Madrid Houzz: A New Layout & Custom Built-Ins Create an Apartment
During lockdown, a homeowner realised she wanted to one day retire in her apartment, meaning it was time for an update
Eva Obregón has lived in this apartment in the centre of Madrid, Spain, for 15 years. During a lockdown brought on by the pandemic, she felt like the walls were closing in on her. She considered moving to a bigger home outside the city, but she just didn’t want to leave her home. “I like the neighbourhood, Lavapiés, and also the light that enters through the windows,” she says.
The apartment is south-facing with unobstructed views. When she bought the home more than a decade ago, she didn’t do any renovating and now felt that the apartment was a little run-down. “During lockdown, the heater broke and the kitchen flooded. The flat also needed a coat of paint and since I had to paint, I thought to myself, why not renovate? My brother, who lives in the United States, renovated his home with Houzz and recommended it,” she says.
The apartment is south-facing with unobstructed views. When she bought the home more than a decade ago, she didn’t do any renovating and now felt that the apartment was a little run-down. “During lockdown, the heater broke and the kitchen flooded. The flat also needed a coat of paint and since I had to paint, I thought to myself, why not renovate? My brother, who lives in the United States, renovated his home with Houzz and recommended it,” she says.
The apartment before works.
The worst moment of the renovation came when, after tearing down walls – some were concealed under as much as four centimetres of plaster – and lifting the floor, they thought the apartment had woodworms. Thankfully, it was a false alarm and the original timber, from 1809, was in good condition.
“From the first visit, I knew that this flat needed more than just a facelift, the structure also needed work,” says interior designer Jorge Núñez, co-founder of StudioMadera. He also notes that the layout was uncomfortable, with the bedroom only accessible via the living room.
The worst moment of the renovation came when, after tearing down walls – some were concealed under as much as four centimetres of plaster – and lifting the floor, they thought the apartment had woodworms. Thankfully, it was a false alarm and the original timber, from 1809, was in good condition.
“From the first visit, I knew that this flat needed more than just a facelift, the structure also needed work,” says interior designer Jorge Núñez, co-founder of StudioMadera. He also notes that the layout was uncomfortable, with the bedroom only accessible via the living room.
The apartment after works.
The new layout, pictured here, makes the home feel much larger. There is just the right amount of furniture and natural light floods the space because all the areas are now connected.
“I think this is the home I will retire in and because of that, the renovation was suddenly more important. And now it’s perfect,” says Obregón. All in all, the renovation took four months to complete.
Tempted to renovate? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz, see their projects and read reviews from previous clients
The new layout, pictured here, makes the home feel much larger. There is just the right amount of furniture and natural light floods the space because all the areas are now connected.
“I think this is the home I will retire in and because of that, the renovation was suddenly more important. And now it’s perfect,” says Obregón. All in all, the renovation took four months to complete.
Tempted to renovate? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz, see their projects and read reviews from previous clients
The door here on the right leads to the bedroom and a work area that Obregón uses daily.
The sofa bed is ideal for when friends or family stay over. The coffee table is Airy from Muuto.
The sofa bed is ideal for when friends or family stay over. The coffee table is Airy from Muuto.
Obregón and Núñez – pictured here – used Houzz to communicate and exchange ideas during the renovation.
Obregón initially wanted to put in cork flooring, because she wanted to use sustainable materials. “In the end, we opted for a laminate because cork could look a little boring. We did, however, use cork for the wall of the work area,” says Obregón.
Obregón initially wanted to put in cork flooring, because she wanted to use sustainable materials. “In the end, we opted for a laminate because cork could look a little boring. We did, however, use cork for the wall of the work area,” says Obregón.
Custom joinery allowed them to make the most of the available space, which was the biggest challenge in this project.
The peninsula bench unit in the kitchen, with an integrated bookcase on the side facing the living room, was specifically requested by the owner. She had seen it in another project StudioMadera had uploaded to their Houzz profile. The shelves are filled with volumes by French writer Georges Perec and books about some of the owner’s hobbies, including yoga, cooking and travel.
The light fixtures are Ambit from Muuto.
The peninsula bench unit in the kitchen, with an integrated bookcase on the side facing the living room, was specifically requested by the owner. She had seen it in another project StudioMadera had uploaded to their Houzz profile. The shelves are filled with volumes by French writer Georges Perec and books about some of the owner’s hobbies, including yoga, cooking and travel.
The light fixtures are Ambit from Muuto.
The custom joinery is lacquered and the sink now faces the window, overlooking the south of Madrid.
“I like to cook a large variety of soups. I think my favourite dish is chicken soup,” says Obregón. After the renovation, there was even space for a dishwasher, “which changes your life,” says Obregón with a laugh.
“I like to cook a large variety of soups. I think my favourite dish is chicken soup,” says Obregón. After the renovation, there was even space for a dishwasher, “which changes your life,” says Obregón with a laugh.
A custom piece of joinery offers a place to leave keys when entering, as well as a cupboard for additional storage. The now-grey wall conceals the door to the bathroom. “Playing with grey, white and wood makes the flat more joyous and dynamic,” says Núñez.
In this photo, you can see the crisp painted detail between the wall of the bathroom and the kitchen. This partition wall, which separates the kitchen from the bathroom, is the only one that wasn’t touched in the renovation. The rest were completely remade.
StudioMadera moved the bathroom sink to a different spot and put in a custom vanity.
Obregón tells us that the original pedestal sink was very nice, but did not have room for a much-needed cupboard with drawers. There was very little storage space and a lot of clutter.
This image, from the entrance looking into the work area, shows the custom-made hallway unit and shelf in the foreground.
Obregón says that her cat, Morgan, had a hard time during the renovation because the temporary apartment they stayed in was quite dark. Now he can be seen running around happily all over the place and hiding in every available nook.
“I would advise others who are planning a renovation to trust the professional. I researched everything they suggested. It is true that I have certain knowledge because I have done [art] restoration, and that is why I knew how important it was to restore the structure. The truth is, Jorge and his team were very patient,” says Obregón.
The custom-made wardrobe in the pared-back bedroom stands out. It also separates the bedroom from the work area.
There is a sliding door between the work/bedroom area and the living room.
We asked Núñez how he thinks the Houzz Pro software helps him with his daily work and, specifically, during this renovation. “Houzz Pro includes useful tools such as sketches and blueprints, which are extremely intuitive. There is a library with many features that allow the clients to better visualise their project. Houzz Pro is, in general, very useful because it gives you a lot of visibility,” says the designer.
We asked Núñez how he thinks the Houzz Pro software helps him with his daily work and, specifically, during this renovation. “Houzz Pro includes useful tools such as sketches and blueprints, which are extremely intuitive. There is a library with many features that allow the clients to better visualise their project. Houzz Pro is, in general, very useful because it gives you a lot of visibility,” says the designer.
Morgan also has his special spot in the apartment.
The floor plan before works.
Here you can see the original floor plan of the home, with little storage and a layout that didn’t even allow for a sofa bed in the living room.
Here you can see the original floor plan of the home, with little storage and a layout that didn’t even allow for a sofa bed in the living room.
The floor plan after works.
And here, the extra storage is visible in multiple rooms. “From this project, I learned that you should always let the client know everything you think needs to be done in the flat; even if, as in this case, it increases the client’s costs. Tearing down the walls and restoring the structure was €3,000 to €4,000 [AU$4,600 to $5,900] more than initially budgeted,” says Núñez.
Your turn
Which elements of this home do you like the most? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Missed our previous Houzz Tour? Catch up here with this stunning ocean-front USA Houzz: A Modern Surf House Full of California Soul
And here, the extra storage is visible in multiple rooms. “From this project, I learned that you should always let the client know everything you think needs to be done in the flat; even if, as in this case, it increases the client’s costs. Tearing down the walls and restoring the structure was €3,000 to €4,000 [AU$4,600 to $5,900] more than initially budgeted,” says Núñez.
Your turn
Which elements of this home do you like the most? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Missed our previous Houzz Tour? Catch up here with this stunning ocean-front USA Houzz: A Modern Surf House Full of California Soul
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Translator Eva Obregón and her cat, Morgan
Location: Madrid, Spain
Size: 31 square metres
Project: StudioMadera
For Obregón and her cat Morgan, the thought of moving out during the renovation was overwhelming. “For a few days, I even considered Googling how to do the renovations myself and tackling it one piece at a time. Now, I admit that’s always a bad idea. Any renovation requires a professional,” she says. In the end, she found an interior designer on Houzz and was very happy with her choice.