Elle Decoration

This Renovated Apartment in Barcelona Showcases Neoclassical Style at Its Trendiest

This 1960s apartment, with ceiling mouldings, 8 balconies and an abundance of natural light, has been reinterpreted by Victoria Interiors in an elegant classical style with midcentury undertones.

We travel to the heart of the Catalan capital to take a closer look at the magnificent renovation and interior design project that Victoria Interiors studio has carried out in this bright 145-square-metre apartment. Located on the seventh floor, it is part of a 1960s building on a chamfered corner, with tall balconies looking out onto other historic landmarks of Barcelona, such as the Faculty of Medicine and the Barcelona Industrial School. "What is extraordinary about this apartment is its orientation — entirely facing outward, with 8 French balconies, something that is not common in the city's architecture. Its abundant natural light was what we needed to enhance," explains Victoria Bel, creative director and founder of Victoria Interiors. But the apartment required a full renovation — all the original ceilings, flooring, walls and joinery were restored and rebuilt, with particular standout given to the remarkable artisan work of the plaster mouldings that lend each room a distinctly stately, aristocratic character.
In the new layout, the fabulous designer kitchen with tobacco-coloured wooden cabinetry — from the Italian brand Doimo Cucine — was the only social space that ended up situated in the interior, without its own balconies. But the issue was resolved by opening up two large apertures that allow light to flow through from the living and dining room. A wide corridor leads to the night-time areas, where three bedrooms and their respective bathrooms are found. Here, as in the daytime zone, materials and finishes have been carefully considered to achieve an impeccable and, above all, very warm result. Oak wood flooring is complemented by beautiful thick-weave fabrics and even wallpaper covering some of the ceilings — a very British touch that never fails to surprise upon entering. Elegance extends to every last corner of the bathrooms as well, with flawless wall-to-ceiling cladding throughout.
Much of the furniture seen throughout the apartment was made to measure by local artisan workshops and designed by Victoria Interiors studio. The decoration was undoubtedly the crowning touch of this project, where a refreshed neoclassical style blended with midcentury influences creates a space that both moves and inspires. A proposal that finds its ultimate finishing touch in the owner's personal collection of works by Picasso and Andy Warhol.