Houzz Tour: Parisian Vibes and a View of Lake Como
After a pro and a client connected on Houzz, they reconstructed an apartment within a 17th-century former convent
Unearthing the charm of the past, reflecting the personality of the young couple and respecting a strict budget was the brief for this project in Como, Italy. No mean feat! But architect Chantal Forzatti rose to the challenge and pulled it off, contacted by the clients via Houzz after they fell in love with her style. The apartment is located within a former convent dating back to the 17th century: a past that was practically indecipherable before this project. Even the layout wasn’t to the clients’ satisfaction, requiring the architect to work on the floor plan itself to modify the distribution of space. Let’s take a look at how she did it below.
A separate space was carved out for the hallway, as was customary back in the day: just one of the choices made by the architect to reignite the apartment’s historical feel. This area was where the kitchen was previously, while the entrance opened straight into the living room.
A shelf was added above the front door to fully maximize the available space. This area also acts as a lobby that leads to the living room, main bedroom and two bathrooms.
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A shelf was added above the front door to fully maximize the available space. This area also acts as a lobby that leads to the living room, main bedroom and two bathrooms.
Find an architect near you
The hallway leads straight into the living-dining area, through an open passageway. This space interprets 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 secondhand, purchased on the internet and then cut down to fit within the space. The fireplace was an online find too, as the architect wanted to source one from the same era as the building. The shelving in the corner is where the front door once was. By moving it, the couple was able to regain some space in the living room.
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Another stylistic choice inspired by the apartment’s heritage is the wood paneling, kept slightly lower than usual to keep the cost down, without compromising on the decorative effect. Herringbone flooring was chosen to create a warm feel and evoke the feel of a classic Parisian apartment.
Before: This is how the apartment looked before the project: cold, bare and distinctly 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 once would have been a doorway has been transformed into a shelving and cabinet unit.
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The choice of color palette in the kitchen was inspired by the natural colors that surround the building, namely Lake Como and the sky.
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 and is equipped with a table and two chairs.
The living room also leads onto a second bedroom with a sofa bed.
The main bedroom and bathroom are accessed via the lobby area in the entryway, which can be glimpsed just beyond the door.
The closet in the main bedroom was designed by the architect and crafted by Cazzaniga Arredamenti in the nearby city of Monza to make full use of the space.
The windows were all replaced, while the doors are all original, although some were fitted with wood panels to replace the glass, had new locks fitted or were hung to open in the opposite direction.
Both bathrooms feature Moroccan zellige-style tiles and sinks upcycled from midcentury furniture. This is the main bathroom.
And here is the guest bedroom, which is accessed from the corridor.
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Home at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple
Where: Como, Italy
Size: 915 square feet (85 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Architect: Chantal Forzatti in collaboration with Irene Lucca