First Floor — Is It Bad? How an Apartment Became a Country House

Sara lives in Barcelona near Paseo de Gracia with her husband and son. The modernist building where their apartment is located is over a hundred years old. The previous century barely touched the hidden backyard, so the owners were incredibly lucky. Sunlight from the green patio floods every corner, filling the apartment with life.

It took four years for Sara's family to find the perfect housing solution. They viewed around two hundred options and recall that time with a smile: believe us, the search was pure nightmare.

Sara's work is connected with organizing events, many of which are dedicated to cinema. The girl knows how to create atmosphere, so the apartment immediately appealed to her. An internal courtyard in an urban dwelling is a privilege not available to everyone.

An apartment on the first floor sometimes unsettles potential tenants: is privacy and safety enough in a big city? Sara considered her find a unique opportunity that couldn't be missed.

I grew up in the countryside and wanted to feel the ground under my feet, even if I'm several floors above it. Only a private courtyard: no other option was even discussed!

On the patio behind high outer walls, the floor mimics cobblestone with an integrated drainage system for rainwater. In addition to plants in planters and wicker baskets, a pittosporum bush with glossy leaves and curly crown grows in the courtyard. The bush, like the building, originates from the nineteenth century and has freely grown over many years to tree size.

There is enough space in the courtyard for a coffee table and a grilling zone.

The patio has its own history. The internal courtyard is typical for Barcelona buildings of that time. The authentic addition with decorative elements on the roof used to be a laundry room: do you see the tap on the outer wall? The building was repainted in dark green to match the leaves. Sara's husband Mike set up an office there.

Let’s take a look inside the apartment from the street through French doors with full-height glass. Of course, after renovation, the apartment transformed. For reconfiguration, the owners invited designer Roger Beller, although they had plenty of their own ideas.

He wisely concluded that the modernist style, defined by the building’s architecture, should be respected. Fortunately, in over a century, the building changed little. Take a look at those ancient beams: it turned out they were in excellent condition.

The entrance hall is designed as a mini-library: the shelves were designed by the designer, who also proposed the main color scheme — natural tones of light wood and abundance of white. Light color accents were added with textiles.

To give the living room proper proportions, several spaces were merged during reconfiguration.

Using height differences, the designer provided a platform in the area where soft furniture and a coffee table were placed. There is enough space to hide wide sliding drawers for storage. The same approach was taken with the bathroom floor near the main bedroom.

Historic ceiling slabs were exposed down to brick masonry, and the supporting beams were matched in color. You can forget about the crowds and hustle far away: a complete sense of calm, like in nature.

The kitchen is compact but convenient, with a partition opening that connects it to the dining area of the living room. The walls facing the corridor were replaced with glass. Light flows freely throughout: you forget that you're on the first floor.

The designer's creativity, play with mirrors and windows (many of them are original and carefully preserved) filled the apartment with charm. Vintage decor items don’t stand out but blend organically into the interior with minimalist household appliances. Who noticed the base of a Singer sewing machine?

Another question: what do the white wrought iron lights, patio furniture, or even a mirror in the bedroom have in common? Sara follows design blogs and adores the Provence style.

For renovation, the girl prepared thoroughly: she collected cutouts from her favorite magazines in a thick folder with transparent files. Where did she get the idea for a practical headboard with built-in niche?

The ceiling and beams in the bedroom were made lighter to visually expand the space. The window here is authentic, and it was treated with respect.

The apartment on the first floor with additional open space is often chosen by families with children and pet lovers. Here live cat Sofie and cat Avi: there he is, basking on the bed in the sunlight.

They say that the higher someone’s position in society, the more natural light they can afford. Sara and Mike’s unique apartment located at ground level is a true treasure in that sense.