So the renovation is finally over (well, minus a few small things to improve). My gigantic mural is beautifully placed on the living room wall, and now comes another challenge — furniture hunting! Probably the most pleasant part of this whole flat saga (or rather drama).

As you know from my previous articles, I’m a huge fan of two styles: Mid-Century and Art Deco. For this flat, I chose Mid-Century pieces, which were not that easy to find in Madrid. For the living room, I got my French table and two black chairs from La Recova, a store specializing in refurbishing Mid-Century furniture. I knew I needed two more to complete the setup, and that’s when Wallapop (a very popular app in Spain) came to the rescue.

To my surprise, I found plenty of Mid-Century pieces there — including two other beautiful chairs, lighter than the ones from La Recova but with the original Marni fabric. The price? Only 60 EUR per piece, cheaper than anything from IKEA, Westwing, or Kave Home. The only catch? I had to pick them up in Vallecas. Those who live in Madrid know it’s a huge barrio with its “dark sides” (if you don’t, Google it). So off I went, deep into Vallecas, praying those chairs were worth it. To my surprise, they were — and the Spanish guy selling them gave me the full story and a very local perspective on this type of furniture, pointing out that most good pieces can actually be sourced in Barcelona, not Madrid.

Next mission: finding a small Mid-Century dresser to complete the look. Again, I found one on Wallapop — small but cute and perfectly in style. This time it was in the Salamanca barrio (which made total sense). I took it home by Uber, and since my building doesn’t have an elevator and I live on the top (3rd) floor, I had to carry it upstairs myself. The next day, my thighs were full of bruises and scratches (no kidding). I nearly dropped it halfway up, but you know me — once I’m obsessed with something, I don’t stop until I get it.

When it came to the sofa, that was a real struggle. I visited every store in Madrid and found nothing I liked. Everything looked either too 90s, modular, or too modern. I finally found one shop in Salamanca that had a gorgeous leather couch — price tag: 10K EUR. Of course, I have expensive taste and a low budget. Eventually, I discovered a perfect 2.7m sofa on Vende Uno, for only 1K EUR — classic design with a modern touch, light grey color, and timeless enough to survive changing trends. That’s exactly why I love classic pieces.

It always makes me laugh — like in Poland, when you pass fancy neighborhoods, all ground-floor apartments look the same: super modern, minimalistic, same furniture everywhere. I always wonder if they cook the same meals too. I find it ridiculous when people blindly follow design trends without even knowing their own taste. A home should be like a temple — practical, yes, but also a reflection of your personality.

To finish the living room, I added pastel-green ceiling lamps from Leroy Merlin. Everyone who sees them says they’re beautiful, and the price was the best part — 50 EUR each!

Moving to my bedroom, the only furniture I have (for now) is a massive 1.6m bed from Belliani, probably one of the best I’ve ever had. Since I value comfort more than anything, the bed was actually the first thing I bought. Dark green color, boucle fabric, and pure charm. Of course, more Mid-Century pieces will follow. I got a cute crystal-green lamp from one of the really cool stores, Maisons Du Monde.

The second room has a softer, pastel look for a warmer feel. I bought a large IKEA wardrobe (700 EUR) — boring white, but I needed something big, functional, and cheap. So I did what I always do: I painted it Provençal green and added elegant gold handles from Zara Home. I completed the look with a greyish glass lamp from IKEA with gold accents. The sofa bed is still missing, but it’ll come later.

As I mentioned before, I adore my IKEA kitchen — dark green furniture, black sink with an old-gold tap, rustic black stove, and matching black fridge. Everything fits perfectly with the original granite floor (cement-vibe style). The only issue? My worktop. I bought it from IKEA, and after just a few weeks, horrible white stains appeared. I filed an official complaint, but they said I used “improper cleaning products” (what a joke). So now, I’m appealing the case and even filing a claim with the Ayuntamiento de Madrid. Honestly, it’s a great exercise for my Spanish, and a good reminder that we should all fight for our consumer rights.

Overall, the flat and the art space are almost ready! Below, I’m sharing a list of my favorite stores in Madrid and online that I can recommend.

• La Recova
• Reno
• LA Studio
• El Moderno Concept Store
• Ofelia Home & Decor
• Maisons Du Monde 
• Beliani
• Kave Home
• Yestersen
• Westwing

In my next article, we’ll take this flat saga to another level and talk about the architecture part of the process with one of my architect friends here. It’s going to be interesting, we’ll discuss neuroscience in architecture, so if you’re into that topic, stay tuned for some solid insight.

Let me know what your favorite furniture stores are and what styles you prefer in your own homes!