Spanish Influence

A Clever Mix Of Light And Colour Breathes New Life Into A Period Home, While Celebrating Its Mediterranean Temperament

- Polly Sweet

When the owners of this Barcelona apartment first saw it, they were immediately drawn to its original features. The mouldings on the dining room ceiling and the arched windows and doorways in particular lent the house a distinctive charm. But they were also keenly aware that it was badly in need of an interior overhaul to suit their personal needs and tastes. Having eventually bought the property, they tasked Barcelona-based design firm Meritxell Ribé – The Room Studio with updating it.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

One of the most obvious benefits of working with a local firm is that they are already sensitive to some of the more practical elements involved in a home’s redesign. The climate and the natural light that are distinctive to the area are elements with which they are already familiar.

With lighting as a speciality of the design firm, co-founders Meritxell Ribé and Josep Puigdomenech were instantly able to identify which colour scheme would be most flattering to the apartment and its quirks, and bring out the best in each room. They opted for a soft palette in grey, olive green and blush, which is contemporary and timeless yet allows for bolder elements to be introduced into each area. These are also colours that work beautifully with Barcelona’s Mediterranean temperament—shades with a cooling effect in the hot summer months, and also light enough to make the most of its year-round sunshine.

EBB AND FLOW