Home Tour: A Barcelona Abode With Parisian Elegance

This elegant home in Barcelona was inspired by the regal lines of Haussmann-style French architecture. Take a tour of its stunning interior here:

Parisian style apartment outdoor dining area in Barcelona, Jamie Beriestain

The home of a family of three—a couple who works in the fashion industry and their young daughter—was designed by Chilean-born, Barcelona-based interior designer Jaime Beriestain. It has three facades, in a configuration that’s quite uncommon for Barcelona apartments. This creates a very open interior that incorporates massive outward-facing windows.

The starting point for Beriestain’s concept was inspired by the architectural style of Georges-Eugène Haussmann, who helmed the renovations of Paris from 1853 to 1870. The Haussmann aesthetic favours draconian specifications, a symmetrical axis and a distinctly noble aesthetic with clearly differentiated zones.

To lay down the foundations for this style, Beriestain added sockets and mouldings on the walls and ceilings, as well as capitals on the door frames and double doors. He reconfigured the distribution of space, creating axes and eliminating rooms. “This results in a bright, warm and sophisticated apartment that one can imagine in Paris or London,” explains the designer.

Bespoke Details

Numerous finishings, as well as the craftsmanship required for the carpentry and mouldings, made this an incredibly complicated and challenging project.All the bronze-cast door handles were tailor-made to Beriestain’s designs, while the glossy satin paint used on the ceilings gives the illusion of increased height. All the air-conditioning units were also hidden in the baseboards, so the apartment is devoid of any unattractive clutter. “There is no corner in this house that has not been designed—every pavement, handle, moulding and cladding was carefully thought-out,” says Beriestain.

Contemporary Living

The living area, which is mostly furnished in varying tones of grey, is divided into two lounge sections: a communal reading area with a large L-shaped sofa and Pierre Jeanneret armchairs; and a reception corner with a silk upholstered Flexform sofa, a custom-made Beriestain coffee table and armchairs, and splashes of velvet. A long carpet connects the two sections.

Culinary Pleasures

Portobello granite, handcrafted white tiles, Canadian pine cabinetry, wooden panels and a reinterpretation of traditional French cabochon flooring can be seen in the kitchen, which also includes an oversized island counter that serves as a gathering place for quick meals. “In the kitchen, the Keith Haring chalk poster adds freshness and spontaneity,” says Beriestain. “This particular piece was originally a poster that Haring drew on the walls of the Metro in New York City.”

Glamorous Accents

Beriestain used white Venato marble and Dornbracht fittings for the bathrooms, and mouldings that replicate those used throughout the apartment. The main bathroom is equipped with an 18K gold Fantini faucet and a sink carved out of a single piece of marble. “The outside of the doors recomposes the general finishing of the main public areas of the apartment, while the interior of the door has the same finishing as the bathroom,” he explains. “When the doors are closed, what one sees is an illusion of an infinite line of mirrors.” The designer also included marble mixed with Bisazza gold mosaic in the scheme.

Outdoor Delight

Connected to the dining area is an outdoor terrace with Kettal furniture and tall potted plants, where family and friends can gather during spring and summer.

Photography: Manolo Yllera

This story was adapted from Singapore Tatler Homes August-September 2017.

Topics

interior design Barcelona decor inspiration Jaime Beriestain