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Before & After: Colour Blocking & Pattern Nod to Nature in Rome
Move and upsize or stay and renovate? This young family chose the latter in their small Italian apartment – here's why
The family who lives in this apartment in Rome, Italy, were dreaming of buying a larger home with bright, spacious rooms, where their two children could each have their own bedroom. This was the initial reason they contacted architect Maurizio Giovannoni, when seeking advice on upsizing. However, for various reasons the purchase never materialised. Instead, guided by Giovannoni’s expert advice, the owners decided to renovate the apartment they were already living in and completely transform their home.
The floor plan.
“We redesigned the living area. We couldn’t do anything with the bedroom area, as this would have involved the difficult task of changing the layout of the bathrooms. However, we did manage to move one of the walls over by a few centimetres in order to carve out two separate bedrooms for the children,” says Giovannoni.
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“We redesigned the living area. We couldn’t do anything with the bedroom area, as this would have involved the difficult task of changing the layout of the bathrooms. However, we did manage to move one of the walls over by a few centimetres in order to carve out two separate bedrooms for the children,” says Giovannoni.
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The couple tasked Giovannoni with creating an extra bedroom and study, as well as increasing the amount of natural light in what was previously quite a dark space.
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This hallway area near the entrance received a full makeover and now houses a revived entrance zone and a new home office…
…Here’s the same area after works. Now when you walk in, you are welcomed by a warm chill-out space and banquette dominated by timber and green, with a unique feature at its heart: a porthole connecting it with the adjoining study, which Giovannoni tucked behind the entry area and fitted with bespoke joinery.
The banquette near the entrance is made from oak slats, surrounded by wallpaper that was chosen for its natural-inspired design. “I wanted for whoever is working in the office to be able to glance through the porthole and feel as if they’re looking out onto a garden,” says Giovannoni.
The banquette near the entrance is made from oak slats, surrounded by wallpaper that was chosen for its natural-inspired design. “I wanted for whoever is working in the office to be able to glance through the porthole and feel as if they’re looking out onto a garden,” says Giovannoni.
The front door is located to the right in this photo. “I reduced the entryway by two metres to carve out a space that embraces the concepts of biophilia: I prioritised natural light, the presence of green and warm materials,” says Giovannoni.
Here, you can see the porthole that separates the rooms from the home-office side of the wall. Natural light enters the study and passes through to the entrance and banquette area. The green was chosen as a nod to nature and the porthole was custom-made by a blacksmith.
Giovannoni also overhauled the original kitchen, which is positioned to the left of the entrance area. He replaced dividing walls with glass and installed a lighter, warmer floor, which completely changed the aesthetic.
“I chose to remove the walls dividing the spaces to make the apartment brighter, and separate the kitchen from the other rooms with sliding glass doors. There are guide rails running along the top, inside the plasterboard: the glass doors can simply be detached, twisted round and packed flat against the wall. The result is a clean, simple aesthetic. I also wanted to bring out the feeling of continuity,” says Giovannoni.
As with the entrance, the cooking space is filled with natural light. The kitchen measures 10 square metres and the red section along the side houses storage and a vertical run of open shelving. Giovannoni adopted a colour-blocking approach to delineate the different spaces. Here, red denotes the dining area and green the kitchen.
“The whole apartment is punctuated by different shades: the owners wanted a home dominated by colour. We worked hard to choose the best tones, which, when placed one next to the other, would create a welcoming, harmonious space,” says Giovannoni.
Browse contemporary kitchens with touches of green
Browse contemporary kitchens with touches of green
Crowning the red-themed dining area are decorative trays, which the homeowners mounted on the wall as artworks. Beyond the dining table, you can see the living area.
“I chose to illuminate the sofa area with a black track lighting fixture to add some character. I don’t like lowering the ceiling if I don’t have to,” says Giovannoni of the redesigned living area.
To the right is an old sideboard, which already belonged to the family but was repainted for the renovation.
To the right is an old sideboard, which already belonged to the family but was repainted for the renovation.
The family also owned this TV cabinet, but rather than replace it, they decided to give it a new lease on life…
…Here it is today: almost unrecognisable. “I chose to cover it in oak slats and to create one single unit, with an integrated bench,” says Giovannoni of the refurnished entertainment unit.
This image shows the corridor that runs alongside the kitchen and leads to the bedrooms.
This is the main bedroom before the renovation…
…And here we can see the same 15-square-metre bedroom as it is today, fully refreshed. The family already owned the light sky-blue wardrobe.
“Once again returning to the concept of oak slats, we created a wooden storage unit, alongside a chill-out corner with wallpaper in dark and light blue tones and a dusky-pink armchair. The owners wanted a romantic area where they could relax and read,” says Giovannoni.
“Once again returning to the concept of oak slats, we created a wooden storage unit, alongside a chill-out corner with wallpaper in dark and light blue tones and a dusky-pink armchair. The owners wanted a romantic area where they could relax and read,” says Giovannoni.
This is the bathroom before the renovation…
…And this is the main bathroom now, which measures 4.5 square metres.
This photo shows the balcony, which is accessed from the main bedroom. Before, it was an outside storage area.
“I used the same tiles for the corner of the room from which the outside area is accessed. I also covered the column that houses all the electrical wires, and installed a small wardrobe,” says Giovannoni.
“I used the same tiles for the corner of the room from which the outside area is accessed. I also covered the column that houses all the electrical wires, and installed a small wardrobe,” says Giovannoni.
Before Giovannoni’s redesign, the owners’ two children shared a bedroom, pictured here. As part of the renovation, the architect carved out an extra bedroom so each child could have their own room.
For the couple’s daughter’s bedroom, “we went for a Scandinavian style, refreshing the entrance with a woodland design,” says Giovannoni. As with the chill-out zone at the entrance, the green scheme and wallpaper bring a slice of nature inside.
For the corresponding bathroom, “I opted for light pink and powder blue: an unusual pairing but one that worked in this case. The black hardware reinforces the combination,” says Giovannoni.
This photo shows the couple’s son’s deep sea-blue room; to the right you can see an alcove with in-built shelving to add some extra storage space.
“I choose neon lights to accompany the blue, because I wanted a bedroom that reflected the fact that it belongs to a young boy,” says Giovannoni.
“I choose neon lights to accompany the blue, because I wanted a bedroom that reflected the fact that it belongs to a young boy,” says Giovannoni.
This is the bathroom prior to this project, which the owners’ son now uses…
…And here it is today. As with the rest of the interior, Giovannoni used colour blocking to delineate the spaces and their ‘owners’, all while adding light, pattern and natural elements.
The result is a home that is bright and colourful, yet simultaneously simple and minimal.
Your turn
Which features in this home do you love most? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
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Fancy another colourful before and after? You’ll love this Before & After: A Cheap & Cheerful Makeover of a 1980s Caravan
The result is a home that is bright and colourful, yet simultaneously simple and minimal.
Your turn
Which features in this home do you love most? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
Fancy another colourful before and after? You’ll love this Before & After: A Cheap & Cheerful Makeover of a 1980s Caravan
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Who lives here: A couple with two children
Size: 110 square metres
Location: Rome, Italy
Architect: Maurizio Giovannoni
Located in a 1970s building, this apartment had been renovated once before. After the owners decided against upsizing in favour of staying and renovating, their mission evolved to redesigning their interior to create a home with much larger spaces.