Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
A small apartment feels larger when its architecture does the heavy lifting and every object has a deliberate relationship to the next. Interior designer Laura Guerrero’s home in Altafulla, Spain, shows the approach: preserve the 17th-century structure, use height and sightlines, arrange antiques in compact still lifes, and repeat color, floral motifs, and plants so a lifetime of possessions reads as one composition rather than clutter.
Architectural Digest’s March 13, 2024 home tour describes Guerrero’s 646-square-foot apartment in the historic center of Altafulla, Tarragona province. Two large balconies face the square by the town hall, while original beams, arches, and high ceilings give the rooms a strong architectural framework.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The design idea: a collection can make a small home feel bigger
Guerrero spent a decade as an art dealer, buying objects at auctions across Europe and selling them to Madrid design boutiques before moving into interior design. Her apartment is therefore not furnished from a single collection or a coordinated showroom range. It is a personal archive of antiques, family heirlooms, paintings, photographs, sculpture, lamps, mirrors, textiles, and furniture.
Her method is selective composition. Small groups of objects are arranged like still lifes, with color, form, and material balanced against one another. Strong accents—especially fuchsia, orange, and mustard—give the eye a path through the rooms. Floral motifs recur, linking pieces from different periods. The result is dense with things but legible, because each grouping has a visual purpose.
#1 Best Overall
- COMPLETE 5-PIECE BRUSH SET FOR EVERY PAINTING TASK — Includes 1 Inch Flat, 1.5 Inch Angle, 2 Inch Flat, 2 Inch Angle Stubby, and 2.5 Inch Angle brush giving you every size professional painters use daily. Get all 5 for less than the price of a single brush from hardware store brands — professional grade performance at a fraction of the cost. Perfect for walls, trim, cabinets, doors, furniture, and detailed cutting-in work on any project.
- ZERO BRISTLE LOSS — GUARANTEED BY PRECISION ADHESIVE BONDING — Every bristle is locked in place with precision-set adhesive that keeps them in the brush — not in your paint job. The coated steel ferrule provides structural support while the adhesive bond ensures clean performance on every stroke. Premium SRT synthetic filaments load more paint and release it evenly for a smooth streak-free finish on walls, ceilings, and trim. Works with latex, oil-based paint, primer, sealer, and wood stain.
- INCLUDES THE ANGLE STUBBY MOST SETS LEAVE OUT — Professional painters know the 2 Inch Angle Stubby is the go-to brush for tight cabinet interiors, window sashes, inside corners, and detailed trim where standard angle brushes are too long. Combined with the 1.5 and 2.5 inch angle sash brushes you have precision cutting-in covered at every scale — baseboards, crown molding, door casings, and ceiling lines.
- FLAT BRUSHES FOR BROAD SMOOTH COVERAGE ON ANY SURFACE — The 1 and 2 inch flat brushes deliver even coverage on walls, furniture, shelving, doors, fences, decks, and wood surfaces. Ideal for applying primers, stains, varnishes, polyurethane, and specialty coatings. Solid wood handles provide all-day comfort and control for both professional contractors and weekend DIY homeowners tackling interior or exterior painting projects.
- TRUSTED BY PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND CONTRACTORS NATIONWIDE — Pro Grade delivers professional-grade results at a price that makes sense for crews who go through brushes on every job. Ideal for property managers, remodeling contractors, apartment turnover crews, maintenance teams, and commercial painting operations. Backed by thousands of verified reviews from working painters. Washable and reusable for multiple projects.
“All the pieces form a whole and at the same time they also work separately,” Guerrero told Architectural Digest. “I want each corner to extend an invitation to contemplation and to capture some aspect of beauty.” That is a useful distinction for anyone decorating a compact apartment: the goal is not fewer possessions at any cost, but fewer unedited relationships between possessions.
Use the building’s original features before adding furniture
Let height create the first sense of space
The apartment occupies a 17th-century building with original beams and arches and unusually high ceilings. Guerrero says, “The high ceilings have allowed me to maximize the space and visually expand it further.” That is her observation about this home, not a measured study of ceiling height, but it identifies a practical starting point: use the vertical volume before filling the floor.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11- Keep the tallest sightlines visible instead of stopping them with bulky upper cabinets or tall room dividers.
- Place art, mirrors, or a high curtain line where they reinforce the room’s vertical proportions.
- Choose furniture that leaves some wall and floor visible around it, so the ceiling remains part of the composition.
Make transitions architectural
A large arch separates the living-dining room from the kitchen. Rather than hiding that opening, the apartment uses it as a frame: one room becomes a view into the next. In a small plan, a framed transition can provide separation without the visual dead end created by a solid partition.
Apply the same logic to existing columns, beams, deep doorways, or alcoves. Keep their edges readable, and align furniture so the eye can travel through the opening. This preserves character while protecting circulation.
Use balconies and patios as extensions of the rooms
Two large balconies overlook the town-hall square, and the principal bedroom opens onto a small patio. These outdoor thresholds matter because they extend the visual field beyond the interior. Keep balcony doors and patio openings as unobstructed as possible, and treat the exterior as part of the room’s palette rather than as leftover storage.
Rank #2
- Great Value Pack Artist Paint Brushes: Soucolor 20 brushes in 10 sizes professional paintbrushes set — no shedding, holds paint well, cleans easily, Acrylic, watercolor, oil, gouache, Halloween pumpkin decoration & face painting, rock painting, ceramics. Fantastic high quality gifts for creative, artistic siblings to share!
- Awesome Set of Paint brushes: Professional paint brushes can cover all of your needs. The multi-purposed brushes are ideal for Watercolor, Oil, Gouache, enamel, Acrylic Painting, Body, Nail, Face Painting, Miniature, Model, Wood, Glass, Cup, Ceramic, Fine work, Art class, Craft Art Painting, DIY Art Crafts etc.
- Soft and long-lasting: The bristles are soft and strong, with nickel metal ferrules and blue wooden handles. After cleaning, the bristles will become soft and fluffy again and will not fall off.
- Easy to clean: it’s very convenient to Wash well in soap and water. Retain shape after drying. the brushes hold up very well. Nice selection to beginners and professionals. Keep them clean and they last a long time.
- Halloween Pumpkin Ceramic Crafts Supplies: A Great painting gift for family, friends, kids, girls, women, student, classmate, teacher. For using in school, travel or used in the home and office.
How the living-dining room turns many antiques into one scene
The living-dining room contains objects from several centuries, yet the feature presents them as a unified arrangement. A large 19th-century neoclassical mirror in carved and gilded wood gives the room a reflective focal point. A La Granja crystal chandelier, described as a family heirloom, adds a high, sparkling point of light. Antique Central European bronze oil lamps and marble-topped tables provide darker metal and stone notes beneath it.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
A garden table from Antique Boutique serves as the dining table. The room also includes 18th- and 19th-century still lifes and carved, gilded 17th-century altarpiece columns. These details are the objects and periods identified in the home tour; they are not a shopping list, and the feature does not establish that the same pieces are currently available.
The arrangement works because the objects are varied but not random. Gilded wood, crystal, bronze, marble, painted canvas, and carved columns repeat warm, reflective, matte, and textured surfaces. If you are adapting the idea, select one dominant material relationship—such as wood with brass, or stone with glass—then add exceptions deliberately.
Build a “favorite corner” instead of decorating every wall equally
One corner receives a particularly concentrated composition. It combines an early 19th-century Biedermeier chest from Alcalá Subastas, a French Empire clock dated 1800, a landscape by Andres Larraga, French 19th-century engravings in mahogany frames, and a 1960s sun mirror described as a family heirloom.
An antique bamboo armchair attributed to Mavi Lizán sits nearby. An antique lamp purchased at Ansorena Subastas was fitted with a new bronze base and a fabric shade made with Gastón y Daniela fabric. The example demonstrates a useful small-space tactic: concentrate detail in a few destinations and allow quieter areas to connect them. A compact home does not need every wall to carry the same visual weight.
Rank #3
- 【All sizes of art brushes】: The 10 sizes of multi-functional brushes have various shapes, making the mixing color easier, which is very suitable for artists, students, teenagers, children and painters at all levels. Wonderful Present ideas for friends and family who like painting!
- 【general brush set】: Professional paint brush can meet all your needs. Multifunctional brush is very suitable for watercolor, oil, gouache, acrylic painting, body, nail, face painting, miniature, model, ceramics, arts and crafts painting, etc.
- 【high quality process】: It is designed with anti falling bristles, anti-rust nickel ferrule and solid wood handle. You can use the brush to focus on the painting and always be creative.
- 【easy to maintain】: After using the brush, it is very convenient to clean the brush with warm soapy water and reshape the tip of the brush. Air dry the brush and place it on top of the top for long use.
- 【100% satisfaction guarantee - buy now】1 packs of set brushes, you can also get friendly customer service, any questions feel free to contact us, within 24 hours to help you! There is no risk in buying our paint brush kit.
To create your own corner, begin with one substantial anchor—a chest, chair, or mirror. Add a vertical element, a horizontal element, and a light source. Finish with one small object that introduces a contrasting texture or color. Stop when the group reads as a complete vignette; adding more simply because space remains can destroy the hierarchy.
Carry one color and one motif through the apartment
Guerrero brings strong color into the rooms, including fuchsia, orange, and mustard, and uses floral motifs throughout. Repetition is what makes those vivid choices feel intentional. A color can appear in a lampshade, a textile, a painting, and a small object without becoming a theme set. A flower can recur as a print, a still-life subject, and a living plant without matching exactly.
Choose a limited thread for your own home:
- Color thread: pick one saturated hue and repeat it at different scales, from a small accessory to a textile or artwork.
- Motif thread: repeat a shape or subject—flowers, stripes, arches, or sunbursts—rather than buying a matching suite.
- Material thread: echo one finish, such as aged brass or carved wood, while allowing periods and silhouettes to differ.
The point is continuity, not uniformity. Distinct objects remain individual, but the repeated thread helps the eye understand the apartment as one whole.
Bedroom and patio: use contrast to make a small retreat feel intentional
The principal bedroom opens onto a small patio filled with plants. The patio has an orange wall and white wrought-iron furniture, a high-contrast combination that gives the outdoor space a clear identity without requiring much floor area.
Inside, the feature identifies a 19th-century French carved and gilded mirror, an early 20th-century gilded brass wall lamp, a velvet headboard, and a pouf used as a bedside table. A 20th-century floral still life and photographs from YellowKorner complete the room’s layered character. The pouf is a practical example of assigning more than one role to a compact piece: it provides a bedside surface while remaining visually lighter than a conventional cabinet.
Rank #4
- Bates paint brushes come in a convenient 6 pieces with 3 flat and 3 angled bristle styles, including (1”, 1.5”, 2”) flat and (1.5”, 2”, 2.5”) angled bristles, perfect for tackling any surface painting or staining job.
- The sturdy natural bristles of each brush are designed to hold more paint, creating a smoother finish with fewer streaks and saving you time on the job.
- The lightweight wooden handles provide extra comfort and ease during long painting processes like walls, trims, cabinets, and doors.
- These versatile brushes are ready-to-use, easy to clean, and can be reused multiple times, making them economical as well as reliable tools for any painting project.
- Bates paint brushes can be used for both oil-based paints as well as latex stains and are ideal for home or commercial projects such as decks, fences or DIY painting jobs.
For a similar arrangement, keep the bed as the largest uninterrupted shape, then let the mirror, wall light, and artwork supply vertical interest. Use a stool, pouf, or narrow table where a full bedside unit would block movement. In the patio, choose one wall color and one furniture finish, then reserve plants for the remaining softness and variation.
Three tactics that work together
The feature suggests three distinct ways to make a small apartment feel generous. They are complementary approaches described in one home, not alternatives ranked by a performance test.
| Tactic | What it means in practice | Why it helps a compact home |
|---|---|---|
| Preserve and use architecture | Keep beams, arches, ceiling height, balconies, and the bedroom’s patio visually connected to the rooms. | Existing structure creates depth and a sense of identity without consuming floor area. |
| Compose collected objects | Arrange antiques, art, lighting, and furniture in small groups with a clear anchor and supporting pieces. | Dense belongings become readable scenes instead of an undifferentiated layer of stuff. |
| Repeat color, motifs, and plants | Carry a few strong hues, floral references, and living greenery from room to room. | Visual continuity links separate zones and gives the eye a route through the apartment. |
A step-by-step method for decorating a small apartment with antiques
- Map the fixed assets. Mark beams, arches, windows, balcony doors, patio openings, radiators, and the main walking routes. These features determine where furniture can go before you choose a style.
- Select one anchor per zone. In a living area, that might be a mirror, chest, or painting; in a bedroom, the bed or headboard. Keep the anchor visible from the main entrance to establish a clear first view.
- Group by relationship, not by date. Pair an old piece with a newer one when their color, scale, or material supports each other. A period-matched collection is not required for a coherent corner.
- Build each vignette in layers. Start with the largest object, add a vertical element, then a light source or reflective surface. Leave enough negative space that each item can be recognized.
- Choose a repeating thread. Decide whether color, a motif, or a material will connect the rooms. Use it in several small appearances instead of one oversized statement.
- Protect circulation and sightlines. Walk the apartment along its normal routes after placing each piece. If a chair, plant, or table interrupts a doorway or balcony view, move it before adding decoration.
- Finish with living elements. Add plants where they can receive suitable light and where their height helps connect floor, furniture, and ceiling. In a patio, use the wall and furniture as the stable structure and let foliage provide change.
Practical rules for antiques in limited square footage
Prioritize scale over rarity
A rare object is not automatically right for a small room. Measure the wall, doorway, and turning radius first. Favor pieces whose visual weight matches the available space, and let one imposing item—such as a mirror or chest—carry the drama rather than competing large pieces.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchAllow old pieces to perform modern jobs
Guerrero’s pouf works as a bedside table, and the garden table functions as a dining table. Look for pieces that can serve the room you actually have. A chest can provide storage and display; a sturdy side table can move between dining, work, and seating areas; a lamp can define a corner without adding a partition.
Budget for adaptation and maintenance
The Ansorena Subastas lamp was fitted with a new bronze base and a shade in Gastón y Daniela fabric. That detail shows that an inherited or auction-sourced object may need electrical work, a replacement shade, structural repair, or a new finish. Have wiring and structural issues assessed by an appropriate professional, and confirm that any restoration preserves safe operation.
Best Value
- 2 Inch Angled Paint Brush for Precision Cutting-In – Designed for clean, sharp lines around trim, baseboards, ceilings, corners, and detailed edge work. The perfect size for control and coverage.
- Value 3-Pack for Pros & DIY Projects – Includes three professional 2-inch angled sash brushes — ideal for contractors, remodelers, and homeowners tackling multiple rooms or repeat paint jobs.
- Smooth Results on Walls, Trim & Cabinets – Great for interior wall painting, cabinet edges, furniture projects, and trim work where a smooth finish and crisp control matter most.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
Keep provenance separate from availability
The home tour names Antique Boutique, Alcalá Subastas, Ansorena Subastas, Mavi Lizán, Gastón y Daniela, and YellowKorner in connection with particular pieces. Those references document the objects’ reported sources; they do not confirm current inventory, prices, purchasing routes, affiliate arrangements, or commission terms. Treat them as provenance notes, not guarantees that an identical item can be bought today.
Plants as the easiest soft layer
Plants appear most clearly in the bedroom patio, where they soften the orange wall and white wrought-iron furniture. Indoor potted plants can serve a similar role inside, especially near a balcony door or a bright window. Choose varieties for the light, humidity, and care time your apartment actually provides, and use a small number of heights rather than filling every surface.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Place a taller plant where it can connect a low cabinet to the ceiling, a trailing plant where it will not obstruct a route, and a compact pot on a stable table. Protect antique wood, marble, and textiles from standing water with saucers or trays. The feature identifies a plant-filled patio, not specific species or a universal care prescription.
What this apartment can—and cannot—prove
Guerrero’s home is an interview-based Architectural Digest feature, originally published in AD Spain and translated and adapted by John Newton. It documents one designer’s 646-square-foot apartment in Altafulla on March 13, 2024. The story does not provide a study, survey, market statistic, or measured test showing that a particular mirror, color, ceiling height, or antique arrangement will enlarge every small apartment.
What it does offer is a clear, transferable design process: notice the architecture you already have; edit possessions into composed groups; repeat a visual thread; and protect the routes and views that make a compact plan feel connected. Guerrero describes the result personally: “I can’t really explain how I arrived at this result. For me it has been like painting a picture.” Thinking like a painter—balancing the whole while giving each mark a reason—is the most faithful way to adapt the apartment’s lesson without copying its objects.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →
