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Houzz Tour: Contemporary, Elegant Barcelona Home
A British expat gets custom furnishings, a neutral palette and simplified geometry from a remodel of his Spanish apartment
Architect Yolanda Yuste's client wanted his apartment in the Gothic Quarter, Barcelona, to reflect a contemporary spirit — not the traditional architecture typical of the city's oldest district. "My client wanted to keep some original aspects of the house, like the vaulted beam ceilings and arches, but he also wanted a relaxed and thoroughly modern place to live, work and entertain," says Yuste.
As she began the remodel, Yuste concentrated on reinterpreting the structure as two areas: one open and social and the other entirely private — a true place of retreat.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A young expat from England
Location: Gothic Quarter, Barcelona, Spain
Size: 1,399 square feet
Design challenge: Maintaining the traditional architecture of the Gothic Quarter while reflecting an entirely new space and atmosphere
As she began the remodel, Yuste concentrated on reinterpreting the structure as two areas: one open and social and the other entirely private — a true place of retreat.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A young expat from England
Location: Gothic Quarter, Barcelona, Spain
Size: 1,399 square feet
Design challenge: Maintaining the traditional architecture of the Gothic Quarter while reflecting an entirely new space and atmosphere
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Custom touches were a necessary part of the home's update. The wall and ceiling are paneled with tinted pine wood slats assembled by hand. The slats' horizontal placement and repetition, coupled with the crisp white walls by the windows, give the room a feeling of expansiveness.
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Flushed kitchen cabinets repeat the rectangular shape of the slats, but in a larger scale. The cabinets, countertops and dining table are finished in bronze, adding texture and sheen.
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Two large pendant lights lined in gold leaf add drama to the minimalist space, emphasizing the home's contemporary spirit. The stark black hue of the shades contrasts with the white walls, concrete floors and warm wood.
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| Yuste integrated much of the kitchen furniture and surrounding spaces with the wall paneling and simplified the geometry of the space. Large black lids (shown flush against the panels) can fold down to cover the countertop and serve as one long buffet table. |
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Black and white sliding doors signal a visual and physical transition from the dining space to the common area.
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The warm wood tones are all but gone in the living room, only slightly recalled in the smaller accent pieces; whitewashed walls and beamed ceilings take its place, enlarging the space.
Just as the pair of pendants adds drama to the kitchen, an oversize floor lamp stands guard by the archway transition and takes the place of an art piece.
Just as the pair of pendants adds drama to the kitchen, an oversize floor lamp stands guard by the archway transition and takes the place of an art piece.
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"We changed the window frames to reflect a more contemporary design, yet they still fit within the traditional architecture," says Yuste. The courtyard, shared by all the building's occupants, is seen from this vantage point.
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| The mix of natural materials in the accent decor keeps the design from feeling cold and stark. Earth tones and textures warm up the living room and evoke a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere. |
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As in the rest of the apartment, storage space is concealed in the bathroom behind boards with a high-gloss finish. "We wanted to have freestanding fixtures in the bath to enhance the feeling of spaciousness," says Yuste.
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An egg tub rounds out a room devoted to "relaxation, intimacy and sensuality," says Yuste. Translucent glass lightly conceals the toilet and shower area, creating a modern, spalike feel.
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Everything about this bedroom whispers casual: a shabby chic mirrored panel replaces a traditional headboard, beddings in natural fabrics add to the tousled look, and a shag rug in light brown stays well within the neutral palette of the room. Unadorned balcony doors let plenty of light in.
But what catches the eye is a neat little niche that's left empty but for the perfect shade of gray.
But what catches the eye is a neat little niche that's left empty but for the perfect shade of gray.
Ideabook published on June 8, 2012.
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The light fixtures in the dinning room are the INOUT by P&V Lighting Italy http://www.pv-lighting.com/. The continous cement floor is the Pandomo by German firm Ardex. The floor lamp in the living room is the Naomi by Spanish firm Carpyen.
The YLAB Arquitectos Barcelona team,
http://www.facebook.com/YLAB.arquitectos