This Barcelona Apartment Has the Cutest Vintage Kitchen

Aina Carafí and her partner have owned this two-bedroom Barcelona home for two years: I moved into this apartment in 2021. The building dates back from the 1950s, but unfortunately it had a very bad reno from the ’90s and all the original features had been replaced or hidden away. There were also way too many walls and doors keeping the light out.

As an artist and designer, and being someone who gets so influenced by the space that surrounds me, I knew I had to transform it right away into an inspiring place that reflected my personality in order to live in it. I did a lot of DIY during the first few months — learned how to plaster walls, work with electricity, and so on. I even made my kitchen cabinets with the help of my father. Then I got some professionals to come in for the heavy lifting like knocking down walls, building stuff, etc. My fiancée, who also works in the creative industry, moved in a year later and we now live in a bright, warm apartment that makes us feel a little bit like being on a constant holiday.

One of the premises when designing every space was that it had to feel like my home. It’s easy to get carried away by all the inspiration available online, but ultimately you have to make it yours. The color palette is a mix of soft Mediterranean hues reflecting my origins, like olive green, sage, and sand, and then a pop of dusty pink here and there because it is my favorite color. There are also ceramic pieces that I’ve created scattered all over the home, together with books and prints that I’ve collected over the years of living in different cities.

Describe your home’s style in five words or fewer: Warm, eclectic, welcoming, very personal.

What is your favorite room and why? Probably the kitchen. I’m so proud of the fact that we hand-built the cabinets. It is a small space, but it is so cheerful with the mix of vintage crockery I’ve collected over the years, family heirlooms, and the checkered wallpaper and tiles. I also love the sink; it is a reclaimed marble sink that travelled all the way from Valencia to Barcelona. It belonged to someone’s grandma and the seller asked me to send her a picture once it was installed, as she wanted to know where her grandma’s sink ended; she was so happy about it!

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I bought a vintage print from an artist lady in Christiania, in Copenhagen. We chatted for hours and loved to learn all about the feminist meaning behind it and the story of such a unique place.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Take time to understand what your style is, what colors make you feel good at home, and be playful with your interiors. If you thought that the sofa had to go on *that wall* and after some time you feel like the energy isn’t flowing, move things around; listen to your intuition.

Thanks, Aina!

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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