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PALOMA BAU IS A TECHNICAL ARCHITECT AND INTERIOR DESIGNER SPECIALIZING IN COMMERCIAL PROJECTS. SINCE 2015, SHE HAS BEEN CREATING SPACES WHERE ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN CONVERGE INTO A SINGLE, COHESIVE LANGUAGE. HER WORK COMBINES PRECISION, SENSITIVITY, AND METICULOUS ATTENTION TO DETAIL TO CREATE FUNCTIONAL SPACES WITH A STRONG IDENTITY AND A TIMELESS CHARACTER.
For those who don’t know you yet, Paloma, how would you define yourself professionally, and what are you most passionate about when it comes to bringing a space to life?
We are a studio that moves between architecture and interior design, understanding both disciplines as inseparable parts of the same creative process. Each project is approached as a precise investigation, where technique and aesthetics come together to shape spaces with their own unique identity. Our projects are always born from a central idea and a defined strategy —a guiding thread that runs throughout the entire process and takes shape in the final result. [...]
We are passionate about that moment when an abstract idea becomes a tangible architecture and interior design project, bringing together all the elements that make it up and finding solutions that respond to the way of living and the needs of those who will inhabit the space.
“In the studio, we conceive design as a meticulous exercise in which every decision, no matter how small it may seem, is relevant.”
How does the initial idea for this project come about?
Ever-Changing was born from a very clear brief provided by the clients. From the very beginning, they knew what they didn’t want: no hotel-like aesthetics, no zen-inspired home, and no beige palette.
They wanted a living home, with colour, texture, and personality. A house that could evolve with them, one that was not confined to a single image.
From that point on, the project was developed as a sequence of experiences. Not as a static house, but as a journey that gradually reveals itself.
What was the main concept that guided the entire design?
The main concept was the idea of change.
From this, the strategy of organizing the home through a series of functional bands was born, each with its own distinct character, crossed by a longitudinal element that connects them and provides continuity.
It is a house made of layers. Some are more domestic, others more technical, and others more emotional. But they are all connected by the same thread.
What factors are important in interior design?
For me, good interior design does not begin with an aesthetic, but with an idea.
It is essential to have a clear concept, a strategy that guides all the decisions throughout the project: the layout, lighting, materials, textures, furniture, and details.
It is very important to understand the essence of the client and translate it into the space without falling into temporary solutions. We are interested in creating interiors with their own identity, but also with a sense of evolution over time.
And then there is the detail. [...]. Nothing should be there simply out of habit or inertia.
“Good interior design is built through the big decisions, but also through the small ones: the meeting point between materials, a piece of furniture, a shadow, a texture.”
3 tips from Paloma Bau for achieving harmony in a home?
1, Start with a clear idea. It doesn’t have to be something grand, but it should be a guiding thread that helps you make decisions. When you know what you want a home to convey, it becomes much easier to decide what belongs in it and what doesn’t.
2, Think of the space as a whole. Harmony does not come from everything matching, but from everything being connected. Everything should speak the same language, even when there are contrasts.
3, Pay attention to detail and allow space to breathe. Treat each space as a place of self-care, including only what is essential. Sometimes harmony appears more in what you choose not to add than in what you include. Less is more.
How do you distinguish good interior design from bad interior design?
"Good interior design has coherence. It can be explained. It has a strategy, an intention, and a sensitivity behind it.
It does not rely solely on beautiful pieces or expensive materials. It depends on how they relate to one another, how the space is experienced, and whether the decisions made have a clear purpose."
What was the most challenging aspect to resolve in this project?
The home had a long, narrow layout with a very defined geometry. The challenge was to prevent it from being perceived as a corridor with rooms.
That is why we worked with the idea of transversal bands and a connecting element that stitches the entire home together. We had to create rhythm, depth, and fluidity without compromising functionality.
Creating spaces that also worked as part of the journey, such as the kitchen, helped to reduce the corridor-like feeling and make the overall experience of moving through the home more enjoyable.
What percentage would you say the selection of furniture pieces represents in good interior design?
I would say around 30%.
Interior architecture is the foundation: layout, lighting, materials, and proportions. But furniture is what ultimately gives the space scale, functionality, and personality.
A poorly chosen piece can disrupt a very well-designed space. And a special piece can elevate it enormously.
For me, furniture is not just “finishing decoration”. It is part of the story.
“I am deeply inspired by nature, but not in a literal way; rather, by its textures, rhythms, and imperfections.”
Why do you choose The Masie?
Because it aligned very well with the spirit of Ever-Changing. The project called for pieces capable of enhancing colour, introducing character, and reinforcing the home’s lively, evolving nature.
The Masie allowed us to work with furniture that has a strong presence, with a fresh feel and a contemporary mid-century touch that connected beautifully with the project’s palette and atmosphere.
What do our furniture pieces inspire you?
They inspire me to think of a freer, less rigid way of living. I see pieces that are easy to incorporate, but with intention behind them. I like it when a piece has that unexpected touch: a shape, a colour, a texture…
If you could take one single design piece from any museum in the world, which one would it be?
Any piece from the Designmuseum Denmark in Copenhagen.
Favourite piece from The Masie.
The Maiel armchair that we placed in the living room.
A colour
Klein blue
Favourite style.
I don’t have a favourite style. What a space needs to be well resolved is good judgement and coherence.
Country or city:
City to live in, countryside to breathe.
References:
The Eameses, Luis Barragán, Isamu Noguchi, or Miguel Milà.
Who is your icon in interior design?
Francesc Rifé: elegance, understated style and attention to detail.