Houzz Tour: Classic Elegance in a 1950s Flat
Beautiful original plasterwork underscores the grand scale of this flat’s 85 sq m living, dining and home office space
This flat in a 1950s building in Bilbao, Spain, is located on the Gran Vía – the most important shopping street, created in the 19th century during the city’s expansion. “The home’s mouldings were in good condition, but the floors, finishes and fixtures were very old. We carried out a comprehensive restoration to preserve the mouldings in the common spaces,” says Sandra Vergara, who was responsible for the project. The clients asked for a spacious living room that would also incorporate a home office area.
The living-dining room, with an integrated office area (in the background), is a roomy and well-used space. Sandra says that colour and mouldings were key to planning out and zoning this large, multipurpose room.
The studio chose all of the furniture in the house. They opted for modern pieces to contrast the classic style of the flat’s plasterwork mouldings and chevron floors.
“The original flooring was in poor condition, so we put in a new floor, but in the same style and with a distressed finish,” she says. “This gives it a lived-in look and helps maintain the classic feel.”
Find professionals for any type of project in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
The studio chose all of the furniture in the house. They opted for modern pieces to contrast the classic style of the flat’s plasterwork mouldings and chevron floors.
“The original flooring was in poor condition, so we put in a new floor, but in the same style and with a distressed finish,” she says. “This gives it a lived-in look and helps maintain the classic feel.”
Find professionals for any type of project in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Sandra used a green wall to frame the office space and help it stand out from the rest of the living room.
More: How to Confidently Choose Colours for Your Home
More: How to Confidently Choose Colours for Your Home
The plasterwork ceiling gives the home a grand scale. “The style of the mouldings needs to be balanced with more modern elements,” Sandra says.
The entrance is the designer’s favourite space. It extends to the washroom, which connects in turn with a bedroom. A corridor leading on from here connects it with the other bedrooms and the kitchen.
This plan shows the layout of the space. The large living room is at the top.
Like in the rest of the flat, the kitchen combines classic and modern elements. The natural stone worktop is paired with painted cabinets from Santos, with panelling on the front. These features highlight the warmth of the breakfast nook.
Sandra decorated the bedroom with elegant pieces in the same palette as the rest of the house.
“My advice to those who are thinking of buying a place to renovate is, hire a good, trusted professional,” Belén says. “When you see a house you want to renovate, you don’t know all the possibilities it has to offer until a knowledgeable person steps in and helps you figure out what you want, right from the start.
“Trust is also important,” she continues. “Things go more smoothly when you trust the professional and, in the end, the result is better, because the ideas you weren’t totally convinced by end up being the best.”
“My advice to those who are thinking of buying a place to renovate is, hire a good, trusted professional,” Belén says. “When you see a house you want to renovate, you don’t know all the possibilities it has to offer until a knowledgeable person steps in and helps you figure out what you want, right from the start.
“Trust is also important,” she continues. “Things go more smoothly when you trust the professional and, in the end, the result is better, because the ideas you weren’t totally convinced by end up being the best.”
The three bathrooms are spacious and serene.
Sandra carefully picked out the lighting and decor of this bathroom, the largest in the home and the only one that includes a bath. “We wanted to create a warm space where you can relax and take a hot bath,” she says. On the wall, they painted over textured wallpaper.
Sandra carefully picked out the lighting and decor of this bathroom, the largest in the home and the only one that includes a bath. “We wanted to create a warm space where you can relax and take a hot bath,” she says. On the wall, they painted over textured wallpaper.
“In the nursery, I used mint green paint to create a small refuge,” Sandra says.
This is the daughter’s bathroom. “Except for small accents, we decided not to over-complicate the décor in the bathrooms,” Sandra says. “We like that the tiles blend in so well.”
Tell us…
What do you like about this flat redesign? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Tell us…
What do you like about this flat redesign? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? Belén Mendoza, her husband and their daughter
Location Bilbao, Spain
Size 180 sq m
Designer Sandra Vergara of Sandra Vergara Studio
One of the first things Sandra did was tear down walls to combine three rooms into one, large living room. You can see this best in the photo here: the result is an open, 85 sq m space that also includes a home office.
“We like the living room best,” owner Belén Mendoza says. ”Tearing down walls created a feeling of spaciousness. The large windows also brighten up the space. The decor and the colour of the walls, carpets, sofas, curtains and cushions evoke feelings of peace and calm.
“To top it off,” she adds, “the wood chosen for the floor is wonderful, because it creates warmth and cosiness.”