On the shores of the Adriatic, a 1920s colonial-style house is reborn as an elegant villa, embodying the spirit of the Roaring Twenties with a contemporary twist. The project, with its bold vision, diverges from the typical Riviera Romagnola villa paradigm, embracing an aesthetic that celebrates an iconic and timeless past. The goal was to create an environment that recalls the glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age while retaining the villa’s distinctive features that connect it to its seaside context.
The transformation is marked by meticulous attention to historical details. The walls, adorned with white plaster boiserie and striped wallpaper, frame a curated selection of artworks and sculptures inspired by early 20th-century avant-garde movements, including a bronze Venus by Arman that serves as an eccentric coat hanger. The palette plays with shades of white, black, and beige, balancing on the edge of light and shadow. The floors feature polished white marble with black inlays, while metallic silver and gold accents add reflective highlights. The furnishings rhythmically alternate between vintage and contemporary pieces: upholstered furniture in neutral fabrics and velvets is paired with chrome and glass coffee tables. A grand staircase with intricately wrought iron railings leads to the upper floors and sleeping quarters, while lighting, characterized by crystal chandeliers and black-shaded lamps, enhances the cinematic atmosphere.
The result is a space that exudes classic, timeless elegance, where past and present meet in a suspended balance between different eras. Despite its prime beachfront location, the villa deviates from conventional nautical decor, offering instead an immersive experience in the splendor of the last century. Contrasts play a key role: the interplay of glossy and matte surfaces, light and shadow, and classic and modern elements creates a visual tension that makes the environment dynamic and captivating. Crossing the threshold of this home feels like stepping into an early 20th-century photograph, where every detail celebrates the glamour and sophistication of a bygone era.