Cozy house in Italy

Decorator Zhenya Zhdanova turned the picturesque ruins of the farm into a cozy home for her customers

Italy is an amazing country. Everything is fine in it: history, climate, food, architecture, art… Many people fall in love with her once and for all and are ready for the most unpredictable adventures, just to be in her very heart.

Terrace. The table, chairs and serving items were bought at a flea market. Tableware, Zara Home.

Photo

Francesco Bolis

So it happened with my customers, who, having fallen under the charm of an old Italian town, unexpectedly for themselves became owners of a dilapidated farm. Its price, by the way, was approximately equal to the cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Biryulyovo.

The metal staircase was created according to the sketches of a decorator in a local family workshop. The metal is treated in a special way and looks like an aged rusty surface.

Photo

Francesco Bolis

At the same time, the building is surrounded by buildings of the XV–XVI centuries. A stone's throw away is a church with frescoes of the XV century. The streets are paved with cobblestones, the walls are lined with stone, and everywhere there are massive wooden gates and doors, arches and street fountains with drinking water. The farm, although it looked like ruins, nevertheless had a historical status. Any construction work had to be coordinated in numerous instances. And a lot of work was planned.

The living room is on the ground floor. Sofa, Mito Home. Carpet, Calma House. The chair was bought at a flea market.

Photo

Francesco Bolis

Stone walls 70 cm thick stood directly on the ground, supporting wooden structures and ceilings between floors were thoroughly rotten, lighting was only in two rooms — and no other communications.

The cabinet-showcase and the bar counter, tiled, are made by local craftsmen according to the sketches of the decorator.

Photo

Francesco Bolis

When we dismantled the old roof, the walls began to tilt. Moreover, there was a crack on the wall of the adjacent building, which was owned by Italian neighbors. I had to urgently make changes to the project, strengthen the frame with additional metal structures. The restoration of the stone walls was carried out both outside and inside.

A hand—painted chest of drawers, a mirror and a casket are finds from the flea market.

Photo

Francesco Bolis

This complex, painstaking process was entrusted to local professional bricklayers-restorers. As a result, we managed to preserve the original masonry in almost every room. Brick was used in some places, but it, as well as the missing amount of tiles, was purchased on a special market of historical materials.

Fireplace room. The cast-iron stove, as well as all the furniture in this room, including a crystal chandelier of the XIX century, was found at an antique market and repaired in a local workshop.

Photo

Francesco Bolis

After restoring the architecture, we started the interior design. First of all, it was necessary to form living rooms in the walls of the former farm. So, in the room where the living room is located today, horses and cows used to be kept. This was evidenced by special projections along the wall where the feeders were placed.

Bedroom. The bed is made locally, JUSK. Textiles, Zara Home.

Photo

Francesco Bolis

The windows here were quite small, besides of different sizes and located not in the centers of the arches. But we were categorically forbidden to change the historical facade. In order to somehow increase the illumination, an entrance door with glass was designed. A wine bar is located directly opposite the entrance.

Wardrobe and chair, antiques. The lamp is made by the Russian company Handlestudio.

Photo

Francesco Bolis

The display cabinet made of old, bug-eaten oak was created according to my sketches by a local master Luciano, whom we nicknamed Papa Carlo among ourselves. It was important for me to support the original architecture with traditional pieces of furniture and decor for this region. Therefore, almost all of them were bought at local antique markets.

A fragment of the bedroom. Bed, Mito Home. Textiles, Zara Home. The chair is vintage.

Photo

Francesco Bolis

It's funny that the carved armchair in the living room was given to us for a change of 5 euros when buying antique furs for blowing up the fireplace. But a round painting depicting lemons arrived here from Tuscany, where it was discovered during the reconstruction of one of the ancient villas. There is no better plot for the living room of an Italian house!

A wardrobe, an armchair and a chandelier are finds from the flea market. The cabinet of the XIX century is disassembled in parts, so it easily passes into any openings.

Photo

Francesco Bolis

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