A villa in shades of grey, but with a green heart
A project that redesigns both interior and exterior, arranging the spaces across staggered levels and placing the kitchen at the centre of domestic life.
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A villa in shades of grey, but with a green heart. Casa Vert was born from the restoration of a disused villa in a town on Milan’s inner ring: new façades with external thermal cladding, adjustable Griesser louvres and a rethought entrance canopy. Three levels — living, sleeping and basement — separated by a few steps and stitched together by a wood-effect stoneware from Lea Ceramiche. The kitchen is the beating heart: two equipped walls in green Fenix, an island with top and sides in slate black, a black sink, a Bora induction hob and a Quooker tap that dispenses instant boiling water at 100°. Everything is smart, controllable by app and voice.
Restoring a villa. The project was the restoration of a disused villa in a town on Milan’s inner ring. The exterior and façades were redesigned and clad with external thermal insulation, the window frames replaced and the shading systems changed (adjustable Griesser louvres were added). The entrance canopy was removed and the large canopy in front of the living-area window — which shelters the covered dining area — was enhanced.
Solutions. The home’s three main zones — living, sleeping and basement — are separated by steps; between the sleeping and living areas this is a short flight of four. The living space is organised into three distinct areas, marked out by bespoke furnishings: the entrance-lounge, the kitchen and the dining area, united by the continuity of the flooring, a wood-effect porcelain stoneware by Lea Ceramiche.
The entrance-lounge. The entrance is defined by a bespoke bookcase separating it from the staircase that leads to the sleeping area. The bookcase has a low section with a storage bench and a cabinet for coats and shoes. It opens fully onto the lounge seating area, characterised by a wooden-slat wall that serves as a backdrop for the television and divides the living room from the kitchen. Facing this wall is the large trapezoidal sofa, with the fireplace in the background.
The kitchen. The kitchen is the beating heart of the home. It is made of two equipped walls in green Fenix — one housing the main appliances in a column, the other holding storage, services and a recessed bar. At its centre, the island has a top and sides in slate black, a black sink, and an induction hob with a Bora downdraft extractor. The tap is an intriguing appliance: a Quooker that delivers, besides normal hot and cold water (filtered, chilled and sparkling for drinking), instant boiling water at 100°. The green is underlined by the matching Kartell lamps above the island.
The dining area. The dining area sits visually at the centre of the passage between the bookcase and the slat wall. Next to the kitchen, it forms a small bay within the regular plan of the living area, with the dining table at its centre, along with Kartell chairs and lights.
The sleeping area. The sleeping area houses two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a small bathroom supporting the living area, and a walk-in closet. The master bathroom has a large shower clad in big marble-effect slabs by Del Conca, enhanced by an illuminated niche.
The basement. The basement has a recreation room, the garage and service spaces such as the laundry and storage. Opposite the recreation room is the black-and-white bathroom, made with Marazzi tiles and contrasting black fittings.
Technology. Technological choices mattered greatly to the client. The system is smart: power and lighting can be controlled by app and voice command, as can all the shading and alarm systems.
