Rural splendour

Country style is given a reboot in this Tuscan farmhouse, which combines the traditional and the contemporary

Statement designs elevate what could be a classic country home into something very special – a new kind of modern

Perched amongst the ancient orchards and picturesque olive groves in Travalle, a Tuscan village situated near Florence, Podere Bussolaio is a picture- perfect 15th-century farmhouse with a difference. The 700-square-metre estate belongs to two creative sisters, Claudia and Elisa, who together embarked on a four-year renovation project, undertaken by architecture firm B-arch, transforming this historical property into two very on-trend family homes.

The challenge of the project was to respect the building’s original Tuscan architecture without being restrained by it. In Elisa’s section of the farmhouse, where she lives with her husband Diego and their two children, Niccolò and Tilda, the building’s exposed beams and bare stone walls co-exist with urban materials such as slick poured cement floors and limewash walls. The palette is soft and subtly modern, but the furnishings are daringly contemporary, from the ‘Modo’ chandelier by Roll & Hill to ‘Beetle’ chairs by Gubi and a ‘Cloud’ sofa by Francesco Rota for Lema. These statement designs elevate what could be a classic country home into something very special – a new kind of modern. A highlight of the interior is the metallic bookcase in the living room – designed by B-arch architects, it resembles a golden, glistening birdcage. Amid this modernity, there are still knowing nods to the past: in the kitchen, a traditional fireplace and restored bread oven add charm to the custom-designed cabinetry. It is a stylish reinvention of the farmhouse kitchen; still the beating heart of the home, but completely open-plan, finished in white marble and stainless steel.

Outdoors, large gazebos sit beside the swimming pool, giving Claudia and Elisa’s families a beautiful place to relax together, listen to the chirping of the cicadas and enjoy the views as they cook on the barbecue. Life here is the perfect balance of old and new, traditional and modern, combined with an eye for the fashionable. b-arch.it

Portrait Homeowner Elisa and her husband Diego with their children, Niccoló and Tilda Living room A leather ‘Cloud’ sofa by Francesco Rota for Lema provides modern relaxation and is paired with a classic Eames lounger (available from Skandium). The...

This house features in our ELLE Decoration Country book – the place to find the world’s most beautiful homes in the country. For more inspiration and to buy it now, go to elledecoration.co.uk/country

Dining room The vintage table is surrounded by ‘ Beetle’ chairs by Gubi (available at The Conran Shop). The ‘ Modo’ chandelier is from Roll & Hill Kitchen Gubi stools provide a spot to eat breakfast at the marble and stainless-steel island Stockist...