An original restyling in Milan’s Washington district

In 2022, architect Gianluca Costanzo of AAVV Studio completed the renovation of a 120-square-metre apartment located on the top floor of a building in Milan’s Washington district.

“The project completely reimagined the interior layout, tailoring it specifically to the needs of the new owners, a family of four who prioritised privacy over space,” explains Costanzo. “The heart of the home is the convenient dual-access kitchen with ample countertop space and appliances that cater perfectly to the family’s love of entertaining. The final layout also includes a spacious living room, a master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, a second bedroom and a study. In addition to the master bathroom, a second bathroom doubles as a laundry, accommodating both a shower and washing machine. A small guest bathroom was added near the entrance.”

Colour played a defining role from the start, influencing every aspect of the interior design, from wall finishes to bespoke furnishings created by an artisan with meticulous attention to detail. The result is a harmonious backdrop of neutral tones highlighted by pastel accents, including soft pinks in the entryway, teal blues and the warmth of natural wood finishes.

“The deliberate choice to install oak flooring throughout the living spaces and bedrooms balanced the time spent searching for distinctive wall coverings,” continues the architect. “Our intention was to blend timeless elegance with modern aesthetics, without sacrificing practicality. The kitchen floor, for example, features a mosaic of small hexagonal tiles chosen in a tone-on-tone colour that complements that of the furnishings. The bathrooms all have different finishes, combining traditional tiles accented with coloured grout and three-dimensional ceramic designs that bring depth, dynamism and modernity while maintaining a connection with the past.”

Numerous ceramic tile collections were used in the project. The kitchen stands out for its striking, small black hexagonal tiles from Etruria Design’s XXS collection. The bathrooms feature powder-pink Regolotto tiles from Appiani; Avorio Coccio coloured tiles from Italgraniti’s Nuances collection; dark green Flauti tiles from Ceramica Vogue; luxurious marble-effect Supreme Treasure Calacatta Emerald from Flaviker; and the striking circular-patterned majolica tiles in shades of blue and white from Ceramica Francesco De Maio’s Blu Ponti collection, artfully combined with mirrored walls to create a three-dimensional effect. The same bathroom also showcases the freestanding Bonola washbasin from Flaminia.

For this multifaceted project, AAVV Studio received an Honourable Mention in the Residential category of the Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition 2024.