Powerhouse inventive couple Natalia Swarz and Armando Mesías every have their very own careers—she’s the founding father of journey web site Hôtel Weekend and a children idea retailer, whereas he’s a visible artist—however additionally they collaborate on inside tasks by means of their rental enterprise Hilma Properties. They reimagine previous Madrid flats for “sluggish, impressed dwelling” by using heat impartial hues, textured supplies, and restrained furnishings. Their studio unit, which was dated and separated into a number of rooms earlier than they stepped in, “attracts from the serene minimalism of Japan and the quiet magnificence of Scandinavia—particularly Denmark,” Natalia says. So refined, slab-front Floor cupboards from Copenhagen-based kitchen model Reform had been an ideal match.
The smoked oak cabinets, together with dark-stained cement flooring, provide a recent bent that’s balanced by rustic honey-toned wooden beams and creamy lime wash partitions. In addition they make the 484-square-foot area really feel greater than it’s. “The cupboards learn extra like high-end furnishings, and as a protracted bar alongside the wall, they mix seamlessly into the room, conserving it open and neat,” says Natalia. “Our method is at all times select much less, however select properly—after which add private touches that carry soul with out litter.” Let’s have a look—and maintain scrolling to see the condominium earlier than.
Pictures by Pablo Gómez Ogando.
After
Above: Natalia and Armando knocked down almost all the interior partitions to create an ethereal studio that accommodates two folks. “We purchased it to renovate with the thought of renting to associates and friends-of-friends visiting Madrid for seasonal stays,” Natalia says. “Sometimes, we use it for home swaps. It’s additionally perfect for distant employees and creatives in search of a peaceable, inspiring base.” Above: The linear kitchen, with its deep brown veneered oak cupboard fronts and veiny inexperienced Vert d’Estours marble countertop, is the centerpiece of the condominium. “We wished one thing minimal, sculptural, and unobtrusive, because it needed to mix harmoniously with the dwelling and sleeping areas,” Natalia explains. “We selected a ‘no-kitchen kitchen’ look—and Reform was good for it.” Above: The easy-yet-sophisticated cabinets are a collaboration with Norm Architects. Above: Performance was additionally a chief concern. “Since it might be utilized by visitors, the whole lot needed to be intuitive and simple to take care of,” says Natalia. “The largest problem was balancing utility with visible restraint—the whole lot needed to work completely with out wanting busy. Skipping higher cupboards allowed the area to breathe. We prioritized hid storage, sturdy supplies, and a powerful sense of fabric tactility to make it really feel refined but grounded.” Above: One in all Armando’s giant artworks hangs above an ivory corduroy Vetsak couch, which is “a favourite as a result of it’s modular, endlessly adaptable, and the detachable covers make it extremely sensible for an area that may host many alternative visitors,” says Natalia.
