A place of my own: Making a home

In 2012, after years of living in London and a three-year stint in Morocco, Irish flight attendant Moyra Gahan decided it was time for a change. Fed up with the London lifestyle and looking for a better quality of life, Moyra and her son, Amine, relocated to her peaceful hometown of Wexford, Ireland. However, Moyra quickly realised that the slow pace of life in Wexford was not for her. Allured by its sunshine, vibrant culture and endless outdoor activities, Moyra and Amine settled on Barcelona as their new city. Four years on and Moyra has no regrets. “Coming to Barcelona was the best decision I could have made. I don’t see us moving from here—it has become our home.”

In their current rented apartment in Poble-sec, Moyra’s sophisticated eye for design shines through. Even though it’s only a temporary measure until she buys a property that she wants to settle in, she has managed to put her stamp on the place. “I like a simple aesthetic, combining old pieces with contemporary touches,” she explained. On the spacious terrace, a sleek modern table has been paired with quirky antique chairs. In the same vein, Moyra has repainted old wardrobes and reupholstered tired-looking chairs to bring them back to life. “I think it’s definitely possible to achieve your design goals without breaking the bank,” said Moyra. Inspired by South African interior designer Kelly Hoppen, Moyra has opted for a monochrome palette throughout the space to create a bright, luxurious feel. Meanwhile, subtle Moroccan touches, such as lattice cushion covers with tassels and ornate lanterns, provide some warmth. Other standout pieces include an oversized print by photographer Benjamin Kaufmann and a vintage gold-rimmed French mirror that takes pride of place in the hallway.

The apartment Moyra and Amine live in now wasn’t their first in the city. After two years of renting when they first arrived, Moyra sold her flat in London and started looking for a place to buy in Barcelona. Before long, she came across a rundown flat in an old building in Sant Antoni. Although in a state of disrepair, the traditional Catalan features immediately won her over. “I’m a sucker for Modernista tiles, high ceilings and exposed beams,” she said.

With Moyra’s experience in renovation—she previously transformed a wrecked building in Marrakesh into a boutique hotel—and passion for design, she felt she could do something wonderful with the space. 

From the beginning, Moyra had a very clear idea of what she wanted: a mixture of vintage and modern. Fortunately, she was able to find a reliable contractor and the pair worked together tirelessly to bring Moyra’s vision to life. They reconfigured the entire layout to brighten up the dark and neglected space. When it came to furniture and fittings, Moyra started from scratch.

“I didn’t have a huge budget so I had to be smart to make the apartment look the way I wanted,” she explained.Many pieces were found in a secondhand furniture store on Carrer de Bailèn, which Moyra describes as an Aladdin’s cave of vintage treasures. From sourcing tiles to organising the electric installation, Moyra project managed the whole thing herself. At the time, she was juggling the renovation process with taking care of Amine and flying around the globe for work. “It wasn’t always easy,” she admitted. “It was a real learning curve, but when you’re so passionate about something, you don’t mind being busy.”

Once this labour of love was complete, Moyra realised that she must have added a great deal of value to the place. Although her original plan had simply been to create a family home for herself and Amine, just a few months after moving in, she sold the apartment for a good profit. Discovering a flair for renovation, Moyra soon bought another property on the same street and construction got underway once again. A year and a half later and Moyra is on to her third property, this time located in the Born. “It’s all happened so quickly—I had no idea it would evolve like this but I’m enjoying every minute,” she said. She’s currently in the process of setting up her own property development company, offering a service for people, particularly those who don’t speak Spanish, who are looking to buy a property in Barcelona but haven’t got the time or know-how to do so. 

Taking in the stylish space of a flat that she considers only temporary, it’s no surprise that Moyra is turning her passion into a career. Her unique ability to take an outdated home and give it a new lease of life is remarkable.