Sandra Rojo

Veronica and Pol's flat isn't very big, but it is so well organized and decorated with such great taste that when they tell you they work in design, you believe it!

Name: Coco Dávez Location: Chueca nieghborhood — Madrid, Spain Size: 193 square feet Years lived in: Rented since February Coco welcomes me smiling in her studio, in an old royal state apartment in the heart of the high Chueca neighborhood in Madrid. Her paintings are full of colors, and fill the small, bright studio space. An artist since she was a child, painting for Coco is a way to relax, to play and to remain connected with that inner child inside us all.

Name: Lisette van de Graaf Location: Gothic quarter — Barcelona, Spain Size: 968 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 7 years I met Lisette at a magazine opening party and she immediately caught my attention because she seemed like a well-traveled person with plenty of stories to tell. Born in Dutch Antilles and raised in Madrid, she hasn’t stopped traveling and exploring since.

Name: Marta Garrido Location: Terrassa — Barcelona, Spain Size: 807 square feet Years lived in: Rented for two and a half years Marta lives in Terrassa (a little city near Barcelona) with her two cats, Mandarino and Valentina, and her husband Jules. I met her through her Instagram account @undiagris (it means “a grey day”) but that’s just the opposite of the spirit she radiates.

Name: Dora and Oliver Location: Eixample Quarter — Barcelona, Spain. Size: 1.291 square feet Years lived in: Rented for 5 years Dora and Oliver are like colorful, fascinating characters from a novel. They’ve filled their eclectic Spanish home with travel souvenirs, great design…and dancing! Dora is a fashion designer currently working for Uterqüe; Oliver is partner and design strategist at The Bold Studio.

Name: Mireya and Arnau Location: Collblanc — Barcelona, Spain Size: 753 square feet Years lived in: Rented for almost 2 years When a home’s door opens for the first time, it’s always a fantastic moment. When I came Mireya and Arnau’s home, the first to greet me effusively was Gustav, their white cat with one blue and one green eye. As soon as you arrive he either wants to give you kisses on your nose or gently bite your feet.

Name: Joana Santamans Location: Eixample — Barcelona, Spain Size: 2,152 square feet Years lived in: Renting for 3 years Church bells ring nearby as I stand in front of Joana’s front door — her home seems like it’s in some small village rather than in the center of Barcelona. An illustrator and painter, Joana established her atelier inside her Barcelona home so she could spend more time with her family while creating her art.

Name: Anna Alfaro Location: Eixample — Barcelona, Spain Size: 807 square feet Years lived in: Owned for 1 year Anna greets me with a hug when I arrive to photograph her home, and the autumn sun fills her house with warm light. It’s such a lovely scene, the house itself seems to hug you. Anna has spoken about how pleased she is with the results of her apartment renovation, and now seeing it in person I can only feel envy!

Name: Eva Morell Location: Raval Quarter — Barcelona, Spain. Size: 538 square feet Years lived in: Rented since February 2016 Eva’s aesthetic is a fast indicator that she works in art direction. Her current home isn’t very big, but it’s full of good design and lovely things. Having lived in Madrid, Gijon, Mallorca and Barcelona, her home also reflects her free-spirit.