Red velvet—the fabric, not the baked good—signifies a certain opulence. It’s a material you might expect to find on the robes of medieval royalty, or in a Victorian era living room, or on a tufted sofa in the townhouse of a well-heeled Upper East Side grandmother. Which is why it’s something of a surprise that dozens of feet of it, suspended from a curtain track that runs the length of a young graphic designer’s Barcelona apartment, somehow manages to feel fresh.

The apartment’s velvet curtains encourage playfulness and spontaneity. “You can be creative when you’re using them,” say the designers.

They also boost the apartment’s adaptability: Keep them open to let light in during the day; later, close them back up when guests arrive.

The home, renovated by Cristina Cirera and Mariona Espinet of CIRERA + ESPINET, had less-than-glamorous beginnings. It was once stark white with honey-colored wooden floors and doorframes, and its L-shaped configuration—comprised of a series of rooms connected by a long, dark corridor—made for a living space that felt unnecessarily cramped. The apartment's diminutive size (just 540 square feet) and lack of natural light presented added challenges, but the duo had a strategy in mind to address them: If you can’t change it, embrace it.

A white Joquer sofa allows surrounding colors (and a cheeky print by French illustrator Jean Jullien) to pop.

There was nothing to be done about the apartment’s tiny footprint, and the slender corridor couldn’t be widened or removed, but a few key adjustments helped transform the space’s setbacks into its most memorable assets. First, the designers removed most of the interior doors (only those leading to the bathroom and laundry room remain), making each room a part of one larger living space. In place of those doors, the pair added the aforementioned velvet curtains for privacy and a little dramatic flair. Meanwhile, a large, wall-mounted mirror in the hallway gave the illusion of increased square footage, and strategic lighting added brightness to the home’s most dimly lit corners.

Inspired by traditional Japanese bedrooms, Cristina and Mariona originally planned to put the mattress directly on the floor. Eventually they opted for a simple platform bed that helped achieve a similar look, with a bit of added height.


For all its immovable architectural features, there was plenty in the apartment that could be changed. The kitchen and bathroom were given an ultramodern face-lift, with red marble countertops and plenty of sleek wooden cabinetry to keep clutter at bay. And while the space is sparsely adorned when it comes to artwork and knickknacks, youthful pops of color—primary blue shelving, a dark green micro-cement floor, that terra-cotta velvet—add energy and an element of surprise. It’s a space of contradictions: narrow but accommodating, shadowy but warm, minimally decorated but personality-packed. But that, too, was part of the plan. “We wanted to create a multifunctional apartment,” Cristina says, “that was daring and simple at the same time.”

An unexpected mix of colors and materials—cherry wood cabinetry, red marble countertops, blue shelving, and a dark green micro-cement floor—meet in the main living area.

Sets of wall-mounted Flos light fixtures delineate the three main areas of the corridor: the apartment's entrance, the bedroom and bathroom, and the living room and kitchen.

💡Do It Yourself

  1. Mix bold hues—in this case, red, blue, and green—to bring life and lighthearted energy to a small space.

  2. Mirrors = magic. It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book for a reason. Put a mirror in the room and voilà: It’s bigger, brighter, and better balanced.

  3. Put curtains to work, but not on the windows. Replace an interior door with statement drapery for a fresher look that also encourages better flow. (Try the same trick on your closet doors or even the fronts of your kitchen cabinets, too.)

  4. A variety of ceiling fixtures, wall sconces, and table and floor lamps keep a dark room abundantly lit from all heights and angles.

  5. Consider a platform bed. Its clean lines and barely-there profile won’t add bulk to a tiny bedroom.

A variety of lighting fosters warmth throughout the space.

The long, narrow hallway is transformed into a rich, theatrical experience.

🛍 Shop It Out


  1. Mini button wall sconce by Piero Lissoni for FLOS, $295,

  2. "Little Appetite" print by Jean Jullien, $195,

  3. Serene Sofa by Joquer, from $2,685,

  4. Cesta table lamp by Miguel Mila for Santa & Cole, $1,285,

  5. Atelier side table with drawer (similar) by Serena & Lily, $898,