My Houzz: Bright and Eclectic Apartment in Rome
An Italian architect combines carefully chosen materials, vintage furniture and fun wall treatments
Paolo Fusco
31 mai 2019
After almost two years of searching, Italian architect Sara Ranieri finally found her dream apartment and turned it into a welcoming and elegant home. In it, she combines vintage and recycled furniture, custom pieces and mementos for a bright, eclectic space.
Photos by Paolo Fusco
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Architect Sara Ranieri, pictured
Location: Pigneto neighborhood of Rome
Size: About 860 square feet (80 square meters)
Ranieri’s apartment is in a building from the late 1950s. Although the space was being used as a dental office when she first saw it, Ranieri spotted its potential and transformed its rooms, turning it into a bright and welcoming home. Fortunately, the apartment was still designated as a residential, rather than a commercial, space, which saved her the effort and red tape of rezoning.
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Architect Sara Ranieri, pictured
Location: Pigneto neighborhood of Rome
Size: About 860 square feet (80 square meters)
Ranieri’s apartment is in a building from the late 1950s. Although the space was being used as a dental office when she first saw it, Ranieri spotted its potential and transformed its rooms, turning it into a bright and welcoming home. Fortunately, the apartment was still designated as a residential, rather than a commercial, space, which saved her the effort and red tape of rezoning.
The care with which she selected colors, materials and furniture is obvious immediately upon stepping in the door.
The living room, seen here from the kitchen, makes the most of the windows on the east and south sides, letting in sunlight from dawn till dusk.
Find an architect near you in the Houzz pro directory
The living room, seen here from the kitchen, makes the most of the windows on the east and south sides, letting in sunlight from dawn till dusk.
Find an architect near you in the Houzz pro directory
Every detail of the living room is designed to put guests at ease. Ranieri’s favorite spot for relaxing features a flamingo wallpaper that adds a touch of bold color to the otherwise subdued space. She plans to put more plants in this corner in the future.
Pendant light: Cube, Maisons du Monde
Browse wallpaper in the Houzz Shop
Pendant light: Cube, Maisons du Monde
Browse wallpaper in the Houzz Shop
Notice the wall behind the dining table: Ranieri decorated it with enamel paint using a fresco technique.
The two vintage Infinito bookcases, designed by Franco Albini for Cassina, date back to the 1960s and once belonged to Ranieri’s grandmother. Other vintage pieces in this space include the lamps, a Singer sewing machine and a radio that had belonged to her father, an amateur radio operator.
One of the apartment’s most elegant features is its solid oak flooring, which is laid in a herringbone pattern. Ranieri selected it to balance the more casual feel of the furnishings.
One of the apartment’s most elegant features is its solid oak flooring, which is laid in a herringbone pattern. Ranieri selected it to balance the more casual feel of the furnishings.
This corner also offers sightlines into the rest of the home. The kitchen is partially partitioned. A wall that stops just short of the ceiling hides the kitchen from view and supports an iron countertop. Ranieri designed this one-of-a-kind piece and the iron hanging shelves above it.
A reinforced concrete column and beam were uncovered during the renovation. Ranieri decided to leave them exposed, introducing an earthy, raw texture to her apartment.
A custom black marble countertop and a backsplash of geometric gray tiles add character.
Backsplash tiles: FAP Ceramiche
A custom black marble countertop and a backsplash of geometric gray tiles add character.
Backsplash tiles: FAP Ceramiche
There are two eye-catching elements in the entrance hall: a dress form and sliding doors (leading to the home office and the powder room) that Ranieri salvaged from the renovation of a 1970s apartment. She repainted the doors white and hung them, barn-door style, from an iron track.
The aim was to conceal these doors as much as possible. For this reason, “I avoided using traditional doors — going for barn-style doors instead. [This allowed me to] emphasize the diagonal lines of the hallway by installing an iron rail that runs its entire length,” Ranieri says.
Creative Ways With Barn-Style Doors
The aim was to conceal these doors as much as possible. For this reason, “I avoided using traditional doors — going for barn-style doors instead. [This allowed me to] emphasize the diagonal lines of the hallway by installing an iron rail that runs its entire length,” Ranieri says.
Creative Ways With Barn-Style Doors
Ranieri chose to limit the size of the bedroom to about 150 square feet to leave as much space as possible for the living room. The wall on the right has a built-in closet with shelves and hanging rods. Sliding panels partially close off the space.
The wallpaper features a world map, a reference to Ranieri’s love of travel.
The wallpaper features a world map, a reference to Ranieri’s love of travel.
The 43-square-foot powder room has the same gray tiles as the kitchen. The vanity’s wooden top echoes the parquet.
The washing machine is hidden in a built-in closet in the area that connects the bathroom, bedroom and hallway.
The washing machine is hidden in a built-in closet in the area that connects the bathroom, bedroom and hallway.
Ranieri originally intended to make the office part of the living room, but she ended up converting the space she had earmarked for it into a closet. Instead, the office is in this room just off the hallway.
Even so, Ranieri occasionally works at the kitchen counter, especially when she can take full advantage of the room’s abundant natural light.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More on Houzz
Read about other homes around the world
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for home products
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More on Houzz
Read about other homes around the world
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for home products
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Grazie Paolo per questo articolo e congratulazioni Sara per tuo bellissimo appartamento !
En français maintenant : Nous adorons le principe de suspension sur les cuisines ouvertes.
Voici le modèle suspension que JOA développé pour en faire un objet très design.
A bientôt pour de beaux projets JOA
Superbe !
Mobilier upcyclé ... Pouvez-vous me donner la definition ? Encore un nouveau mot pour que celui qu'il remplace soit considéré comme has been ... Ou alors c'est moi qui le suis ?
très joli et épuré
j'adore les portes fixées au rail dans le couloir ! très bonne idée