Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Period Features & a Fresh Layout in a Spanish Apartment
This flat in Barcelona had great bones and stunning period ceilings, but only one bedroom – until an architect bought it
Architect María de Ros and her husband found this flat in the old town of Barcelona, Spain, in 2006. Originally an office, it had been converted into an apartment by the previous owners, a couple who had reconfigured the space so there would only be one bedroom. De Ros immediately spotted the apartment’s potential, though the bedroom set-up would have to change: although it was just her and her husband at the time, she was already pregnant with their first child. The renovation started the day she gave birth. “I can assure you that it was quite stressful,” she says.
As is often the case in architects’ homes, the furniture was chosen with care. Classic pieces stand out against the neutral base of the off-white walls. There is the TMM floor lamp, by Miguel Milá; the Subeybaja coffee table by Robert Heritage and Roger Webb for Santa & Cole; the Elliptical ETR table – an Eames design produced by Vitra – under the television; and the Barceloneta chairs by Correa & Milá, which are a family heirloom.
The living room and dining room are visually connected. The beautiful mosaic flooring meets the classic black-and-white tile in the dining room, helping define the two areas.
The new dining area
“The kitchen occupies the same space as it did before the renovation,” de Ros says. “Originally it was open, but in the remodel it was separated with a wall that includes a large window and a door. This way, the space is formally separated, but you still get light from the dining area.”
The kitchen gained bench space after the renovation, but de Ros still wishes she had more work surfaces. She also notes that she would like to have more time to cook: she usually takes advantage of the weekends to make more elaborate recipes.
The floor plan before the renovation
To create the master bedroom, de Ros combined the space that once served as a pantry with the original walk-in wardrobe and a bit of floor space from the living room.
To create the master bedroom, de Ros combined the space that once served as a pantry with the original walk-in wardrobe and a bit of floor space from the living room.
The finished space reflects the restrained palette in the rest of the house.
At the same time, the original master bedroom was converted into the kids’ room. Although it has a lot of floor space, de Ros chose to furnish it with a bunk bed to leave more space for her children to pursue creative activities.
The ornate period ceilings and cornices in the original master bedroom, which is now the children’s bedroom
The building dates back to 1867, and the period ceiling in the children’s bedroom is decorated with a plaster pattern typical of the period.
Behind this is the study area, where the kids do their homework. The vintage-style table is by Gidlööf. “It is a design with wings that allows the workspace to be expanded if necessary,” the architect says.
Behind this is the study area, where the kids do their homework. The vintage-style table is by Gidlööf. “It is a design with wings that allows the workspace to be expanded if necessary,” the architect says.
The new floor plan
The reorganisation of the floor plan also made it possible to add a full bathroom to the apartment.
The reorganisation of the floor plan also made it possible to add a full bathroom to the apartment.
“The house did not have a bath, which is essential when you have children,” de Ros says. She created a main bathroom with a bath and a separate toilet, as well as a second bathroom with a shower, which was built into what had previously been the laundry.
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this renovated period apartment? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Fancy a peek into another creative home? Don’t miss this My Houzz: Inviting Whites and Pastels Revive a Small US City Flat
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this renovated period apartment? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the renovation conversation.
More
Fancy a peek into another creative home? Don’t miss this My Houzz: Inviting Whites and Pastels Revive a Small US City Flat
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Architect María de Ros, her husband and their two children, aged 13 and 10
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Size: 130 square metres
Architect: María de Ros Architect
De Ros, pictured here, is still as in love with this apartment as the day she first saw it, especially “the high ceilings, the old floor and the balconies looking out onto the oldest district of Barcelona”.