Aragó Street Residence in Barcelona by Miriam Barrio.

Located on Carrer d’Aragó in the Eixample district in the centre of Barcelona, this 140 square metre fifth-floor apartment was a little gloomy and in need of brightening. Its totally charming transformation is the work of young Spanish architect Miriam Barrio, who has layered accents of gold with a little colour blocking and a good helping of natural light.

To begin, Mariam modified the apartment’s original floor plan. A communal living room now runs the length of the apartment and acts as a sort of corridor, allowing light to filter through from one end to the other, and gently illuminating each corner of the space. The original parquet was reworked and brightened, and the walls of common areas, passageways, and original cupboards were painted brilliant white. Adjoining rooms were each given their own bold character—delicious gelato colours peppered with sleek and stylish traces of gold.

Of the three bedrooms, one is rendered in light, caramel tones, another is clean and white, while the third has been splashed with a dense strawberry pink. The kitchen is midnight blue, and one of three bathrooms is painted pistachio green. Lamps, furniture, and faucets in gold add a level of luxury and complement Miriam’s colour palette. In two of the bathrooms, Vicotria + Albert freestanding Hampshire bathtubs are matched with golden Vola freestanding tapware, while another bathroom features honey-coloured terrazzo, giving it a golden glow.

[Images courtesy of Miriam Barrio. Photography by Jose Hevia.]