FULL RENOVATION OF A HOME IN RETIRO

A family home renovated for a new stage

This project involved the full renovation of a home in Madrid’s Retiro district, updating a property with a deeply personal history and preparing it for a new stage in its life.

David, a pianist who currently lives outside Madrid, contacted Nala Studio to renovate the home that had belonged to his family and where he had lived since childhood. From the very beginning, the project was built on a close relationship of trust, both in the renovation itself and in the subsequent interior design decisions.

The work included a comprehensive technical upgrade of the property: heating, air-conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems, exterior and interior carpentry, the kitchen and general finishes. The aim was to improve comfort, update the home’s performance and adapt the layout to its current use, while preserving the emotional connection David had with the house.

One of the key decisions was to open up the access to the enclosed terrace. To achieve this, partitions that were blocking the entry of natural light were removed, allowing daylight to reach from that area through to the living room and kitchen. This intervention completely changed the perception of the home, which now feels much brighter, more open and more continuous.

In the main living area, the living room is conceived as a calm and functional space, integrating the seating area, dining area and music as a natural part of the home. The piano is not treated as a secondary element, but as a piece directly connected to the way David lives in the house. The interior design uses understated pieces, warm materials and a restrained palette, creating a balance between comfort, order and personality.

The visual connection with the kitchen was resolved through a glazed partition with dark metal framing, allowing both spaces to remain independent while maintaining the flow of light and visual continuity. In the kitchen, matt black cabinetry, a light worktop and dark-framed carpentry create a sober, practical space that sits naturally within the overall design of the home.

The main bedroom follows the same approach of calm and contrast. A dark headboard wall, indirect lighting and neutral tones define a more intimate space, without unnecessary decoration.

For now, the renovation has been completed, together with the interior design of the living room, kitchen and main bedroom. The remaining areas, including the enclosed terrace and the home office, will be developed in a later phase to complete the home as a coherent whole.

The result is a comfortable, updated home closely connected to its owner. A project that starts from a family home full of memory and transforms it into a functional, contemporary space ready for a new chapter.