What is Spanish design?
While many of us have an idea of what is the Scandinavian look, or what elements go into French country design, few are able to describe exactly what is Spanish design.
There are many design blogs devoted to Scandinavian or French design, and countless ones focused on travel, food and lifestyle in Spain, but I have found very few English-language blogs focused on interior design in Spain.
Spain for Design covers interior design, artisan traditions and lifestyle in Spain with the aim of making them accessible to a wider audience and begin a dialogue about a part of the world often overlooked in design circles.
2024 Made in Spain Holiday Gift Guide
This year my Made in Spain Holiday Gift Guide showcases ceramic jugs. There is no reason for this selection other than when I visited Spain this year, I spotted a striking striped ceramic jug in Hijo de Epigmenio. This gift store sells artisanal ceramic, glass, textiles, and other items from across Spain. I have featured this…
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Vajillas de Ultramar: New Horizons
Combining their mastery of artisanship, art, and design, Vajillas de Ultramar and renowned fashion designer Josep Font debuted “La Vajilla” by Josep Font, their 24-piece ceramics collection, at Milan Design Week 2024. The first appearance by Vajillas de Ultramar at this prestigious global event, the new collection combines the unique vision of Josep Font with the artisanship of…
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5 Iconic Furniture Brands from Spain You Should Know About:Treku: Descendants of a Renowned Woodworking Tradition
Founded in 1947, Treku is a brand known for its contemporary furniture. Based in Zarautz, a small coastal town in the Basque country with a great naval tradition, it designs, manufactures and exports its furniture to more than 50 countries worldwide through a select portfolio of stores and professionals. In 1947, Jesús Aldabaldetrecu, who was…
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A Porch in La Moraleja, Madrid
Dosalcubo transformed an underused corner in a home in La Moraleja, Madrid into a porch with open and covered spaces. Adjacent to the main living room, and with direct access to the garden, the inspiration for its design is a refuge,. An ideal spot to share with family and friends, its warmth and coziness evoke homeliness,…
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Two Weeks in Spain
In August I travelled to Spain with my family for the first time in five years. It was a whirlwind of activities and experiences. I revisited old favorites-cafes, restaurants, shops-and discovered new ones. We took a side trip to Vienna for a few days, a gift to my son who is interested in the history…
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Enrique Rovira-Beleta on Accessible Travel and Tourism: Part 2
This article is the second of a three-part interview with Enrique Rovira-Beleta Cuyás, an architect and professor of architecture and accessible design at the School of Architecture of the International University of Catalonia in Barcelona, who lends his expertise for public and private commercial and residential building projects. For everyone, he is an advocate for accessible tourism…
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Casa Decor 2021: 7 Designs to Inspire Your Workspace at Home
The pandemic has pushed millions to work from home, which will likely continue well after it ends. For me, this has been one of the few positive aspects of it. There is no longer the need to rise and travel during dark morning hours of cold winter months, no transport costs, and the absence of…
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Profile: Mayice Studio: Illuminating Artisanal Traditions with Technology
I recently saw an interview with renowned French decorator Jacques García who, speaking about his maximalist design tendencies, surmised that minimalism is easy if one has nothing in one’s head, but difficult to achieve if it is full. Far from being the former, the minimalist designs of Madrid-based studio Mayice Studio is a complex interplay…
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Profile: Masquespacio: Singular Designs
In 2010, Ana Milena Hernández Palacios, originally from Columbia, and Belgian Christophe Penasse, who had backgrounds in interior design and marketing respectively, founded Masquespacio, a creative consultancy in interior and industrial design based in Valencia. They work exclusively in hospitality and commercial design and have completed projects in Spain, Norway, France, the USA, Portugal, and…
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Essential Books about Artisan Traditions, Design and Lifestyle in Spain
The links below may have affiliate links. Click here to read my affiliate policy. Please note this website is a participant in the Indigo Affiliate Program which allows it to earn commissions from Indigo if you make a purchase on indigo.ca after linking through this website. Artisans The books listed here provide an excellent overview of workshops…
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Café in Asturias, Spain Channels a Victorian Parlour
Coffees, cocktails, and cakes are specialties of Per Se Café located in the old town of Oviedo. The decor, with its earthy colour palette, patterned upholstery, and highly textural fixed elements, harks back to an old-world parlour. A curated selection of vintage and Victorian furniture pieces, posters, mirrors, and fairy lighting, mix with interior architectural elements, including…
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Asturias: Memories of a Natural Paradise
“Asturias, paraíso natural” (“Asturias, Natural Paradise”) is the official slogan of Turismo Asturias, the tourism office of the Principality of Asturias. Parts of this northern region of Spain are on the Northern Route of the Way of Saint James, popularly known as the Camino de Santiago. It has a breathtaking landscape, where the mountain and sea…
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