Eixample Apartment Renovation by Conti, Cert in Barcelona
Photography by Salva López, courtesy of Conti, Cert. We’ve written about projects by Conti, Cert quite a few times since we first discovered the Spanish design firm a couple years ago. The latest Conti, Cert redesign to catch our eye is a narrow, smallish apartment (115 square meters, or 1,238 square feet), in Barcelona’s Eixample neighborhood, that started out dark, cramped, and charmless and—in the hands of founders Andrea Conti and Isabel Cert—has transformed into an airy, smartly laid-out home that marries modern minimalism with classic Spanish design. A signature Conti, Cert move: exposing and restoring the volta, the curvy vault-like ceiling common to traditional homes in the Catalonia region. Another signature design move: using Santa & Cole lights. Minimalist built-in wall shelves in the living area feel both modern and timeless here. The former apartment had six bedrooms; it now has three bedrooms. The dining set and pendant light are vintage. A single window in the kitchen looks out onto an interior courtyard. The cabinetry is made from beech wood. Open wall shelves keep things light and airy. The study features a beautiful tiled floor. Andrea says the cement tiles were original to the home but in a different room. The guest bathroom, a master class in simplicity. The cement tiles were also reused for the main bedroom floor. Off the bedroom is a dressing room, and beyond that, the ensuite bathroom. The bathroom vanity, like the kitchen counter, is a matte white Macael marble.