Nooks & Crannies

Nooks & Crannies: Catalonia

Sitting on the bottom two floors of an 18th-century building in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, this home is a wonderful marriage of history and modern design.

As soon as you step through the wooden door, you'll find a living space made bright and welcoming by the tall windows and high ceilings. There's definitely a preference for wood in the design, as seen with the floorboards and window shutters, but the bright blue furnishings and ultra-sleek grey surfaces in the kitchen stop it from looking overly rustic. A small balcony with just enough room for a couple of seats is another nice touch.

The bedrooms feel a lot more low-lit and intimate, especially the one on the mezzanine level. These are both accompanied by a bathroom complete with both a tub and a shower, so you're sorted for quick washes in the morning and more leisurely soaks come the evening time.

Regardless if you're in Barcelona for your first or fifteenth time, you will find the location perfect. As well as the Gothic Quarter's atmospheric streets, Barceloneta Beach takes less than twenty minutes to reach on foot and Ciutadella Park takes half that.

Home truths:
*There are five steps leading up to the front door here
*The home is on the ground floor of the building, and the double bedroom and bathroom are on this lower level too
*The host offers a twenty-four-hour telephone line in case of any issues
*Additional cleaning and bedding can be arranged for longer stays, although this has to be requested for longer stays