Salvaged Materials Redefine This 807-Square-Foot Home in an Italian Village

"Perhaps the first place you'll find this contemporary spin is in the use of recycled and green materials. Pieces of wood and metal from the existing scaffolding were salvaged to construct a staircase and a custom kitchen. A shoemaker's workbench was transformed into a bedside table, while cardboard screens and paintings made with mushrooms reflect the same commitment. The end result is a surprising yet inviting environment that combines raw and textural Brutalist elements with vintage accents and exotic details."

"The apartment is located in an old building in the heart of the town, about 300 feet from its soaring church. The exact date of the building's construction is not known, but it has recently been renovated. The home occupies half of the property, and is divided into two floors: a living area comprises the ground floor, which also includes a kitchen and dining area, a bathroom, and a guest room as needed."

"The project, Grigorash says, was based on a clear brief: to treat the existing house with the utmost respect, preserving the few remaining authentic details and integrating them with carefully chosen contemporary elements. The space is small, but the result is impressive. "Much of the vintage furniture came from stores in nearby towns and cities. The selection process turned into a true narrative journey as antique dealers enthusiastically recounted the provenance of each piece," the designer shares."

An 807-square-foot home near Como pairs recycled and green materials with vintage furniture to reinterpret Northern Italian classicism in a contemporary way. Salvaged wood and metal from existing scaffolding were repurposed into a staircase and custom kitchen, while a shoemaker's workbench became a bedside table. Cardboard screens and paintings made with mushrooms introduce organic textures alongside raw Brutalist elements and exotic accents. The renovated two-floor home opens onto a terraced plot and forested views. The ground floor houses living, kitchen, dining, bathroom, and a guest room; the upper floor contains a large bright bedroom that doubles as an office. Many vintage pieces were sourced from nearby antique stores, and select items were repurposed to respect the building's authentic details.

Read at Architectural Digest