You could say Lucía Flors and Carlos Leiva are predisposed to look beyond the obvious. The Spanish radiologists were planning to move to the U.S. to complete their clinical training when they began searching for an affordable flat in their native city of Valencia for visits back home. What they found was a 650-square-foot, sixth-floor walk-up in the bustling Eixample district.

The location and price were right, but it required serious vision to see past the warren of dilapidated rooms and imagine something habitable. “The ceilings were low, and there were walls everywhere,” Lucía remembers. “It was a mess.” But she and Carlos knew just whom to call to help them transform the space: Lucía’s brother-in-law, interior designer Sergio Bonaque.

Communicating via FaceTime and email, Lucía and Carlos watched from afar as Bonaque removed crumbling drywall and plaster to expose high ceilings, original beams, and perimeter walls made of handmade clay brick. Along the way, he and contractor Manuel Stoica installed new plumbing, insulation, and electrical wiring; replaced windows; opened up the tiny kitchen; and removed partition walls to create an airy two-bedroom apartment.

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Traces of old paint uncovered during the renovation inspired the apartment’s new pastel palette of fresh mint and dusty pink, set off by white and gray walls, herringbone oak floors, and custom lighting that brightens the once-gloomy interior.

Keeping the furnishings to a minimum, Bonaque designed a long, built-in bench for tmailto:me@example.comhe living/dining room, which also features modern wood and rattan pieces. Lucía and Carlos have since added personal touches, like drawings by artists Geoff McFetridge and Borja Bonaque.

Currently based in Los Angeles, the couple relish trips to the sunny Spanish apartment, now with their toddler, Carla, in tow. “Having the apartment is awesome because we’re in the center of Valencia, and we can walk everywhere,” says Carlos. “It’s a fun, special place.”

Project Credits:

Interior Design: Sergio Bonaque Estudio / @sergiobonaquestudio

Architecture: José Gil Mercader

General Contracting: DecorSTAL