Archventil
International architectural firm in Milan

CMV: 115m apartment in classic contemporary style in historic center of Como, Italy

Area

115sqm

Client

Private

Year

2024

Location

Como, Italy

Interior Design

The house is located on Via Alessandro Volta and has windows on two sides, the most interesting of which faces Como Cathedral. The disadvantage of the old floor plan was that this part of the apartment was occupied by two small bedrooms and a kitchen. The windows of the living room and master bedroom overlooked Via Volta, where the view was limited to nearby buildings. The renovation involved many challenges, but one of them was to place the living room on the side with the best view and access to the balcony.

Another drawback of the original floor plan was the presence of only one bathroom and a long corridor dividing the space and running through the entire apartment. The clients’ brief was to create a comfortable, modern, yet classically detailed and bright interior for a family of three.

The only room left in place was the kitchen. We demolished the walls between the small rooms to create a large living and dining room with two large openings to the kitchen. On the one hand, we visually united these rooms, adding depth and perspective; on the other hand, we still separated the more utilitarian kitchen area from the living room.

In another part of the apartment we were limited by the presence of load-bearing walls, the position of which dictated the size of the rooms. But here we were able to make the master bedroom, a small bedroom and a large bathroom between them accessible from both rooms.

After/After

Before/Before

Project Details.

The decorative part of the project was based on the clients’ desire for a modern interior with classic details typical of old town houses. Rosettes for the chandeliers and cornices on the walls were added. One of the interesting solutions was the hidden doors, which do not break the rhythm of the paneling, but only communicate their existence with a small gap and the presence of a handle.

For the finishes we chose natural materials. The flooring throughout the apartment is oak parquet laid in Hungarian herringbone with edging around the perimeter of each room. We also wanted to enhance the bathroom, made more than a boring space with a shower and sinks. Making a great contribution are a large window and fireplace portal, left here from days gone by. In addition to natural wood, different types of marble are used in the interior: in the bathroom from it are made the shower tray and sink furniture, in the kitchen there is an island, including the finish of the facades, in the master bedroom there is a fireplace.

The color scheme of the apartment is as light as possible (but not pure white), with some dark accents, such as green curtains in the master bedroom, dark red details in the small bedroom, and brass elements on the chandeliers and furniture. Every piece of furniture chosen is meant to convey coziness and softness: a round sofa with a bouclé finish, chairs and stools with a soft, light finish. Beds with soft headboards. And, of course, soft rugs on the floor.