A Designer’s “Scandinavian Meets Mediterranean” Barcelona Home

Name: Marina Senabre
Location: Gracia — Barcelona, Spain
Size: 536 square feet
Years lived in: Renting 5 years

Marina is an interior and graphic designer at La buhardi. She lives in the big city but her heart is in the island of Minorca, where she spends lots of time during the year. That’s why her home in the middle of Barcelona has a neutral, cozy Mediterranean look. Off-white is the palette’s main color, and the light is soft and warm, making the perfect canvas for Marina’s style. It’s a tiny home, but she manages with patience and care.

Almost all the furnishings are restored street finds, but some are careful purchases. She likes a mix of (not too many) simple things. Just the necessary. Plants, art, design—everything’s been chosen with care. She’s also tried to maintain the history of the things around her. As an interior and a graphic designer who works in three different cities, she wanted a home where she could relax, disconnect; the sensation of being in a place with a mix of Scandinavian and Mediterranean at the same time feels perfect.

My Style: Honest, simple, natural and serene. I would like to think that my home speaks about me and my work.

Inspiration: I love both Scandinavian and Mediterranean homes.

Favorite Element: The plants, we love to have lots of plants at home. They make a house a home.

Biggest Challenge: When we first came to the house it was completely empty. The challenge was to gather every piece of furniture without spending a lot of money (because we didn’t have it), so we had to make many of them ourselves and buy many things at flea markets (I love to find treasures at flea markets).

What Friends Say: Friends are always surprised by the light of the space. I like them to come and have dinner or lunch at home; I believe they feel comfortable here.

Biggest Embarrassment: Imperfection is part of our lives, too. There is no embarrassment in it.

Proudest DIY: The two tables. We made the big one with our hands. We found the other one in the garbage and we restored it.

Biggest Indulgence: A house with a courtyard.

Best Advice: Not to have too many things, only the essential ones.

Dream Sources: Original Thonet chairs. A real Paul Klee or Tàpies.

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