A NEW LIFE

Based in Spain, Chilean interior designer Jaime Beriestain based the look of his Barcelona home around his art collection. He explains to KARINE MONIE why he decided to make these changes

- KARINE MONIE

In the heart of Barcelona, Spain, the Eixample neighbourhood is where interior designer Jaime Beriestain — from Chile — feels at home. On one side, this area of the city is quiet; on the other, it has design and fashion shops, charming hotels and restaurants, and art galleries on every corner.

Jaime was immediately seduced by the height of the 135-square-metre apartment where he has lived for the past decade. He was also attracted to the several internal patios, which allow for an abundance of natural light. Before moving in the space — which was previously an office — the interior designer led an extensive renovation, demolishing everything except the original windows of the façade. The result was a white box with colourful and bold elements such as the rugs and reupholstered vintage chairs. Jaime, however, recently felt he needed a change. “After living in the apartment for 10 years, I decided to do a second makeover, more in line with how I’ve evolved both personally and professionally”, he says. “I had reached a certain time in my life (at 50 years old) when I needed a metamorphosis in my vital space.”