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Duplex in Horta, Barcelona by Alex March Studio

The interior design focuses on a careful and eclectic selection of European design pieces of the past century are combined with other current shades in ochre and brown

Duplex in Horta, Barcelona by Alex March Studio
Photography by © Sandra Rojo

Alex March Studio designed this stunning duplex in Barcelona. The interior design focuses on a careful and eclectic selection of European design pieces of the past century are combined with other current shades in ochre and brown. In combination with pure white, you get depth and warmth in the bright rooms. Discover more after the jump.

Photography by © Sandra Rojo

To the owner of this house, located in the Horta, neighborhood of Barcelona, a director of photography in his forties, lover of art and design, was captivated by its large windows, which allow him to make the most out of the natural light. His idea was to turn it into a place of relaxation, a dwelling where you can enjoy a joyful atmosphere and an all-year-round-holiday feel.

For this, the Alex March Studio made a surprising performance of style, leaving nothing to chance. “I imagined the decoration of the space being joyful and heterogeneous, a mixture of past and present through art, design, craftsmanship and popular cladding,” explains Alex March. To achieve this, the interior designer has nourished the design by selecting eclectic designer furniture pieces from the 20s, 50s, 60s and 70s. Not forgetting the use of plants and flowers, a source of freshness and warmth.

Duplex in Horta, Barcelona by Alex March Studio
Photography by © Sandra Rojo

The house, which has two floors , presents a relaxed interior design where luxury, far from
elements that tend to opulence, is found in the exquisite care in details , where each of the pieces has a story to tell.

“I proposed what the space suggested to me on the first visit,” explains Alex March. As a base, the exterior carpentry of pine wood has been restored carefully and has been varnished in two colors, abandoning the original color that was too dark; in addition whites have been used in architectural elements to combine with traditional ceramics.

Duplex in Horta, Barcelona by Alex March Studio
Photography by © Sandra Rojo

On the other hand, the ceilings have been left mostly untouched to keep the original Catalan vault of the building, only painting it white to enhance the luminosity. 

On the walls, a coating of rectangular ceramics in white and terracotta tones, have been combined. In combination, brown beech wooden Venetian blinds have been placed in order to sift the light of the generous windows. Visual harmony is created carefully with a selection of ocher and brown design pieces. 

Duplex in Horta, Barcelona by Alex March Studio
Photography by © Sandra Rojo

The interior space of the first floor is visually harmonious, thanks to the various shades of ocher and brown decorative pieces.

The sophistication and coziness is achieved in the living room through several interesting pieces. 

The sofa, an AG Barcelona 70, is velvety and in a very soft brown tone, dressed with an arrangement of diverse Moroccan wool cushions. Next to it, and forming a perfect tandem, we can see a French pedestal table, with a 50s style in a light brown tone, decorated with a Catalan ceramic vase from the ’60s.

Another discreet protagonist of the scene is the coffee table, which provides depth and character with the dark oak, from the Dutch New brutalism style of 1975. This table rests on a large Belgian white wool carpet. The iconic room piece is an eight-drawer cabinet, attributed to the famous Danish furniture designer Arne Vodder. The design counterpoint is achieved thanks to the bright white of the Airmchair Geneva made by Castilglioni (1979) as well as with the incredible oil on paper by Iñaki Moreno framed in white and to the curves of the sculpture by Roger Coll “Krasznai”. 

The design makes the past and the present design go hand in hand.

Photography by © Sandra Rojo

The house adds value to everyday furniture from the past, such as the French dining chairs of the 50s Dordogne, designed by the woman who laid the foundations of the modern design, Charlotte Perriand and the dining table from the 60s, made in wood with white glazed ceramics on top. 

Native craftsmanship also has a place in the house with the Catalan carpets made out of natural fibres from the 50s and typical ceramics from La Bisbal, adding a nod to traditional Catalan culture. 

On the other hand, contemporary art transports us to the current time with works such as “Gaima in the desert” by Adriá Uyá and a selection of ceramic pieces by Mari Masot. 

The dining area incorporates very discreetly a kitchen, with furniture in white.

Each piece of furniture brings a touch of style

A white staircase decorated with hanging ferns leads to the upper floor.

The main room is a magnificent and peaceful haven, partly thanks to the light screened by natural wood mat blinds but also because of the different soft textures used: pairs of cushions in ivory tones (Calma House and Gancedo), a white bouti quilt (El Corte Inglés), a natural fiber carpet…

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In the room, each piece of furniture brings a certain touch of style. The night tables, a Danish design of the 60s, are crowned by two French lamps of mahogany wood from the 50s. At the bottom of the bed,  two three-legged stools have been suggestively placed, a design by Miguel Fisac from the 1950s.

A 60’s handmade macramé tapestry in ivory and mustard tones presides the living area. Indirect lighting through a discreet cornice with LEDs, generates a welcoming atmosphere. 

Duplex in Horta, Barcelona by Alex March Studio
Photography by © Sandra Rojo

Solemnity is achieved through a selection of exquisite furniture, such as the Torres Clavé armchairs from 1934, structured in oak wood with handcrafted rope for the backrest and seat. It is accompanied by three English coffee tables from the 50s made of wood beech. 

The set rests on an Iranian white wool carpet. Various hanging plants and cacti give freshness to the space and highlight the Danish wood vase from the ’60s. 

In short, this house designed by Alex March, finds luxury in the exquisite care in details. Each of the pieces has a past, a yesterday that speaks of design and its culture, of the art and the passion for European design and pays tribute to modern designers of the 20th century. 

Author: Alex March – alexmarchstudio.com
Surface area: 62 m2
Customer: Individual
Location: Horta, Barcelona
Photographer: Sandra Rojo

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