This Spanish Apartment Has one Seriously Powerful Mix of Colors

Written by

Alicia MaciasContributor
Alicia MaciasContributor
Freelance Photographer. Merging my passion for architecture and interior design along with a conceptual photography where always dominate geometry, simple lines and natural light.
published Jul 29, 2019

This Spanish Apartment Has one Seriously Powerful Mix of Colors

Written by

Alicia MaciasContributor
Alicia MaciasContributor
Freelance Photographer. Merging my passion for architecture and interior design along with a conceptual photography where always dominate geometry, simple lines and natural light.
published Jul 29, 2019
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Home Type
Bedrooms
Square feet

1453

Sq ft

1453

Name: Susana Ordovás
Location: Madrid, Spain
Size: 1453 square feet
Years lived in: 4 years, owned

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As an interiors journalist and contributor to Elle Decoration magazine (Mexico), Susana has a natural instinct for creating the perfect mix of old and modern, color and print. She loves to walk around flea markets around the globe, finding particularly unique pieces (and then giving them a very special place in her home). She adores vibrant hues, powerful patterns, and has crafted a house full of history and special objects that remind her of the places she’s traveled to. And she’s traveled to many places. In fact, this space in Madrid is her holiday home; she lives the rest of the year in a home in Mexico City.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Style: Our home is difficult to describe in just one word. It’s eclectic, colorful, full of vintage objects and antiques. It’s got character and it’s playful!

Inspiration: Old Europe and the Spanish culture have been the inspiration for the decor of this apartment. Also the tropics (plants, birds…).

Favorite element: A very heavy and large malachite bust inherited from my father, he purchased it in the 1970s in Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo).

Biggest challenge: I was fortunate enough to have the help of an experienced interior decorator to decorate the apartment when I first purchased it, which made things easy. However, I guess the biggest challenge is the fact that it’s a very old apartment (over 100 hundred years old) and there were certain restrictions with what could be done to it due to laws protecting old buildings (for example, installing air conditioning in the bedrooms). Also the lack of natural light was a challenge.

What friends say: They say they love it. They applaud me for having such an unconventional holiday home.

Biggest embarrassment: None that I can recall.

Biggest indulgence: Changing the wallpaper in the entire apartment a few months ago. The wallpaper we had before was in excellent condition, but I needed a change. Another indulgence was also changing the dining room table and chairs recently!

Best advice: Go for it! Don’t be scared of color or print. Also, the best place to find incredible objects and furniture at a great price is at flea markets.

Dream Sources: Flea markets.

Resources

LIVING ROOM

BEDROOM

KITCHEN

  • Table – Ikea
  • Chairs – Habitat
  • Lamp – El rastro fleamarket

DINING ROOM

Thanks, Susana!

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