Interior designer Mireia Pla made this eclectic-contemporary apartment in Barcelona, Spain, with no particular style in mind. Instead she focused on evoking a sense of warmth without sacrificing the trendy sensibilities of her customer, a professional woman in the fashion industry. “We wanted a house that was classic, cozy and comfy,” states Pla. Using white as her base color and purple as her accent tone, the designer transformed a ground-floor apartment “without any distinctive views” into Barcelona’s Eixample district into a light-filled, warm and feminine home.
in a Glance
Who lives here: Just one girl in the fashion industry
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Size: 1,130 square feet
Design challenge: Flooding the ground-level apartment with as much light as possible
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Pla contrasted bright white walls and dining room area furnishings with all the warm wood tones of an Ikea side chair, rustic oak floor and tree branch accent tables. Abstract art, a standing photo tree and books stacked on the ground give the place a lived-in feel.
Rocking chair: PS Gullholmen, Ikea
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The designer made a conscious attempt to not have everything in the area match. “The word I had in mind to explain how I wanted the place to feel was ‘soft’ There is A soft house where somebody can exhale. It is a house, not just a home, where you can recline on the couch or sit on the floor comfortably,” states Pla.
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Plush cushions, a plump sofa and a casually placed throw all talk the easy language of a casual sitting area.
Sofa: Mayfair Modular, Ascensión La Torre
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Pla created a lounge area that’s just below the apartment’s main level (marked here by measures). The distance mixes a ancient statue, a Victorian bust and a neoclassical stool using contemporary pieces.
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“My design philosophy is that it is possible to mix unique styles and furnishings and art — but you have to know when to pull back and edit,” states Pla.
She included punches of color and visual attention to the rear wall using leftover wallpaper arranged in a collage.
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Before the remodel, the apartment has been hungry for lighting. Pla installed floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding doors and skylights, allowing plenty of light to flood the entire apartment.
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The light wood countertop, custom-built plank table and accessories balance the squeaky-clean overall look of the white tile backsplash and glossy cabinetry.
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Pla softened the covered patio with a thick sprinkling of throws and cushions, leaving the customer the choice to utilize the room to get naps on a lazy day.
Bench and daybed: custom by Vuong Interior Design; banana-fiber low stools: Alseda, Ikea
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Potted trees and plants and a view of the skies bring nature into a distance surrounded by high walls and with no street-view windows. Furnishings and fabrics from Indonesia and other parts of Eastern Asia include a global touch to the eclectic-contemporary house.
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Purple is your chosen accent colour for the customer’s bedroom. The plum, eggplant, lilac and violet tones make a brand new and lavish pairing with all the crisp white bedding and decoration.
Tufted Chair: custom, Vuong Interior Design
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A set of grape-colored and -shaped sconces create space for the most dramatic part in the bedroomwith the ornate Spiridon table lamp dripping with crystals.
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Teak shower pliers include heat and an outdoor feel to the contemporary shower. Sleek drawer pulls replicate the strong lines in the room; they also reveal how Pla maximized the undersink storage to get her customer, who has loads of blankets and accessories — and wanted them from sight.