casa PO | italianbark studio

This is about the energy-efficient renovation of a 1970s countryside villa, located half an hour from Venice. 

Surface of the project is 117sq meters + future extension 80sq meters.

Layout

The house is surrounded by greenery, with countryside on all sides, and it’s on two floors - downstairs we have laundry, canteen and storage.

We really like the surroundings and that’s why one of the first things we did was opening two large floor-to-ceiling windows on the south side, making the entire living area very bright.

The kitchen was created from what was once the main entrance of the house. We chose to keep it semi-open to the living room, creating a division with a large semicircular peninsula (which we use a lot for breakfast, quick lunches, and aperitivi ). The living room opens to the south with the TV area and main entrance, and a corner used as a home office with an adjustable desk ( Sedus ), while the dining area and two semi-arches leading to the two sleeping areas are to the north. The niche is decorated with tiles from the bathroom.

The bedroom was created where there used to be a kitchen, while the bathroom was created by enclosing the existing terrace.

Colors & Materials

The study of color is very important, we wanted a warm and relaxing space to be contemporary but at the same time keeping the rustic feel of the original building. 

We combined a neutral background for the living area with pops of color in the accessory areas and rooms, in a consistent palette across all spaces.

The walls and ceiling of the living room are in Havana color in Venetian plaster finish, a typical finish of our area, that usually is shiny while instead we did it in mat finish, to have a more contemporary feel and a different sense of tactility.

For accents and accessory areas/other rooms, the palette combines other typically Italian colors, such as terracotta and sage green, with more trendy shades like cobalt blue and peach (Pantone 2024).

For the floor, we chose untreated oak wood sourced from already dead trees, preserving all imperfections in a very natural finish. We opted for a French herringbone pattern for a more modern and linear look, instead of the classic Italian herringbone. In the hallway and bedroom, we used the same elements but in a running pattern, creating a different design.

This is all local wood, as are all the finishing materials we chose. The window frames are also in natural oak.

In the bathroom, we chose to use resin for ease of cleaning and to create a more minimal visual effect. The bathroom features a custom-made vanity unit with a strong character, covered in cobalt blue resin, and a shower with a distinct pattern and bold colors (Mutina tiles). Due to the limited space, the shower has a semi-curved side, allowing us to create a niche and make the space much more fluid and functional.

The same semi-curve is echoed in the living room with the two semi-arches and in the form of the peninsula, as well as in the lowered entrance and the wall decoration in the bedroom.

The kitchen is practical and spacious but at the same time modern and easy to clean. For this reason, all appliances are hidden in the tall cabinets, and we chose an integrated hood. We carefully selected the kitchen tiles (all local) to create 3D effects that are also linear, and we covered the upper part with a wallpaper that depicts a countryside landscape. Also in the TV corner, we chose countryside-themed wallpaper.

In the kitchen, we created two very strong color accents - the fridge opening bar in oriental red and the ceiling in cobalt blue.

Furnishings

The furnishings mix affordable solutions (IKEA), design elements (USM, Carl Hansen, Thonet), custom-made furniture, and items made by us.

For example, the dining table and TV cabinet were designed and made by us, both decorated with tiles left over from the kitchen and bathroom. Also the bedside tables are designed and made by us.

Lighting

The lamps are Italian (Parentesi, Artemide) and Scandinavian (Pholc, Please Wait to be Seated), creating different lighting zones.

Style

We didn't follow a specific "style" to design the interiors, but the starting point is an Italian/Mediterranean vibe with local features and materials (e.g., Venetian plaster, oak wood, arches).

Overall, we both wanted a space that expresses warmth and happiness, the feeling of always being a bit on vacation - and we are very happy because the result we achieved is exactly that.

Lead Architects: Denis Stoviglia, Elisabetta Rizzato

Photography: Jessica Speziale

Website: https://www.jessicaspeziale.it/about-me/