Italy Houzz Tour: An Upside-Down Home That Looks out to Sea
With open-plan rooms, a large terrace and a wood-burning oven, this former restaurant has the recipe for relaxation
Roberta del Vaglio
8 ottobre 2018
Houzz Italia Contributor e giornalista specializzata in interior design. Mi piacciono le case, quelle vere, in cui l'estetica è affidata alla vita vissuta. Sono sempre a caccia di soluzioni inaspettate e di designer innovativi: i creativi nascondono sempre storie interessanti e il mio lavoro - la mia passione - è raccontarle.
Houzz Italia Contributor e giornalista specializzata in interior design. Mi piacciono... Altro
The true treasure of the region around Genoa, Italy, is the Ligurian sea, its breezes and stunning vistas creating the perfect backdrop for any architecture. To fully benefit from this panorama with an open, spacious living room and outdoor terrace, architects Isabella Invernizzi and Beatrice Bonzanigo of IB Studio gave this home an ‘inverted’ layout, with bedrooms on the ground floor and the living area above.
White resin acts as a decorative line that runs through the design, accentuated with subtle blue hues that echo the home’s stunning natural surroundings. Recycled timber furnishings and floral-print textiles add a touch of warmth and a relaxed feel. The overall minimalist but cosy style yields a comfortable, unpretentious home.
White resin acts as a decorative line that runs through the design, accentuated with subtle blue hues that echo the home’s stunning natural surroundings. Recycled timber furnishings and floral-print textiles add a touch of warmth and a relaxed feel. The overall minimalist but cosy style yields a comfortable, unpretentious home.
Photography by Luca Miserocchi
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family holidays here
Where: On the outskirts of San Lorenzo della Costa, near Santa Margherita Ligure, Genoa, Italy
Size: About 130 square metres with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a garden over 8,000 square metres
Architects: Isabella Invernizzi and Beatrice Bonzanigo of IB Studio
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family holidays here
Where: On the outskirts of San Lorenzo della Costa, near Santa Margherita Ligure, Genoa, Italy
Size: About 130 square metres with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a garden over 8,000 square metres
Architects: Isabella Invernizzi and Beatrice Bonzanigo of IB Studio
This home is made up of two stories, its lower level partially below ground. It had previously belonged to the owner of the restaurant in the adjacent building, before its new owners renovated it between 2014 and 2016.
The clients’ main request was a big combined living and kitchen area. The family didn’t need many bedrooms and instead prioritised large open spaces where they could entertain guests. “To fulfill this request, we inverted the original layout of the rooms, which had the living area on the first floor and the bedrooms on the second,” Bonzanigo says.
The clients’ main request was a big combined living and kitchen area. The family didn’t need many bedrooms and instead prioritised large open spaces where they could entertain guests. “To fulfill this request, we inverted the original layout of the rooms, which had the living area on the first floor and the bedrooms on the second,” Bonzanigo says.
As the home is built on a slope, the top floor also has garden access. It is taken up primarily by the living room, kitchen and guest bathroom. The latter has a wooden door, bought from antique door specialist Simone Marro in nearby Cuneo, Italy.
All the floors and built-in sofas in the interior are finished in a concrete-effect white resin. “Our idea, which the clients liked, was that the resin should be a single, continuous motif throughout the house,” Bonzanigo says.
The table is made from recycled boards resting on metal legs. It was crafted by Orissa Mobili Coloniali, a shop and furniture restoration studio in Milan.
Even the fireplace was moved from the first to the second floor. “We kept the chimney flue, but rebuilt the fireplace from scratch with recycled stones and wood from another of our company’s building sites,” Bonzanigo says.
All the floors and built-in sofas in the interior are finished in a concrete-effect white resin. “Our idea, which the clients liked, was that the resin should be a single, continuous motif throughout the house,” Bonzanigo says.
The table is made from recycled boards resting on metal legs. It was crafted by Orissa Mobili Coloniali, a shop and furniture restoration studio in Milan.
Even the fireplace was moved from the first to the second floor. “We kept the chimney flue, but rebuilt the fireplace from scratch with recycled stones and wood from another of our company’s building sites,” Bonzanigo says.
The living room and kitchen are separated by resin steps and an archway, which was added during the renovation to make the interior more dynamic. “The ceiling is original, though there used to be a false ceiling over it,” Bonzanigo says. “We got rid of the false ceiling, left the iron beams visible and painted the wooden beams white.”
The beams were left exposed even in the kitchen, which also features a blue accent wall. Enamel paint was chosen, as it can better withstand water and the splatters from cooking. The kitchen was custom designed by the architects and built by Cappellini Cucina. The table already belonged to the clients.
Before
This is what the stairs to the lower floor looked like before the renovation…
This is what the stairs to the lower floor looked like before the renovation…
After
…And this is how they appear today. The architects covered the stairs, as well, in white resin, while the original banister was replaced with a wrought iron one from a house in Milan.
The framed mirror is not just a decorative element; it swings open to reveal a pass-through window to the laundry.
…And this is how they appear today. The architects covered the stairs, as well, in white resin, while the original banister was replaced with a wrought iron one from a house in Milan.
The framed mirror is not just a decorative element; it swings open to reveal a pass-through window to the laundry.
The bedrooms are on the ground floor, including the master bedroom, pictured here. Simple in style, the white of the walls is dominant. The floral-patterned bedspread adds a colourful touch.
Even the bathrooms are resin, like the master bedroom’s ensuite, pictured here.
Outside is a terrace that offers a stunning view of the sea. Before the renovation, this space served as the adjacent restaurant’s outdoor seating area.
The original ceramic floor tiles were in bad condition so were replaced with Iroko boards.
Before
The wrought-iron pergola was already on-site before the renovation, and a bamboo screen was added for shade.
The wrought-iron pergola was already on-site before the renovation, and a bamboo screen was added for shade.
Before
A wood-fired oven on the terrace was left over from the restaurant. It was closed off and rarely used.
A wood-fired oven on the terrace was left over from the restaurant. It was closed off and rarely used.
After
The terrace looks completely different now, as the already partially-ruined wooden partitions were removed. The newly opened space is a cosy corner that can be enjoyed by all.
The terrace looks completely different now, as the already partially-ruined wooden partitions were removed. The newly opened space is a cosy corner that can be enjoyed by all.
Beneath the terrace are a gym and guests’ quarters, which are separate from the rest of the house and can be accessed through the garden. The big glass door can be concealed with light white curtains to provide some privacy during workouts.
Next to it is a third bedroom and a bathroom for guests.
The architects added a swimming pool in the garden, just below the house. “It could not be made larger than nine-by-six metres, due to local environmental protection laws,” Bonzanigo says.
The pool is finished in a dark grey plaster and deepens towards the end opposite the steps, where there is a big bench for relaxing and enjoying the stunning views.
The pool is finished in a dark grey plaster and deepens towards the end opposite the steps, where there is a big bench for relaxing and enjoying the stunning views.
Top floor layout
Ground floor layout. The gym and guest quarters are missing form this plan, as they were a later addition
Tell us
What do you love most about this Italian holiday home? Share your thoughts in the Comments, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Missed last week’s Houzz Tour? Catch up with this Houzz Tour: Welcome to the Jungle in Suburban Brisbane
Tell us
What do you love most about this Italian holiday home? Share your thoughts in the Comments, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Missed last week’s Houzz Tour? Catch up with this Houzz Tour: Welcome to the Jungle in Suburban Brisbane
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Ottimo lavoro. L'idea dell'associazione camere-piscina e soggiorno-terrazza è davvero brillante!
Veramente un recupero degno di nota, come hanno già detto altri solo a guardare sembra d'essere in vacanza. Però ho un paio di perplessità, la prima sono le scale, che dividono sala e cucina che per essere lì, non sono pochi quegli scalini, a lungo andare ho l'impressione che creino una difficoltà. L'altra è la resina che da vedere così bianca immacolata, fantastica, ma quanto si conserva così? E da pulire com'è? Io ho avuto un'esperienza non proprio buona, forse non era un lavoro fatto bene, ma io sono molto diffidente verso questo materiale. Per il resto ripeto, eccellente
a dir poco BELLISSIMA