It’s been a while since I last published a home tour, but I have some beautiful real-life places to share with you over the coming months – and to kick things off, we’re heading to Rome. This stunning apartment sits in a 19th-century building just a few steps from the Colosseum and has been transformed by Milan-based architecture studio Opus Atelier. Once a warren of dark, fragmented rooms that had been neglected for many years, it’s now a minimalist haven that successfully unites pared-back contemporary design with lots of historical character.
It’s clear that a lot of money went into this restoration, but it demonstrates plenty of inspiring design ideas that can be applied to all kinds of properties and renovation projects, no matter what the budget involved. The first is the palette of earthy colours and materials, which mixes beige and off-white with pale oak and travertine, plus darker splashes of walnut, bronzed brass and chocolate-brown. The same combination runs across every room, creating a cohesive and very calming feel throughout the interiors. It also reflects the scenes outside the windows, grounding the apartment in its setting and giving it a strong sense of place.
Another easy-to-borrow feature is the ‘broken-plan’ layout, which sets up a series of distinct spaces while maintaining an airy feel. The living room and kitchen-diner, for example, are linked by a soaring archway, creating a wonderful sense of flow and letting natural light cascade throughout. The archway also had the added benefit of enabling the two rooms to be connected without the need to remove any load-bearing walls, so it’s a great idea to keep in mind for your own home if you want to open things up while avoiding expensive structural works.
There are some clever layout tricks within each individual space, too. Although sparsely furnished, the living room is cosy and inviting thanks to the way the modular sofa is positioned in the centre. This is much more appealing than having everything pushed to the edges, and it creates an intimate zone for relaxing and entertaining. A jute rug acts as a foundation that anchors this seating area within the wider space, while a striking contemporary chandelier (101 Copenhagen’s bronze ‘Drop’ model) provides a focal point above. A bank of discreet storage cabinets (which also hide the TV) has been integrated into one wall, with a long block of travertine forming a hearth-like display shelf beneath. There’s also a stunning walnut-lined study and library area, neatly slotted into a circular niche on one side of the room and illuminated by washes of LED lighting.
In the kitchen beyond, the dining table is placed so that it creates a beautiful sightline as you look through the archway. Suspended above it is an opal-glass Astep pendant lamp, forming another simple yet striking focal point and casting a soft pool of light that’s ideal for laid-back meals. The kitchen units, meanwhile, mirror the cabinetry in the living room, with sleek white fronts that almost blend into the wall, contrasting walnut interiors, travertine worktops and splashbacks, and a bronzed-brass tap. I particularly like the way an open shelf has been installed beneath the upper cupboards, providing a handy spot for displaying favourite ceramics or keeping often-used pieces within easy reach.
The bedroom has a soothing feel, with yet more custom-made storage keeping things organised and clutter-free. The beige of the linen-covered headboard and the rich browns of the wooden furniture and woollen blanket are reflected in the large abstract artwork on the wall, and again there are touches of bronzed brass in the wardrobe door handles and light fittings. The bedside lamps are especially beautiful, hanging low over the nightstands to emphasise the high ceilings.
The bathroom is clad entirely in beige, with beige walls, a travertine sink, a polished-plaster bath surround and a beige linen blind creating a seamless colour-drenched effect. It gives the space the feel of a quiet, spa-like sanctuary and makes the compact room appear larger than it is by blurring the visual boundaries between different elements. Another ingenious small-space solution is the way the sink extends over one end of the tub to form a shelf, creating more surface space without preventing long, comfortable soaks. Patinated brass taps – a departure from the bronze used elsewhere – provide a sophisticated accent and differentiate the bathroom from the rest of the apartment.
Finally, I have to mention the hallway, which is divided into two parts by another archway. The inner section is painted in pale colours, enhancing the feel of light and space around the main living areas. The section nearest the entrance door, however, is decorated in darker tones, setting up a contrast that draws the eye into the apartment. It’s another very effective design trick and one that’s easy to replicate in all manner of homes.
If you love the look of this apartment as much as I do, you might also like this rustic-minimalist restoration in Ibiza and this holistic London home decorated in soothing neutrals.
Photography by Dario Borruto, via Opus Atelier
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