A Gorgeous, Tiled Spanish Apartment Has a Neat Mondrian-Inspired Closet
Name: Micah Merlin, and my daughter
Location: Valencia, Spain
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 950 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, owned
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Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: Generally I do restaurant interiors but my project came to a halt at the onset of Covid, so I quickly purchased this flat to renovate during lockdown and sell on the other side as I knew I would not be making any money. Cleaning, restoring, regrouting, and resealing the original tiles was an arduous but fulfilling task, as they are ready for another 100 years! I opened up the space by removing the unnecessary kitchen door and turning it into the dining room table.
A set of dining room doors was also removed to allow for a better flow and open feel to the space. I “attended” several online antique auctions and scored a trifecta of antique fireplace grates that became: a headboard, an Ivy trellis, and scarf storage. Paramount to my decor was a new friendship, buttressed by our love of antiques and chocolate brownies, with the owner of a local vintage shop — Pannonica Vintage. Celia helped me fill the space with amazing fixtures including such wonders as an atomic MURANO glass chandelier and a Willy Rizzo table lamp.
I took a week and painted a headboard for the main bedroom, grinding my own ink and using Chinese brushes to create a stunning linear filled piece. Another fun addition is my Piet Mondrian-inspired closet, which allows me to shop my own wardrobe. With three balconies on the front and one giant balcony off the back, the space is filled with fabulous light and air.
The ridiculously high ceilings and original crown moulding add to the unique character in this Art Deco building of which the flat takes up the entire second floor. A sculpture of vintage neckties wired from within grace the walls on two of the three bedrooms. I also have several limited edition photos from award winning photographer Jillian Edelstein.
In this space my chosen color palette was dictated by the tiles in the floor: mustard yellow, millennial pink, deep rouge red, Hunter green, Perini blue, black, and gray. Luckily, these colors are still very much modern and in play at the moment. My waste not, want not spirit is shown in my upcycling of the doors into other entities utilized within the flat.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Eclectic Artistic Art Deco
What is your favorite room and why? I fell in and out of love with each of the rooms as I cycled through their respective restorations, however the floor in the lounge, which looks like a rug, amazes me every time I enter the space.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? The last thing I bought was the 1960s Willy Rizzo table lamp from Pannonica Vintage.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Make your space a reflection of who you are and a place you always enjoy being in!
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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