After living a season in Shanghai, Sandra, Marc and their son Levi return to Barcelona loaded with furniture and memories. The interior designer Bárbara Aurell of architecture studio Espacio En Blanco was commissioned to transform this high-ceiling apartment, featuring modernist-inspired moldings, and colored tiles into the new home for the family.
“Planning a reform at so many kilometers is not easy if you do not have someone to trust,” the client tells us.
What is the interior designer’s secret? “To know the family very well and to allow oneself to be carried away by the space and the objects that were placed in it,” says Aurell. “It was a couple with a very open mind, fresh and with influences from everywhere. Lovers of art and photography. That is why we wanted to transform the typical Eixample apartment into a house with a lot of personality.”
To achieve this, Aurell mixed the pieces they already had with icons of 20th-century design, inherited furniture, with others made to measure and with art. A totally eclectic furniture, reflecting what the couple is: classic, chic and contemporary. In addition, the mosaic floors and the original moldings of the ceilings were preserved. Harmony was given to the rooms with a neutral palette of whites and grays, to achieve a cozy space without being overloaded.
On the facade that faces the street, which has more natural light and more ventilation, the living room and the dining room were located. This multifunctional space, presided over by a large table designed by Espacio en Blanco, is at the same time an office. “Working here is very enriching because the light is magnificent,” they say. For the living room, the design team has conceived a sofa of great proportions and a pouf; that complete the space created with the intention of being able to take great naps and take advantage of the moments of tranquility. The center is occupied by a rug and two easy-to-move tables that allow your child to “be at ease”, without them having to worry.
For security and comfort, the master bedroom is connected to the child’s room.”We spent weekends on the floor, playing,” says Sandra. Decorative objects with bright colors were searched. The wooden house was also highlighted, which was made for Levi, with many cushions and mats. “Moving from such a distance to Barcelona should not have been easy, but it is a pleasure to return home,” they conclude.