Eclecticism lives on!

This stunning pied-a-terre apartment in Madrid comes from the remarkable Spanish designer Isabel López-Quesada. Starting with a rundown space that had been deformed by a bad renovation, López-Quesada worked to breathe new life into the history home while at the same time giving it a unique personality.

Probably my favourite part of the project is what features and materials were retained and reused throughout – slate and marble that had been elsewhere is the apartment was cleaned and reinstalled in the kitchen and hall. Doors, windows and even shutters were reconditioned to live again and in the most incredible stroke of luck an original fresco was uncovered in the sitting room (!!).

Adding to this, López-Quesada has infused old architectural elements with crisp clean furniture, bright accent pieces and strong geometry on the carpet and wallpaper. Owing to the small size of the apartment, spaces have been opened up and overall the feeling of airiness and light has been emphasised.

For me this is a perfect example of the importance of clever editing mixed with an adventurous spirit – eclecticism lives on!

Story by Brendan Guy, follow him on Instagram MrBrendanGuy