Farmstead of colors

IN A RESIDENCE FROM THE 1600S AT THE GATES OF ROME, THE CLASSICAL SPIRIT IS REINTERPRETED THANKS TO USE OF COLORS.

A farmstead of colors. This residence in Poli, a town near Rome, rethinks the tradition with flair, thanks to unusual colors for this type of architectural setting. Laura Sessa, architect and internationally renowned yacht designer, has approached the renovation of this 17th-century farmhouse as something more than a structural update. She wanted to create something unique and special, relying on an infallible instinct for color combinations. The living area features dominant notes of red and blue, also in the sofas, armchairs and objects. Around the dining room table the chairs have twotone covers in yellow and white, red and white, violet and white, in a case of fluid, almost musical phrasing. The harmonies continue in the bedroom, with a hint of Hamptons style, where the walls have large white and blue stripes, in contrast with the red structure of the bed. Many works of art add other hues throughout the house. «The interiors are constantly in motion», says Sessa. «I keep moving the paintings, furnishings and lamps from one of the two levels to the other, from one room to another, creating different settings». A desire for change that reflects her curiosity and eclecticism. The walls are lined with books. «I adore books, not just on architecture and interior design, but also those on gardens, fashion, painting, crafts. Even cookbooks. In short, anything that has to do with the home». Beyond the innovative touches, the house conserves close ties with tradition: as seen in the details, from the terracotta floors to the massive wooden beams of the ceilings, features that are skillfully combined with more modern choices.