BLOSSOM VILLA

MODO architettura + design presents the total renovation project for a residential Liberty style villa organized on 3 levels and surrounded by a stunning garden, located on the Livornese seafront. Interior design project characterized by an elegant mixture of classic and modern languages featured by some pop contaminations.

This house is part of a group of buildings called "eclectic villas" that were built around the 1930s as summer residences for the Livornese who lived in the city. It combines Renaissance, Gothic, Romanesque and even Moorish elements and they differ in detail: small columns, loggias, turrets and friezes. In the early 1800s, having a summer stay in Livorno was almost considered a status symbol. The city was in fact a fashionable seaside resort, an ideal hospitable center for the national and international upper and middle bourgeoisie. Numerous bathing establishments arose along the promenade that, at first glance, seem are forty years older than their actual age. Taken together, they bear witness to a provincialism so naive and convinced as to be disarming and even sympathetic. On the urban plan, the buildings carry out the definitive overcoming of the customs walls; in terms of construction, they highlight an eclectic Liberty style. The author of all the drawings (whatever the signatory of the projects) was Cioni, a very talented draftsman without any qualifications, used by many professionals in the city. Cioni copied projects that appeared in modern architecture magazines, mostly derived from the Viennese school. Cioni's name would not even appear in an official document, if it were not mentioned in the minutes of the Council Works Commission (where he is incorrectly referred to as an architect) as the designer of the Palazzo delle Poste, but not executed. The architects have tried to combine modern design with a structure with a great historical charm. The owners, she is a Garden Designer, and he is a lawyer, lived already on the first floor before the renovation, therefore the house was already in good condition.

From the entrance the two arched openings that frame the small living room totally covered with wallpaper with the neon writing "never give up" are the protagonists. The illustration on the paper, which has nature as its subject with trees and various vegetation, creates a pleasant sense of continuity by merging with the garden behind the windows.

On the request of the clients, the designers gave the importance to the garden through the large openings from the two living rooms. In the first, the protagonist is the Flap sofa with its curved shapes and Paesaggi Italiani wardrobe by Edra. A particular detail in this space is the frame above the door leading to the sitting room obtained from the headboard of an old bed, modified to a design by the architects and lacquered in optical white.

Like the rest of the living area, also the kitchen was moved from the first floor to the ground. It has a sophisticated and sober appearance thanks to the use of neutral colors. A touch of lucidity is given by the wall covered with grey Wig Wag tiles by 41zero42.

A blue-colored painting, attention is drawn to a wall lamp by Artemide "Go To the Mirror" which when turned off is a mirror, while when turned on it is a flag. The first floor opens with a contemporary style corridor: an antique family table, a bench and a framed mirror.

The colors continue in the living room with terrace. A bright green sofa together with the colorful textures of the carpet and cushions create a pleasant and cheerful atmosphere.

Following the style of the whole house, some vintage pieces have also been included in the bedroom, also open to the outside with a terrace. The furniture is completed with small home accessories, paintings and white curtains.

On the request of the clients, the architects projected a bathroom that is adjacent to the master bedroom, which is also open to the outside with a terrace. The studio has created a bespoke wooden cabinet handcrafted which goes perfectly with Onyx marble wall cladding, the same also used in the shower.