An Uplifting Rome Apartment Renovation: It Sings With Modern Allure And Personality

August's first Pied À Terre apartment in Rome now bursts with modern allure and vibrancy. Though the space had good bones, high ceilings and a sound layout, the design style and ambience fell flat. Scarce white walls, dated floors and no thoughtful detail meant that this property was not so welcoming, and simply did not do justice to the sublime surroundings.

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An Ode To Rome's Personality: Reviving A Dated Apartment in Historic Monti

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Creating Flow With Light And Colour

A light and airy hallway with oak floors and a wall of Rome-inspired prints, greets you on arrival. It was not always this way; though the home's layout was on point, the design team added a partition wall to close off the secondary bedroom that sits on the left as you enter the front door. This replaced an original, and rather flimsy, room divider; it also allowed for the clever installation of clerestory windows to let natural light filter into the corridor, setting the uplifting tone for the apartment.

This is where our colour journey begins too. Walls are softened with Farrow & Ball Schoolhouse White, No. 291, throughout the home. It provides a canvas for brighter nuances of rich colour and chic pattern. The first nod is in the secondary bedroom which is given pep with a light pop of Roman red running from the upholstered headboard and bedding, through to the trim that is accentuated with Deep Reddish Brown by Farrow & Ball, which has a beautiful orange undertone.

Moving to the main bedroom where the colour du jour is Green Smoke No. 47 by Farrow & Ball. You will find it on the built-in wardrobe trim and the fifth wall for much anticipated grandeur - as you would expect in a Roman apartment. The design team painted no less than 15 built-in wardrobes (a sound nod to storage might we add), accentuating the trim with colours that are then subtly reflected in other areas of the home for effortless design continuity. This includes the family bathroom and ensuite, both of which were completely gutted and remodelled with a fresh install of green and white terrazzo tile; letting that thread of colour run through and bringing a modern twist to both spaces.

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Relaxing And Breaking Bread

They removed all the existing tiles and appliances to start from scratch in the cooking space too. This gave the team more decorative freedom to make it feel connected to the rest of the home, and was essential to upgrade the modcons to August standards too. "We even demolished this door that was between the living room and the kitchen to make it a little bit more open," says Karolina Wierzbicka, Head of Design at August. The kitchen's height is fully embraced and iconic design styles make an introduction. "Dark wood cabinet fronts and deeper trim add structure and interest, leaning into a mid-century vibe, for a detailed but minimal finish."

Now the galley kitchen leads naturally into the 'soggiorno' (living room). This is now one of the most impactful spaces in this apartment and has been cleverly zoned into specific dining and seating areas, making it ripe for entertaining small groups of friends and family - day and night. A curved, walnut dining table that seats four punctuates the dining area. Framed by unique grid wooden doors (installed by a previous owner, this open space is a masterclass in timeless, modern interior design. "The space feels refreshed but picks up on all the classical elements that stand out to us in Rome," adds Karolina. "One of my favourite parts of the dining is the prints. They are cool photographs of Roman cafes shot by Daria Reina. They embody the atmosphere of Rome which is something that everyone has to experience."

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Setting The Tone Of Rome

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Materials are tactile, from the mixed cushions to the geometric print area rug underfoot. A bouclé couch is mirrored by iconic armchairs, as we see in many of our Pied À Terre apartments, and the seating space anchored by the glass-top coffee table. Dressed with burnt orange tones and rustic ceramics, there is visual interest for Homeowners and guests alike to enjoy around every corner, making this a convivial spot to relax in. Spend a moment with the Italian translation of The Maias, Eca de Queiros, happily sourced in local bookstores, or soak up the view that humbly overlooks a typical Monti cobbled street and the feet of The Roman Forum… We could spend a while here.

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‍A Prime Location

Monti is the largest district in Rome and the central location is primed for enjoying both the buzz of the city and the atmosphere of an authentic Italian community. With charming scenes of ivy-dressed buildings and picturesque streets that pave the way to the Archeological Park of the Colosseum, Rome’s magical highlights are only moments away from this now incredible apartment, including many of our favourite local restaurants in Monti and beyond. 

The Apartment Before

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‍Ready to embrace the Italian lifestyle?  Start a conversation with our expert Advisory Team and take one step closer to your August journey today.