White Walls and Modest Budget: Apartment in Barcelona

Problems with insufficient lighting in apartments are not unique to northern countries—such cases also occur in sunny Spain. In this 80 square meter apartment located in the center of Barcelona, natural light was generally sufficient, but the kitchen, situated along the corridor, was poorly lit.

At that time, the designer Marta Prats—who was invited to help with the renovation and interior design—suggested installing a row of windows along the wall separating the kitchen from the living room. The kitchen instantly became brighter, and it was also more convenient: now one could cook or have breakfast while keeping an eye on the family in the living room and not leaving guests unattended.

To organize comfortable storage, built-in wardrobes and shelves were used. On the kitchen, emphasis was placed on built-in appliances. The only exception was a carved top for the wardrobe in the living room, which here was more for aesthetics.

When it comes to decoration, Marta has her own approach. The designer says that her projects, especially compact spaces, resemble boat houses. And here this principle is also reflected: with an abundance of aged wood, woven furniture, baskets and boxes, rough jute rugs, and light fabrics.

To give the project a special touch and a distinctive summer vibe, Marta incorporated many cool blue-green tones into the interior, used plant motifs in paintings, and completed the setup with live flowers. The result is vibrant yet summery fresh.