An English-Inspired Apartment in the Heart of Barcelona by Eva González Estudio
After years spent living in London, the owner of a modest apartment in Barcelona’s Sarrià–Sant Gervasi district returned home with a very specific longing: the warmth and understated charm of English domesticity.
Not the grand, formal kind, but the lived-in ease of traditional kitchens, the tactile comfort of natural materials, and the quiet intimacy that defines so many British homes.
For architect and interior designer Eva González Estudio, this sensibility became the emotional starting point for a renovation that had to overcome a major constraint: a narrow layout with load-bearing walls that made spatial expansion impossible.
Instead of fighting the existing structure, González chose to work precisely with what the apartment could offer: light, texture, and a reimagined flow between rooms.
interior design and styling: Eva González Estudio – additional styling: Iván Fernández Galindo – project management: Eva González and Mireia Sandoval – photography: Virgili Jubero
The experience of the home begins the moment you step inside. Rather than being tucked away, the kitchen occupies the entrance area, acting as a warm, welcoming threshold.
A softly rounded breakfast bar partially opens the space to the hallway, creating a subtle sense of connection without sacrificing definition.
González’s reinterpretation of the English cottage aesthetic is evident in the natural wood cladding, installed using a tongue-and-groove system that wraps the space with gentle rhythm.
Classic details, like ceiling cornices and carefully proportioned cabinetry, lend an air of timelessness. Color appears quietly, almost shyly, through painted fronts, while wood flooring and countertops create continuity and a deep sense of tactility.
In the living room, the home continues its dialogue between classic language and contemporary calm. Wall panels with delicate moldings provide structure while cleverly integrating mirrors.
These mirrored inserts expand the perception of space and pull daylight deeper into the room, an essential move in such a narrow floor plan.
A deep olive-green sofa becomes the focal point, offering a rich counterpoint to the home’s neutral palette. Its corduroy upholstery adds softness and a hint of retro charm, balancing the crisp lines of the architecture.
A pale area rug anchors the seating area, ensuring the space remains warm, grounded, and inviting.
The main bedroom embraces a muted beige palette, diffused lighting, and natural materials, creating an atmosphere of intimacy and rest. The en-suite bathroom, integrated seamlessly into the space, follows the same ethos: simplicity, visual harmony, and functional clarity.
One of the client’s few non-negotiables was a generous walk-in wardrobe, no small request in a 63 sqm apartment. González found the solution in a widened corridor niche, designing a storage zone with mirrored doors framed in crisp white joinery and woven-texture panels.
Not only does this bring a sense of airiness to a windowless stretch of hallway, but it turns a purely functional need into a visually light and elegant architectural moment.
The small guest toilet tucked off the entrance hall is one of the project’s most characterful surprises. Here, white-painted wainscoting meets a gentle floral wallpaper in soft greens, an unmistakable nod to the Arts & Crafts movement.
It’s a moment of pattern and nostalgia that reinforces the homeowner’s connection to English tradition, while still feeling fresh within the contemporary envelope.
The renovation reflects the multidisciplinary background of Eva González, whose work spans interior design, spatial design, stage design, and lighting. This breadth is palpable throughout the apartment, especially in the interplay of light, material texture, and subtle scenographic touches.