My Spanish Houzz: Plants, Sea Views and a Touch of Morocco
Every detail in this Barcelona designer's home was carefully chosen to reflect her love of craftsmanship and nature
This Barcelona flat is nothing like the warehouse full of shelves and boxes that Karima El Bertaai and her partner bought seven years ago. As an interior designer, she immediately spotted the potential of the space and set off on her most personal project, adding decorative elements from her native Morocco along the way.
We begin the tour on the terrace, the space the owners enjoy the most. It needed a serious overhaul when they first moved in.
The owners use it almost year-round to read, nap in the hammock, barbecue and entertain friends, among other things. This 30-square-metre outdoor area offers fantastic views of the sea.
Restoring an old home? Find an architect near you who knows your local council’s regulations to bring your property back to life
Restoring an old home? Find an architect near you who knows your local council’s regulations to bring your property back to life
Interior designer Karima El Bertaai
Mint, sage, rosemary, thyme, parsley, lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora), strawberries and lemons are just some of the fruit trees, aromatic plants and spices the owners grow in pots.
El Bertaai is fond of craft work. For example, the tiles and sink in this photo were handcrafted from a hollowed-out stone. The large pots on the terrace are also handmade. “They come from the south of Morocco and they are bulky and very heavy,” says El Bertaai.
El Bertaai is fond of craft work. For example, the tiles and sink in this photo were handcrafted from a hollowed-out stone. The large pots on the terrace are also handmade. “They come from the south of Morocco and they are bulky and very heavy,” says El Bertaai.
The floor plan
Entering the flat, the laundry room is to the right, and the storage room to the left. Directly in front of the entrance is the large kitchen-dining room. This leads to the living room, which opens onto the terrace and is flanked by two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Entering the flat, the laundry room is to the right, and the storage room to the left. Directly in front of the entrance is the large kitchen-dining room. This leads to the living room, which opens onto the terrace and is flanked by two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The living room and the main bedroom make up a generous open space. Both have many decorative touches from El Bertaai’s native Morocco.
See more beautiful living areas from around the world on Houzz
See more beautiful living areas from around the world on Houzz
Part of the floor is beechwood. The floorboards were sanded and then coated with a natural varnish after installation. Elsewhere, micro-cement reinforces the industrial aesthetic of the interior.
El Bertaai made some of the decorative accessories herself, including the cushions from an old kílim. The cane lamps are also handmade. The trunks are a family heirloom, and the vintage rug is from Morocco.
The bookcases were designed and built by Edouard Cabay of Appareil and Alejandro Rondón of Nodo architectural studios – both are friends of the couple.
The bookcases were designed and built by Edouard Cabay of Appareil and Alejandro Rondón of Nodo architectural studios – both are friends of the couple.
The main bedroom stands out for its industrial style. El Bertaai designed the velvet-lined bed frame herself. The lithographs are by another friend of hers, Georg Massanés.
The ensuite can also be accessed from the office/guestroom. Inside, a basin made out of stone from Empordà (in Catalonia, Spain) and a large bath take the spotlight.
The pocket doors are a combination of wood, glass and iron. “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have any doors in the home. The ones we have are always open unless we have guests,” says El Bertaai.
There is an additional small toilet room, with shelves inside.
Their daughter’s bedroom, which has its own ensuite, has direct access to the terrace.
The spacious open-plan kitchen-dining area is located behind the terrace-facing spaces. El Bertaai designed the table herself, and commissioned trusted carpenter Quique Carnicero Rodríguez to make it out of walnut and iron.
The dining room is the only place where El Bertaai used pendants. “In this way, the light is ambient and warm and brings a magical touch to the spaces,” she says.
The concrete kitchen island defines the border between the dining room and kitchen.
The concrete kitchen island defines the border between the dining room and kitchen.
Metal sculptures in the form of cacti, which remind the owner of her native country, give shape to this small corner just behind the entrance.
The office/guest room is behind the curtains in the background of this photo. “I have been in Barcelona for 18 years, since I first came here to do my final project for my degree from EINA [a private university, the University School of Design and Art of Barcelona], and visits from friends and family are very frequent,” says El Bertaai.
Your turn
What do you love most about this character-filled yet calm home? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
For more great global design, check out Spain Houzz Tour: A Shipping Container Home Blends Into its Site
Your turn
What do you love most about this character-filled yet calm home? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
For more great global design, check out Spain Houzz Tour: A Shipping Container Home Blends Into its Site
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Karima El Bertaai, her partner, a French writer and journalist, and their 18-year-old daughter
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Size: 150 square metres inside with a 30-square-metre terrace