In Madrid, an architectural firm has redefined what’s possible in small spaces by using vibrant colors and common materials to give a studio apartment a unique character.
Architect Ximena Zenteno Ladrón de Guevara, upon glancing into neighboring apartments, feels particularly grateful for the distinctiveness of her own. “When you see a typical, older apartment where everything’s visible right away — like the fridge and all the essentials — I appreciate the choice I made,” she said.
This sense of delight is precisely what Ms. de Guevara sought when she enlisted the local architecture studio OOIIO to transform her roughly 538-square-foot studio apartment in Madrid’s artistic Carabanchel district. Once a working-class neighborhood, Carabanchel now serves as a haven for creatives, including artists, writers, and architects like Ms. de Guevara.
“It’s unexpected to see this kind of apartment in such a small space, especially here,” said Ms. de Guevara, originally from Peru. “That surprise factor was exactly what I wanted.”
Indeed, the apartment is a refreshing departure from the ordinary. Designed with bold accents in blush, teal, turquoise, and mustard yellow, the space features striking built-in furniture and nearly floor-to-ceiling ceramic tiles. “We love color in the studio,” said Joaquín Millán Villamuelas, founder of OOIIO, who prides himself on breaking away from traditional palettes of gray and beige. “We like to push the boundaries.”
After a year back in Peru for work and visa updates, Ms. de Guevara returned to Madrid and bought this apartment. Though the building itself was new, the interiors felt uninspired. “I didn’t like that they were all the same,” she said, reflecting on the uniformity of many newer apartments.
Adjusting from a larger home in Peru to a compact Madrid studio, she wanted a space that felt special, where she wouldn’t feel confined. “I needed it to be unique, to feel like more than just a room.”
An experienced architect in materials, Ms. de Guevara met Mr. Villamuelas at an industry event a decade ago and admired his commitment to doing things differently. “He’s always up for new challenges, which is exactly what I needed,” she said.
OOIIO, known for creative use of affordable materials, mastered the art of doing more with less during Spain’s financial crisis. “Our projects often work within tight budgets,” Mr. Villamuelas explained. “But when you look at them, they feel much more luxurious than they are.”
This philosophy shaped Ms. de Guevara’s apartment, where the low-budget renovation involved customizing an Ikea kitchen with wood panels that complemented the apartment’s vibrant palette.
Built-in furniture pieces — such as a custom shelving nook with a Murphy bed, geometric accents defining the living area, and a half-sun-shaped kitchen panel hiding cables — were made from laser-cut fiberboard in bold turquoise. “These materials are low-cost, and no one usually uses colors like this,” Mr. Villamuelas added. “Everyone opts for oak, which costs more, but we find beauty in the unusual.”
In this compact yet striking studio, color and creativity have turned minimalism into something truly unexpected.
The architect’s choice of vibrant, glazed ceramic tiles is central to the apartment’s unique character. The bathroom shines with deep berry hues, while a blush pink backsplash wraps the kitchen, covering one entire wall. Teal tiles, running halfway up the wall from the arched entryway to the newly installed window that opens onto a Juliet balcony, bring a fresh continuity across the apartment’s compact layout—even extending to the floors.
This bold use of color reflects OOIIO’s signature approach to creating striking designs on a limited budget. “We use materials you can find in any store, but we reimagine how and where they’re applied, playing with color and placement to create something unexpected,” said Mr. Villamuelas. “By situating these materials in areas you wouldn’t typically see them, the result feels unique.”
The renovation, completed in under a year, cost approximately 32,650 euros (around $35,210), including loose furniture that OOIIO handpicked to accentuate the aesthetic.
Ironically, Ms. de Guevara didn’t consider herself a fan of bright colors. Initially taken aback by the lively palette, she found herself hesitating. “I didn’t expect so much variety,” she admitted. “At first, it felt overwhelming; I needed a moment to adjust.”
But ultimately, her trust in OOIIO’s vision won out. “I realized I trusted their expertise, so I thought, ‘Why not?’” she reflected. In the end, the tiles and colors became the defining elements of the apartment, transforming it into a space that is as vibrant and surprising as it is thoughtfully designed.