Located in an early 20th-century historic building in Milan, this approximately 150-sqm apartment has undergone a renovation that combines refinement and functionality, while respecting the property’s historic character and reflecting the personality of the family who lives there.

The project stems from the desire to create a harmonious dialogue between past and present, pairing contemporary furnishings with original architectural elements.

Particular attention was devoted to the study of views, light, and color, while enhancing the apartment’s period details. Distinctive features such as the entrance arch, doors, dropped ceilings, and generous ceiling heights have been preserved and integrated with elegant and functional furnishing solutions, in search of a perfect balance.

A touch of vibrancy is introduced through pop details, such as the colorful armchairs and the neon sign in the living room—an homage to a famous song by Talking Heads—which reveal the character and passions of the owners.

The intervention, highly bespoke in nature, involved designing every element to measure, from the furnishings to the smallest details, in order to adapt to the family’s everyday habits. Examples include the entrance chest designed to store sports bags, the cabinet that conceals the cat’s litter box, and the small arched openings that allow the cat to move freely even when the doors are closed.

The spatial layout was rethought to optimize both functionality and aesthetics. The central corridor was partially divided to create a study, separated from the entrance by an arched glass partition—an element that recurs throughout the project—which allows a glimpse of the terrace with its period balustrade and columns from the very first step into the home. The entrance and corridor are painted in a deep green that shifts toward blue depending on the light, contrasting with the bright white living room they lead to.

Every design choice is the result of a careful study of sightlines, aimed at enhancing the perception of space and creating continuity between rooms. Examples include the enlargement of the bedroom window to offer a perfect view of the small terrace and the rooftops of Milan, or the wallpaper above the bathtub—resembling a hand-painted artwork—which is revealed through the bedroom’s arched glass opening, creating a striking artistic glimpse.