No small feat
British designer Ilse Crawford has an ability to work her magic on small spaces with even smaller budgets
If there’s one person who has the skill and the vision to transform a 40-square-metre garage-and-laundry room into a calming, zen-like apartment, it’s British designer Ilse Crawford. She’s worked her magic on the home of Costanza Cecchini in Milan’s Porta Venezia district, accepting the challenge of the limited floorplan – and similar-sized budget – with enthusiasm. ‘Taking on small spaces is a stimulating exercise – it demands maximum attention,’ she explains. ‘It’s absolutely essential to make precise choices, without sacrificing aesthetics or losing sight of the needs and wishes of the user. When I work on a project, I always imagine a space made for people, whether that’s in a private setting or a public one.’
The result, as with all of Crawford’s projects, is an inviting collection of rooms filled with tactile, natural materials that are functional as well as visually pleasing. Climbing greenery flanks the entrance, mirrored in the gleaming emerald Moroccan tiles that cover the walls of the breakfast corner and bathroom. Crawford has scattered pieces from her ‘Sinnerlig’ collection for Ikea around the pied-à-terre: the cork-topped table, bench and stools contrast the hardness of the tiles and floor, and her woven bamboo pendant lights hang from beams throughout. The Ikea kitchen is customised with an elegant Carrara marble worktop and simple brass handles, while the Crittall-style metalframed door and windows allow daylight to brighten every corner of this former utility space. studioilse.com; ikea.com
Crawford has scattered a selection of pieces from her ‘Sinnerlig’ collection for Ikea around, bringing warmth and life to this small but inviting space