored the original double doors of the room; in another, we utilised the wardrobe door as a sliding entrance door. This way, we didn’t take any metres out of the equation,” says Ardévol.
“The doorway is the distinctive element of each room. In one case we restored the original double doors of the room; in another, we utilised the wardrobe door as a sliding entrance door. This way, we didn’t take any metres out of the equation,” says Ardévol.
The project, which preserved most of the original elements of the apartment while keeping the overall budget relatively low, has been a great success for the Vargas family.
And for the interior designers, the Vargas clan was not the only client to notice their work on Houzz. “In our case, it [Houzz] allows us to promote the studio, to make our services and way of working known, and to give new clients confidence in the studio thanks to our ratings. Most of the clients who contact us have seen our profile on the platform and that makes it easier to secure new projects,” says Ardévol.
Your turn
Which features in this revived interior are your favourites? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
Ready for your next dose of great Spanish design? We’ve got you covered with this Spain Houzz: Sustainable Materials and Lots of Light
And for the interior designers, the Vargas clan was not the only client to notice their work on Houzz. “In our case, it [Houzz] allows us to promote the studio, to make our services and way of working known, and to give new clients confidence in the studio thanks to our ratings. Most of the clients who contact us have seen our profile on the platform and that makes it easier to secure new projects,” says Ardévol.
Your turn
Which features in this revived interior are your favourites? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
Ready for your next dose of great Spanish design? We’ve got you covered with this Spain Houzz: Sustainable Materials and Lots of Light
Who lives here: Pablo Vargas with his wife and two young daughters
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Size: 100 square metres
Project: Aina Ardévol from Estudi a L’Àtic
“To modernise the house, we repositioned the kitchen into the main living area of the flat, opening it up to the dining/living area. In the dining room, we designed a folding bench to create additional seating without taking up the space with chairs,” says Ardévol.
You can see the result pictured here. The restored lamp in the dining room, which complements the green colour of the floor, also catches the eye.