We were living in a lovely small apartment in Gracia—where Lluis used to live as a bachelor—when our first daughter, Asia, arrived. We continued to live there for almost a year and a half after Asia’s birth, with just one bedroom and 538 square feet for the three of us. When we learned that Vega was on her way, we decided we needed to find a larger place to live. That’s a difficult task when your budget isn’t in line with what you’re looking for (or with Barcelona available real estate opportunities).

One day Lluis saw an apartment for rent that he liked but I was too tired (pregnant and with a 1-year-old child) to go, so he went alone. He liked it so much that the following day I went to see it with him. I loved it too, but of course it was over budget. But we made an offer anyway, only to be disappointed when it was rejected. Fortunately, two weeks later the agency called to say our offer was accepted and now here we are, enjoying our lovely apartment!

I’m from Argentina and Lluis is from Catalunya. We met when I came to Barcelona on holidays with my brother five years ago. Lluis and I fell in love and decided to start a life together in Barcelona. I’m an interior designer and work as a freelance interior, lifestyle, and kids photographer. Lluis works as a financial adviser and is launching a line of energy lollipops called Golders Energy.

Style: We identify ourselves with a vintage style and a touch of good design. I (Lula) like colors and prints and Lluis prefers white colors and a functional design.

Inspiration: Traveling, New York, hotels

Favorite element: The Andy Warhol picture

Biggest challenge: To figure out what to do with so much space; we were coming from an apartment of 538 square feet and we had to buy more things for our new apartment.

What friends say: They love the apartment!

Biggest embarrassment: The wall paint is not good throughout the apartment but because it’s not ours we don’t want to invest money on it… it’s a shame because it’s a really nice apartment.

Proudest DIY: The chest of drawers in our bedroom. It was a simple furniture piece from IKEA, so I painted it, put mirrors on the top, and changed the knobs.

Biggest indulgence: The kitchen cabinet’s knobs… the cabinet is from IKEA and we wanted to add some value to it, so we bought two really expensive knobs just to make the difference!

Best advice: Don’t spend too much… sometimes just by looking in the right place you can find cheap and amazing stuff. Simple things can become something great by just changing the color or adding some accessory.

Dream Sources: Anthropologie

• Table – IKEA
• Chairs – IKEA
•  Lamps – IKEA
• Green Chair – Stokke
• Tablecloth – Anthropologie
• Wodden side table – Found in the street

• Coffee Table – From a friend
• Carpet – Natura casa
• Black leather chair – Inherited from Lluis’s mom
• Sofa – T. Palma
• Pillows – Hym and Anthropologie
• Wicker and iron chairs – Natura casa
• Lamp next to the sofa – Santa & cole
• Wicker bench – IKEA
• Blue and white mattress – Calma house
• Pictures — Verkerke
• Mirror  — IKEA
• Flower vase — Inherited from Lula’s grandmother
• Candels – Anthropologie
• Bull’s picture – Deko palace
• Black side Lamp – IKEA
• Wooden little bench – IKEA
• Flower jar – Tiger

• Desk top – Leroy merlin
• White Trestles – IKEA
• Chair – IKEA
• Shelving unit – IKEA
• Side table – Found on the street

• Gray cabinet – Foundon the street
• Wooden table – Found in a flea market
• Side lamp – Zara Home
• White Coat rack – IKEA
• Pipes coat rack – Vinçon

• Crib – IKEA
• Shelve rack  – IKEA
• Mirror – IKEA
• Lamp – Maisons du monde
• Orange chair – wallapop
• Rabbit pillow – Hym
• Chest of drawers –  Columpiu
• Side lamp – Maison du monde
• Little kitchen – IKEA

• Chest of drawers – IKEA with knobs from Anthropologie
• Armchair – Inherited from Lluis’s grandmother
• Blanket – Hym
• Side Lamp – Zara home
• Flower vase – Anthropologie
• Curtain – Anthropologie
• Pillows – Hym
• Side bed lamps – IKEA
• Black and White picture – Plom gallery

Thanks Lula, LLuis, Asia and Vega!

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