Il Duomo

The renovation of a coffee bar in Lleida, Catalonia explores texture and light. Rope and slates made from fruit boxes from the local area provide visual interest while light and more importantly shadow draws patrons to cozy corners. The atmosphere is warm and rustic like the local country shop it is , avoiding the high tech and harsh while referencing the agricultural buildings of the area. The space is simple and real, the buzz is not only from coffee but from patrons at ease. Design is by Barcelona based AAIMM.

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Communicating Vessels

We recently heard from Barcelona architect Victor Gonzalez, of TC-Interiors, who wanted to share one of his projects with our readers.
Communicating Vessels is a 250 sq.m complete apartment renovation, located in the Modernist neighborhood of Barcelona. The design layout is a response to the client’s wish for a united, open space that could benefit the natural light form early in the morning to late afternoon. For this reason, all mid-walls were demolished and the windows at the communal side façade were enlarged. The only enclosed department built from the scratch is the Core, which includes the guest room and the service areas, leaving the rest of the space diaphanous. Every use is 'marked' by a Lighting Carpet, a customized and highly resolved lighting system. As the floor carpets do, the Lighting Carpets, 'warm up' a specific territory of this home while the same time, indicate the use, by their distinct positioning and size. This loft space is HOT. I love the concept of using lighting to delineate a space - much more creative than throwing down some area rugs. 

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A vintage Victorian

I love this Victorian stlye home featured on Micasa. It's completely unpretentious and filled with vintage finds to keep things casual. Gorg!

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Luis Bustamante

Drama, symmetry, classicism, modern art, order and sex appeal. Yes an unusual combination but we are talking about the high art interiors of Madrid interior designer Luis Bustamante. A sculptor and painter in an earlier career his interiors are passionate and with an artist's eye for the balance of volume and shape and colour. Definitely not for the minimalist. High points for me? The black and white luxury of the dressing room, the art and that library! We have been keeping it simple on the blog for a little while. It's time to step it up.

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Montse Garriga Grau

I'm randy for some eye candy, so I thought I'd share some this afternoon by the talented hands of Spanish photographer Montse Garriga Grau. Love the very rustic European vibe of many of these spaces. It means leaving your shoes on and dirt not showing on the floors (and in my case cat fur just blends in), walls or furniture getting scuffed is insignificant, and the more rough and original the better. I could totally live like that. Easy living I'd like to call it. I think I'm going this route because 2 of my older cats (one is 20ish) who are having health issues have decided to pee where they really REALLY shouldn't (ie. my new leather couch, boots sitting at the front door, on all my belts dangling in my closet...). Perhaps if I pray hard enough I can be teleported to one of these spaces where cats don't torture me and I can live in peace and cat-pee-free.

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