Family Home in Spain: Designer Transforms Stone House with Wood and Greenery
A family has transformed a forgotten 1960s house in Blanes, on Spain’s Costa Brava, into a modern yet timeless home. After years in Dubai, they sought a quieter life—and found a whitewashed property hiding original brick vaults beneath layers of plaster. The renovation, led by designer Mar Torrentó and architect Ariadna Guiteras, carefully balanced tradition with contemporary needs.
The house originally stood as a simple, whitewashed structure with vaulted ceilings concealed under plaster. Torrentó and Guiteras stripped back these layers to reveal the brickwork, making it a focal point of the redesign. Their goal was to preserve the home’s character while updating it for a young family.
The ground floor now features an open, adaptable living space centred around a courtyard. A kitchen with oak cabinetry—using Cubro’s ‘Pill’ series with recessed handles—flows into a dining area. The living room sits in the cooler, shaded section, where the restored vaults meet modern touches like green window frames and warm oak accents. Upstairs, the layout was reworked to separate bedrooms from workspaces. A central bathroom and laundry room serve the family, while light wood floors and white-painted beams brighten the area. Built-in wardrobes, finished in pale lacquer, keep the space uncluttered. Sustainability played a key role, with each floor designed to regulate its own temperature naturally. The result is a home that feels both rooted in its Catalan past and perfectly suited to daily life.
The project now stands as a thoughtful mix of old and new. Original brick vaults share space with sleek oak cabinetry and energy-efficient design. For the family, it’s a place that honours tradition while meeting the demands of modern living.
