A Mirrored Kitchen Completely Transforms This 645-Square-Foot Apartment

"This apartment started as a typical 1960s three-bedroom layout designed for a traditional nuclear family - lots of separate rooms, not a lot of flexibility. While the materials and finishes beautifully modernize the apartment, what really makes the renovation work is how Ismael rethought the layout. That flexibility is key, because the home isn't designed for one traditional family, but for a mix of people - from parents and adult children to visiting friends and extended family of the owners."

"To start, Ismael took the space from three bedrooms to two - and used the regained space to create a much larger living room opening to a balcony, which made the main space feel more open and much brighter. But Ismael's layout doesn't mean that the space can now sleep fewer people; he just made the living area more flexible. The living room can transform depending on the need: a sofa folds out for guests, and plants act as soft dividers to create privacy when needed."

Designer Ismael Medina Manzano transformed a dated 1960s Spanish apartment by reconceiving its layout to prioritize flexibility over traditional room separation. The renovation reduced the space from three bedrooms to two, redirecting the reclaimed square footage toward an expansive living room that opens to a balcony, creating brightness and openness. The redesigned living area accommodates diverse household compositions—from nuclear families to extended relatives and visiting friends—through adaptable furnishings and soft spatial dividers. A fold-out sofa enables guest accommodation without sacrificing the main living space. Bold contemporary design elements, including a curved wall with glossy emerald green tiles and mirrored surfaces, define the apartment's aesthetic while modernizing its materials and finishes.

Read at Apartment Therapy