Houzz Tours
Barcelona My Houzz: The Extraordinary Menagerie of an Artist
Explore this magical home, where whimsical animals find form on canvas and books, as well as lamps and coat hooks
The moment you step into this apartment, located in an Art Nouveau building typical of the Eixample district of Barcelona, it is clear that you have entered a singular universe. Every step leads to a painting, lamp or even hook shaped like a little animal. This zoological playground is the home of artist and illustrator Joana Santamans, who lives here with her husband.
Santamans has many inspirations for her artwork: Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, Egon Schiele, Frida Kahlo, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Claude Monet. She loves some of them for their daring use of colour and others for “the magic in their brushstrokes or their mastery in capturing light.”
Born in Barcelona, Santamans has lived in London, New York and San Francisco. She believes that having lived in so many cities has somehow unconsciously conditioned the way she decorates. “I am a big fan of British interiors, which respect the past and ‘dress’ spaces, making them really cosy. As for New York and San Francisco, I like Victorian houses with big windows and plenty of white, something you can see in my home too.”
Born in Barcelona, Santamans has lived in London, New York and San Francisco. She believes that having lived in so many cities has somehow unconsciously conditioned the way she decorates. “I am a big fan of British interiors, which respect the past and ‘dress’ spaces, making them really cosy. As for New York and San Francisco, I like Victorian houses with big windows and plenty of white, something you can see in my home too.”
While working she listens to music through retro Stockwell amplifiers by Marshall. Music is part of her day-to-day routine. She uses it to counterbalance her mood: she puts on lively music if she’s feeling down or chill vibes on stressful days. Jazz, folk and classical music – especially Bach – are her favourite genres. She points out that she always knew she would have a career in the arts: “If I hadn’t been a painter, I would probably have chosen music. My maternal grandmother was an opera singer.”
“Over time I have found that the key to my work is to find the right mental and physical balance for creativity,” Santamans says. “If your mind is lost in thousands of thoughts and the body is tense, there is no room for inspiration. That’s why for me it’s really important to live and work in a space that is open, large and where everything is exactly how I want it.”
Santamans is also the author of several books. Her most recent is the illustrated bestiary Vida (published by Bridge Books). She signed more than a hundred copies last Sant Jordi, a festival in honour of Barcelona’s patron saint, when books and roses are traditionally given as presents.
Santamans is also the author of several books. Her most recent is the illustrated bestiary Vida (published by Bridge Books). She signed more than a hundred copies last Sant Jordi, a festival in honour of Barcelona’s patron saint, when books and roses are traditionally given as presents.
The master bedroom is crowned with a Flying Tuna sculpture by Piedra Papel Tijera Interiorismo. “It is a pendant lamp I saw in the Fetén restaurant, in Castelldefels [near Barcelona], and I fell in love with it. The studio doesn’t sell them, but I ordered one,” Santamans says. She finds water relaxing, so she wants to paint the bedroom wall with fish.
The couple have combined furniture from various periods in their lives, resulting in an eclectic style. Santamans inherited the leather armchair from a former housemate. It stands next to contemporary pieces with minimalist lines, such as the Ikea cupboard, the tatami-style bed and the cube-shaped side table by Pilma.
The writing on the wooden box gives a clue as to its contents: Titelles is Catalan for ‘puppet’, in this case made out of papier-mâché.
The very high ceilings in the sun room originally made the space feel like a tube. To solve this problem, the couple covered them with white sheets, which lend warmth to the space.
They practice yoga here every morning. It is also Santamans’ favourite reading corner, and she often paints here on her easel. “This was a very white space, and I wanted to make it more dynamic and bright with red because it is a colour that illuminates, and [it] brings a lot of character to the sun room,” she says. Especially notable is the joyful Iranian wool kilim, from Turkestan, a shop specialising in the sale of rugs with contemporary designs produced in the Middle East and Asia.
The sofa is a wheeled pallet outfitted with cushions. The painting in the background, done on cardboard, is the work of Carlota Delgar, the wife of Santamans’ father.
They practice yoga here every morning. It is also Santamans’ favourite reading corner, and she often paints here on her easel. “This was a very white space, and I wanted to make it more dynamic and bright with red because it is a colour that illuminates, and [it] brings a lot of character to the sun room,” she says. Especially notable is the joyful Iranian wool kilim, from Turkestan, a shop specialising in the sale of rugs with contemporary designs produced in the Middle East and Asia.
The sofa is a wheeled pallet outfitted with cushions. The painting in the background, done on cardboard, is the work of Carlota Delgar, the wife of Santamans’ father.
Here, Santamans sits on one of the two chairs she painted for an installation called Casita de Ensueño (Little Dream House), which was originally displayed in a shop window.
The house clearly divides the nighttime and work zones from the social areas. This long, wide corridor, with moulded ceilings and a hydraulic-tile floor, leads to the other wing of the apartment.
The spacious entry hall is at the centre of the big house, in a layout typical of the Eixample district.
A variety of different items are all gathered here: her bike stands here alongside sticks and stones from some of the places the family have visited, including a huge trunk eroded by the sea and wind of Sant Pere Pescador in the north-east of Spain.
A variety of different items are all gathered here: her bike stands here alongside sticks and stones from some of the places the family have visited, including a huge trunk eroded by the sea and wind of Sant Pere Pescador in the north-east of Spain.
The couple have breakfast and lunch here every day – dinner they prefer to eat in the living room. They shop at the nearby Mercat de la Concepció market, and take turns cooking.
The only thing that did not meet their requirements when they first saw the house was the kitchen, which was quite small. “However, Oriol and I were very clear that the kitchen should be the heart of the house, because it is our private meeting place, where we discuss our plans for the day or what we have done so far,” Santamans says.
To create the kitchen they wanted, they expanded it and connected it to the dining room. This took a few months and was the only larger renovation they carried out. Besides that, they just cleaned and gave the place a good facelift, including getting rid of the coloured wallpaper. They left all the walls white except this one, which they covered in chalkboard paint.
The kitchen is from Ikea and the light fixture was bought at the now-closed Vinçon. Santamans likes to display seasonal fruits and vegetables in lieu of decoration. Pictured are a pumpkin from Els Hostalets de Pierola as well as artichokes and mandarin oranges from her father’s orchard. “The colours of nature are always inspiring for an artist. They look like precious things to me.”
The kitchen is from Ikea and the light fixture was bought at the now-closed Vinçon. Santamans likes to display seasonal fruits and vegetables in lieu of decoration. Pictured are a pumpkin from Els Hostalets de Pierola as well as artichokes and mandarin oranges from her father’s orchard. “The colours of nature are always inspiring for an artist. They look like precious things to me.”
A cow, a rhinoceros and a pig reside here as hangers for kitchen towels and mittens.
Next to the kitchen and dining room is a large room dominated by two self-portraits. “We dine here on cushions on the floor while watching TV shows or movies with the projector, because it is more relaxing than sitting in a chair,” Santamans says.
She brought home this coffee table from an apartment she once shared. It originally had wheels, which can still be reinstalled if necessary. She likes that the piece is low because it works well with the height of the grey sofa from Habitat. Two of the most colourful cushions on the sofa, those with the hummingbird motifs, are part of a special collection she made for La Mallorquina. The other, patterned cushions are from Calma House.
She brought home this coffee table from an apartment she once shared. It originally had wheels, which can still be reinstalled if necessary. She likes that the piece is low because it works well with the height of the grey sofa from Habitat. Two of the most colourful cushions on the sofa, those with the hummingbird motifs, are part of a special collection she made for La Mallorquina. The other, patterned cushions are from Calma House.
They got this restored filing cabinet at an auction. Both Santamans and her husband are really attached to this piece: they love finding objects with a history and giving them new life. Above the cabinet a backlit letter draws attention to itself. “I like the letters in the hall more. Their light is warmer,” Santamans says. She finds typography interesting “because it provides a really great aesthetic even for home decor.”
The couple’s favourite piece is this armchair, which they found lying on the street on a rainy day. They re-upholstered it with velvet and put on new legs.
The layered carpeting is one of the most interesting things about this space. The carpet in orange and faded red wool is Warm Shekarloo from Turkestan, from the Irania collection. The floor lamp is the Tripod model by Habitat, and the pendant light with a handmade bamboo screen is Sinnerlig from Ikea, designed by Ilse Crawford.
The painting of the stork is oil on wood and one of Santamans’ latest creations. “Wood is my favourite medium as well as the ideal material for furniture. It connects me with nature and life,” she says.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
The layered carpeting is one of the most interesting things about this space. The carpet in orange and faded red wool is Warm Shekarloo from Turkestan, from the Irania collection. The floor lamp is the Tripod model by Habitat, and the pendant light with a handmade bamboo screen is Sinnerlig from Ikea, designed by Ilse Crawford.
The painting of the stork is oil on wood and one of Santamans’ latest creations. “Wood is my favourite medium as well as the ideal material for furniture. It connects me with nature and life,” she says.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Artist Joana Santamans and her husband Oriol, a lawyer
Location: Eixample district, Barcelona, Spain
Size: 200 square metres
That’s interesting: Spanish speakers can hear Santamans discuss her apartment further in a video from Houzz Spain
The studio is the brightest and quietest room in the house, situated right beside the master bedroom. Santamans spends her days here drawing and promoting her work on social media. The oak work desk was custom made by trusted carpenters. The flexible orange table lamps are from Habitat and the ceiling lamps are from Ikea. They were originally silver: Santamans painted them black and changed the original cables for fabric ones.
Like in modern art galleries, Santamans puts a red dot on the wall next to each piece she has already sold. The diptych of the octopus in this image, for example, has been bought by a restaurant in Ibiza. And the turtle? It will go to the Friday’s Project shop in the Las Ramblas district of Barcelona.