Slatted for success

Renovation and interior design by Valentina Autiero

From the architect:

Formerly a vacation home to spend limited periods of time in, this house on Southern Italy’s Sorrento peninsula has been transformed into a family home for year-round daily living.

The recent renovation and interior design project by architect Valentina Autiero captures the evocative coastal setting through light and material, surfaces and colour to produce a fluid and sleek architectural design.

On the first site visit, the living space proved to be ideal for a typical Mediterranean vacation home for rest and relaxation, conviviality and time spent in company – it had limited common living space, plenty of beds and the integrated use of the large panoramic wrap-around terrace.

Square floor plan

The presence of a square floor plan free on three of its four sides allowed for a total redistribution of the spaces with a strong and constant focus on the dynamic dialogue between the environments and the natural light they receive – an essential for their correct functional distribution in the new architectural and design context. 

The new design tore up the old floor plan, delineating a space marked by fluid and interactive open-plan areas, where the owner's various needs are met through unconventional interpretations of the spaces and custom made furniture.

The regular and consequent flow of parallel lines emerges as a common thread in the space, together with its individual rooms and areas – which it defines through geometries, alignments and projections.

What emerges is a residence set apart by a fluid and dynamic scheme, where different spaces follow on from each other with continuous connections and visual references, in terms of both style and colour.

Extending towards the landscape

The living area emerges as a large and welcoming space, its volume standing out with the large panoramic window which dominates the entire wall and visually extends the residence towards the maritime landscape. 

Subtle delineations make it easy to define and identify the spaces dedicated to the entryway, the living area itself and the dining room, in a fluid manner.

The entrance hall is delineated by the storage/divider represented by the glass and wood 'floating' bookshelf, and completed with large full-height cabinets, camouflaged in the same colour and finish as the walls, with the function of coat and jacket storage.

Slatwall panelling central to new design

In the living area itself, the slatwall panelling is central to the new interpretation of the entire residence.

It is the focal point of the design and a tangible common thread between spaces, making it possible to view the corridor leading to the bedrooms as an extension, both visually and functionally, of the living area, a characteristic highlighted by the ceiling track lighting system.

The 'millerighe' slatwall panelling is structured as furnishing but also hides a secret function – a small bar is hidden inside it, taking up a depth of just 10cm. 

Surrounded by this panelling, the television appears in close visual dialogue with the sofa, which features soft forms and is in turn strongly connected with the panoramic view of the sea – both elements together define a relaxation subspace within the large spatial volume of the day area. 

Finally, located between the entrance and the sofa area, aligned with the large window which enjoys a spectacular view of the hills surrounding Vico Equense, is the living room table, with sleek, simple lines – enhanced and embellished by the chandelier above.

Kitchen as white box insertion

Interrupting the rhythmic progress of the slatwall panelling are two large openings – one a doorway, the other a hatch – making it possible to insert the kitchen area into the fluid spatial layout.

This is located in the 'box' formed by the slatwall panelling with a symmetrical yet inverse style and look.

The kitchen presents a clear, sharp simultaneous presence of different materials – suggesting and identifying the precise and clear distinction between the functional area and the more convivial zone. 

Enclosed in a white monochromatic box, the white worktop of the cooking area – with an inset hob facing onto the living area for guest/chef connection – is bordered by an area of large-format white porcelain tiles which interrupt the stack-bond parquet present in the rest of the space.

There is also includes a white slatted soffit feature. 

In the context of this mono chromatic look, the bright-orange cooker hood ducting and kitchen tap are deliberately discordant elements which lend the kitchen a playful touch. 

The other half of the geometrically defined space – in which the parquet flooring tightly laid in stack bond continues uninterrupted – houses generous cabinetry and also incorporates the pantry. 

Inside of this closed layout, an open space frames the custom kitchen table, which is a direct extension of the shallow countertop over the lower cabinets, supported by a glass leg.

In the corridor, a tight structure of wooden slats defines a stylistic component which leads to the bedrooms.

The bedrooms' flush access doors are integrated in the decorative scheme that represents the overall design key to the environment.

Bedrooms boast formal, distinct themes

The bedrooms zone in turn follows two distinct formal themes.

On the one hand, the master bedroom and its bathroom – facing each other at the end of the corridor and nestled inside the wooden slats – clearly maintain the stylistic and formal link to the living area.

On the other hand, the girls' bedroom and ensuite, with access in the section of corridor without panelling, make reference to the look of the kitchen – located directly opposite the passageway.

The master bedroom features minimalist forms with sleeklines. 

Two large custom wardrobes extend parallel along the entire surface of two opposing walls. 

The sand coloured high-gloss doors are interrupted by contrasting matt black openings, the first corresponding to the bedroom door, the second containing the large window offering a sea view.

As an extension of the windowsill there is a design element which can be used as a desk for home working or as a vanity top.

Slatwall continues in master bathroom

The slatwall panelling which is the core design feature of the whole residence is also repeated in the master bathroom. 

Here, rectangular wall and floor tiles – alternating in matt and gloss finishes in colours ranging from blue to brown – create a geometric pattern with visual impact.

The space emerges in its unusual square form, with the presence of totally unencumbered walls, while the sanitary ware is installed in the middle of the room, behind a half-height partition. 

Leading directly on from the door, the vanity under the basin continues the same slatted panelling, completed with a mirror hanging from the ceiling, making the entire room fluid and open. 

Located to the side is the shower with bench.

Here, a reeded glass partition, in keeping with the theme of vertical lines, partially screens off the generous compartment, making the connection between the different functional spaces even more fluid.

The girls' room, with access door opposite the kitchen, returns to its aesthetic and formal choices and colour scheme. 

A series of orange lines define and emphasise the custom built-in furniture created for this room, once again featuring modular and adjustable storage spaces. 

Finally, the second bathroom is an ensuite to this bedroom.

Here, green dominates, a clear tribute to the Mediterranean flora visible outside while an animal light fixture is attached to the mirror.

Credits

Living Space – Parquet flooring: Mardegan Legno; Wooden slatwall panelling: CP Parquet; Entrance hall/living area bookshelf: Lago Design; Living area speaker: Bang & Olufsen; Living area table: Rimadesio; Living area chandelier: Flos; Living area sofa: Saba

Kitchen – Kitchen parquet flooring: Mardegan Legno;  Kitchen floor tiles: Florim Ceramiche; Kitchen wall tiles: Ceramiche Bardelli; Kitchen ceiling: Orac Decor; Kitchen tap: Gessi; Kitchen cabinets: Arredo3

Master Bedroom – Bed: Flou; Bedside light: Foscarini; Bedroom stool: Kartell

Master Bathroom – Floor and shower tiles: 41 Zero 42; Bathroom mirror: Ceramica Cielo; Sanitaryware: Ceramica Cielo; Bathroom taps: Bongio; Bathroom heated towel rail: Tubes

Children's Bathroom– Bathroom flooring: 41 Zero 42; Bathroom wall tiles: Mutina; Basin: Ever Life Design; Bathroom taps: Zazzeri; Sanitaryware: Ceramica Cielo; Bathroom heated towel rail: Tubes; Bathroom lamp: Seletti

Story by: Trendsideas