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Houzz Tour: A 17th Century Flat Beside Lake Como is Transformed
An architect’s genius layout rejig and sensitive redesign has unlocked a beautiful, well-functioning home for a couple
Unearthing the charm of the past, reflecting the personality of a young couple, and respecting a strict budget was the brief for this project. It was no mean feat, but architect Chantal Forzatti rose to the challenge after being contacted by the homeowners via Houzz, where they fell in love with her style.
The apartment is located within an ex-convent dating back to the 17th century. The existing layout wasn’t working for the homeowners, so Chantal needed to redesign the floorplan to bring it up to date. Read on to find out how she did it.
To see more great projects where the homeowner found their professional via Houzz, take a look at our Born on Houzz series.
The apartment is located within an ex-convent dating back to the 17th century. The existing layout wasn’t working for the homeowners, so Chantal needed to redesign the floorplan to bring it up to date. Read on to find out how she did it.
To see more great projects where the homeowner found their professional via Houzz, take a look at our Born on Houzz series.
When redesigning the floorplan, Chantal decided to carve out a separate space for the hallway – a practical decision that also gives a nod to the way an apartment would have been laid out in the era this building was designed.
Where the entrance is now there used to be a kitchen, with the front door opening straight into the living room to the side. The hallway now allows much easier access to all the rooms (see plans, below).
A shelf was fitted above the front door in order to add a little extra storage.
Where the entrance is now there used to be a kitchen, with the front door opening straight into the living room to the side. The hallway now allows much easier access to all the rooms (see plans, below).
A shelf was fitted above the front door in order to add a little extra storage.
The layout before works.
The new layout, showing how the hallway was carved out to create a much better flow, and allowing the original front door into the living room to be blocked up.
Need a professional’s eye to improve your home’s layout? Find architects in your area on Houzz.
Need a professional’s eye to improve your home’s layout? Find architects in your area on Houzz.
The new hallway leads into the living-dining area through an open archway. This space reflects the young couple’s love of modern decor, carefully selected to add character and atmosphere to the space without exceeding their budget.
The table is second-hand, purchased on the internet and then cut down to fit within the space available. The fireplace was an online find, too, as Chantal wanted to source one from the same era as the building.
The shelving you can see in the corner is where the original front door was. By moving the opening, the couple were able to regain some space in the living room.
The table is second-hand, purchased on the internet and then cut down to fit within the space available. The fireplace was an online find, too, as Chantal wanted to source one from the same era as the building.
The shelving you can see in the corner is where the original front door was. By moving the opening, the couple were able to regain some space in the living room.
Another stylistic choice inspired by the apartment’s heritage is the wood panelling, kept slightly lower than usual to reduce the cost without compromising on the decorative effect.
Herringbone flooring was chosen to create a warm feel and evoke the atmosphere of a classic Parisian apartment.
Herringbone flooring was chosen to create a warm feel and evoke the atmosphere of a classic Parisian apartment.
This is how the apartment looked before the project: fairly bare and lacking in the period charm it deserved.
The living room leads onto a long, narrow kitchen with a small breakfast table. At the end, the space that would once have been a doorway has been transformed into a shelving and cabinet unit.
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The choice of palette in the kitchen was inspired by the natural colours of the sky and the lake that surround the building.
The shelves were crafted from walnut by a local carpenter.
The shelves were crafted from walnut by a local carpenter.
The kitchen opens out onto a compact but charming balcony with a view over Lake Como. A table and two chairs make it the perfect spot for coffee or evening drinks.
The other end of the living room leads onto a guest bedroom with a sofa-bed and wardrobe.
The master bedroom and bathroom are accessed via a newly created little lobby area at the end of the hallway, which you can catch a glimpse of in this photo just beyond the door.
The wardrobes in the master bedroom were specially designed by Chantel and crafted by Cazzaniga Arredamenti in nearby Monza to make full use of the space.
The windows all needed to be replaced, but the doors are all original and were just refurbished where required. Some were fitted with wood panels to replace the glass, while others had new locks fitted or were reversed to open in the opposite direction.
Both bathrooms feature Moroccan-style tiles and vanity units upcycled from midcentury furniture. This is the master bathroom…
…and here is the guest bathroom, which is accessed from the hallway.
To see more photos of this apartment, take a look at the project on the architect’s profile.
Tell us…
What do you think of this apartment redesign? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
To see more photos of this apartment, take a look at the project on the architect’s profile.
Tell us…
What do you think of this apartment redesign? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A young couple
Property An apartment in a 17th-century former convent
Location Como, Italy
Size Two bedrooms and two bathrooms; 85 sq m in total
Project year 2020
Architect Chantal Forzatti in collaboration with Irene Lucca
Budget €85,000 (around £75,000), furnishings included
Photos by Marta D’Avenia