The Elegance of the Garage in a Fusion of Collecting and Modern Interior Design

by Alice | Dec 1, 2023 | IN THE WORLD OF DESIGN, PRIVATE APARTMENT

In the enchanting setting of a modern villa on the outskirts of the city, the basement transforms into a multifunctional space. Through the skillful use of precious materials and meticulously designed lighting, it reveals a harmonious fusion of garage, collecting, leisure, and additional service-oriented interior design.

MULTIFUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE BASEMENT

The basement is divided into various zones, each designed for a specific purpose and crafted by studio di Architettura Mario Cassinelli. A significant portion of this space has been transformed into an authentic automotive art gallery, where Carrara marble and soft parquet come together to form a luxurious frame for a collection of vintage and limited-edition cars. Attention to detail is evident not only in the material pairing but also in the lighting, with lights specifically designed to enhance every detail of the vehicles.

Adjacent to this space, contrasting black marble creates the perfect setting for a spacious, well-lit gym, complete with equipment for leisure activities. This area remains at a lower level, with the ceilings rising as a grand staircase with crystal handrails leads to the upper part.

These two spaces are connected by a long corridor that transforms into a refined relaxation and waiting area with a comfortable sofa at the entrance.

SERVICE CABINET FOR THE BASEMENT

The entire floor has been equipped with usability as the focal point of the project. Strategic cabinets have been incorporated, starting from the garage area. These cabinets conceal technical compartments and also serve as useful space for household items and an additional shoe rack. Illuminated at the base, they feature a customized handle, a symbol emblematic of the villa’s design.

A second set of cabinets is strategically positioned near the staircase leading to the ground floor. Developed at full height, they serve as additional hanging space, accommodating coats and seasonal clothing. Attention to detail is also reflected in internal features, with double hinges supporting large doors and an internal lighting sensor that activates horizontal LEDs upon opening.

The pristine white tone of the cabinets harmonizes perfectly with the dominant materials of the basement, from marble to the warm shades of parquet, creating a visual balance while remaining secondary to the undisputed protagonists of the space.

THE ENTRANCE DOOR

The entrance door to the basement, connecting the garage to the interior space, is a true work of art realized by Guerini Ferruccio. Characterized by a double covering of contrasting marbles, light on the inside and dark on the outside, it distinctively welcomes guests.

The same material language found inside is anticipated by this bifacial door, becoming the standard-bearer and, with its three crystal squares, offering a glimpse into the space beyond the threshold.

HOUSE ILLUMINATION

The basement features diverse light sources. Starting from the entrance, a unique corridor lighting with asymmetric fissures containing irregular length LEDs creates a rain of light effect, adding a touch of magic to the surroundings.

These elements darken, becoming simple black iron inserts towards the entrance but resume at the bottom of the exhibition area after a block of a fair-finished false ceiling. The spotlights are arranged in groups and can be oriented in four directions, providing customizable lighting for the area below.

Three large lamps with a golden profile peek into the sports area, warming the atmosphere with their soft colors.

Here, another project where lighting plays a fundamental role in defining the spaces.

THE LEGACY OF ELEGANCE AND FUNCTIONALITY

In conclusion, the basement of this villa is not merely a functional space but an expression of taste and personality. The timeless elegance of the materials, the intelligent arrangement of spaces, and attention to detail make this underground space a masterpiece that seamlessly blends aesthetic beauty with functional efficiency.

Here’s another basement of a majestic villa utilized in a multifunctional manner.

← Modern White Kitchen: The Elegance of Urban Minimalism Walls Dividers and Custom Design in a Historic City Apartment →

Modern White Kitchen: The Elegance of Urban Minimalism

by Alice | Oct 5, 2023 | IN THE WORLD OF DESIGN, KITCHEN, LIVING AREA, LIVING THE HOUSE, PRIVATE APARTMENT

In the heart of an urban setting, where modernity meets practicality, a kitchen has emerged that embodies the essence of contemporary design. This modern and white kitchen stretches across two sides, captivating the imagination with its timeless elegance and impeccable functionality.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

The kitchen has been conceived to optimize space and address the challenges posed by an out-of-square old wall. Based on the project of Arch.Haidy Nicotera, on one side, columns of varying depths have been created, providing space for refrigerators, ovens, and spacious shelves. These columns also feature doors that conceal practical pantries and a small storage area, contributing to maintaining order and cleanliness in the environment. These columns have been harmoniously enclosed by a suspended ceiling that completes the modern and minimalist look.

On the opposite side, the kitchen takes on a lighter feel, with a base that follows the wall’s profile and tapers with an oblique cut to reach the French doors. Here, the oblique silhouette of the kitchen becomes a prominent aesthetic detail. The lower cabinet door, in particular, follows the countertop’s design with clean lines and offers internal shelving for small useful items. The wall cabinets, on the other hand, remain linear, with internal shelves and upward-opening, high-performance aventos. They are also backlit, adding a touch of light and style to the environment.

MATERIALS AND COLORS

The choice was immediately directed towards a “Total White” palette. All components, from the furniture to the work surfaces, are crafted in matte white lacquered MDF, creating a clean and luminous effect. The Krion countertop, also in an optical white, blends seamlessly with the rest of the environment. The only exception, where a hint of color remains, is found in the rear of the kitchen, where a slightly veined gray tile adds a contrasting touch to the surrounding light colors.

The kitchen’s shell, like most of our creations, is made of melamine-faced chipboard. This material embodies functionality and durability, being resistant to both scratches and aggressive detergents.

Here are two more all-white kitchens, a delicate corner kitchen, and a modern kitchen with a peninsula and a snack bar for guests.

FLOW AND FUNCTIONALITY

At the heart of this modern white kitchen, as planned, a central round table will be positioned to accommodate 6 to 8 diners and become the focal point of the space. Contrary to what one might think, this central element does not disrupt the workflow in the kitchen; it instead perfectly blends conviviality and comfort.

Indeed, thanks to meticulous planning of internal flows, cooking from one side of the kitchen to the other is seamless and convenient. The spaces have been carefully designed to maximize efficiency and practicality, ensuring that everything is within reach.

Furthermore, to add a touch of elegance to the space, a central chandelier will be installed, providing soft and focused illumination over the table.

CONCLUSION

This modern white kitchen is an extraordinary example of how the elegance of urban minimalism combines with intelligent solutions for space and materials management. It is a place where aesthetic beauty harmonizes with practicality. With its palette of light colors and well-thought-out design details, it is ready to inspire new projects.

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Cozy and Versatile Oak Kitchen: A Symphony of Design and Functionality

by Alice | Aug 9, 2023 | IN THE WORLD OF DESIGN, KITCHEN, LIVING THE HOUSE, PRIVATE APARTMENT

Nestled within a verdant enclave away from the urban hustle, a welcoming and versatile kitchen comes to life in a perfect harmony of Oak, subtle gray, and thermotreated larch.

The Context and Colors

Inside a modern villa complex, the lush ambiance of tree-lined gardens and green hedges envelops this small oasis, located just steps away from the vibrant heart of Brescia. Here, nature takes center stage, with the greenery of the outdoor surroundings defining this tranquil haven.

As you step into the apartment, you’re immersed in a unique environment where design and nature blend seamlessly. The kitchen, with its well-defined rectangular layout, immediately captures attention with its Alpine green-toned flooring. This soft yet decisive hue establishes a visual and sensory connection with the green of the outdoor spaces.

Balancing the green, the walls are adorned with a delicate tortora gray. This shade is also chosen for the kitchen’s bases and columns, creating a visual continuity that embraces both the functional and aesthetic elements of the space.

Adding a touch of warmth, wood has been thoughtfully incorporated to provide a natural and welcoming feel. Natural Oak graces the overhead cabinets, kickboards, and side panels of the columns. It extends to the kitchen’s terminal and open shelving, as well as the side riser of the countertop.

Within this context, the kitchen becomes a symphonic composition of colors, materials, and shapes that combine to create a sense of balance and beauty.

CHOICE OF MATERIALS

The softness and delicacy of Oak and lacquered MDF come to life in the front panels and vertical sides, enveloping the space in a cozy embrace. These noble materials not only provide a sense of warmth but also elegance.

A clever design choice resides in the internals of the cabinets and base units. Here, practicality and durability are paramount, leading to the selection of a textured laminate with a fabric-like effect. This material, in addition to offering high resistance to scratches and aggressive detergents, seamlessly blends with the external tortora hue, creating a visual equilibrium that extends from exterior to interior.

At the heart of functionality lies the countertop, crafted from white Krion, an advanced polymeric solid surface. Majestic in its simplicity, it proves virtually indestructible. Its resistance to impacts and chemicals surpasses that of natural stone, while its smooth and homogeneous surface is exceptionally easy to clean. Minimal maintenance and the ease of repairs transform the countertop into a long-term investment, in perfect alignment with the project’s sustainable approach.

To make the dining table the focal point of the kitchen, a different wood has been chosen – thermotreated larch. Its regular flame patterns and slightly darker tones infuse character and depth into the table, adding movement to its ample surface. This unique treatment endows the wood with natural beauty enriched by more pronounced shades, breaking its linearity and infusing it with a dynamic aura.

In another project, a thermotreated larch table graces a contemporary loft space.

The Cozy and Versatile Kitchen

Space optimization is the defining feature of this kitchen, where every inch has been maximized to ensure functionality without compromising the overall design.

A prime example is the expanded depth of the kitchen, allowing for a rear kitchen area. Clad in Lacobel (back-painted glass), this space features five sliding doors. It emerges as a precious zone, with dedicated internal shelves providing storage for spices, small appliances, and essential food preparation tools.

The same added depth is found in the drawers of the base units, achieved through non-standard guides, resulting in expanded capacity for plates and pots. The lateral columns housing ovens and the refrigerator follow suit, offering even more usable space.

A practical addition to the niche is the equipped extension on the left side. This not only provides additional shelving for food storage but also hosts the dining table at rest.

This table is truly multifunctional, adapting to various needs. For daily use, it remains nested within the base. However, when the occasion calls for accommodating more diners, the table can be moved to the center, becoming the convivial heart of the kitchen.

Here’s another example of a retractable table.

Completing the kitchen’s layout is an office module situated beside the entrance to the kitchen. With wooden central sections accommodating books and personal items, it strikes a harmonious balance between function and style. Swing doors offer additional storage spaces, thus rounding off the functional aspect of the entire room.

CONCLUSION

In summary, this kitchen emerges as a harmonious symphony of intelligent design, exquisite materials, and functional solutions. Every corner has been crafted to maximize efficiency and comfort, without compromising aesthetics. The amalgamation of practical and versatile solutions renders the kitchen cozy and fitting for everyday life.

← Guide to Materials in Interior Design: From Solid Wood to Laminate and Melamine-Faced Panels Modern White Kitchen: The Elegance of Urban Minimalism →

Guide to Materials in Interior Design: From Solid Wood to Laminate and Melamine-Faced Panels

by Alice | Jul 10, 2023 | IN THE WORLD OF DESIGN, PRIVATE APARTMENT, STYLE TIPS

When entering the world of furniture, one comes across many technical terms related to wood that can be difficult to interpret. With this article, we hope to dispel any doubts and help you discover how this material has evolved in this specific industry.

SOLID WOOD

Many people still believe that furniture is mainly made of solid wood, meaning actual pieces of logs with the required thickness and specific wood type. However, this perception is no longer entirely accurate.
In recent years, the use of solid wood in furniture has decreased due to its heaviness and its extreme sensitivity to moisture, temperature variations, and direct exposure to sunlight, which in some cases can cause the wood to warp.
Solid wood is still used for special woodworking techniques, such as curved or round shapes, where veneering becomes difficult or for specific requests.
Additionally, apart from technical limitations, there is an economic limit that discourages the use of panels made entirely of wood.
Lately, the trend has been to use solid wood with its outer bark and tree shaping, treating only the surface.

In this mountain apartment, the dining table was made by combining two solid wood slabs with bark.

VENEERED WOOD

Solid wood has been replaced for about thirty years with much lighter panels made of wood fiber, which surpass it in quality and durability and are subsequently veneered, meaning glued and pressed, with thin sheets of wood (down to a minimum of 2 tenths of a millimeter).
These are called veneers and are obtained through the rotary horizontal cutting of logs. You can choose the wood type, grain, or backing, but only the outer part represents the true essence of the wood. Inside the panels, there is a sandwich of wood particleboard.
Among the most common materials are high-quality chipboard (generally made of poplar), MDF (medium-density fiberboard), fire-resistant or waterproof MDF (for humid environments or specific regulations in the hotel industry), and plywood (made by overlaying multiple layers of wood).
This makes the structure lighter and stronger and, from a technical standpoint, it does not overload internal elements such as hinges, lift-up doors, or sliding mechanisms, allowing for greater size variety.
The term “veneer” is often improperly used to indicate any non-precious wood covering, but it is not the case.

Here, the entire furnishing is made of thermally treated oak veneer.

There are types of veneers that are not obtained by reducing a precious wood log into sheets but through the gluing of various sheets of colored wood (usually non-precious) to recreate a fake log, simulating the rings, grains, and patterns, and subsequently cutting it into sheets.
This type of veneer is called engineered veneer, and like veneers and solid wood, it can undergo tonal variations due to sunlight. However, this natural phenomenon is significantly reduced since the woods used in production are specially selected.
Engineered veneer also allows for creating imaginative wood essences or, more commonly, recreating exotic, rare, or protected woods using less precious woods from plantations or certified forests.
A famous Italian company that produces engineered veneer is Alpi Wood and here a sample of their production.

MDF

The materials present in veneered panels can also be used individually. The most well-known and versatile material, ideal for creating matte, satin, semi-gloss, and glossy lacquered furnishings, is MDF, which stands for Medium Density Fiberboard.
This material, without undulations that could compromise the final result of the object, guarantees a smooth and uniform surface.
The raw material used for MDF includes various types of wood, mainly softwood, which are shredded and subsequently dried or mixed with water (similar to the paper production process).
The result is lightweight and compact wood panels in various thicknesses, thanks to the process that exploits the thermoplastic characteristics of the naturally present lignin in wood.

kitchen in matt and glossy lacquered MDF

A kitchen in glossy and matt lacquered MDF

Some particular processes in matt and glossy lacquered MDF.

LAMINATE AND PLASTIC BILAMINATE

Starting from plywood, chipboard, or MDF panels, they can be covered with laminate sheets instead of real wood. Plastic laminate is a sheet obtained by pressing various layers of paper impregnated with plastic resins (phenolic or melamine).
It is a highly wear-resistant material, resistant to aggressive solvents, acids, ammonia, and abrasion.
This makes it highly appreciated for creating worktops in kitchens, bathrooms, floors, parquets, and desks.
It is an economical alternative to natural stones and steel.

Here is an example of a kitchen with exposed plywood covered in plastic laminate.

The term bilaminate refers to a panel coated on both sides with a very thin laminate.
This is an ideal solution for kitchen structures and internal shelves that come into contact with substances and liquids and therefore need to be easily cleaned.
If durability is required, bilaminate can also be used for external kitchen doors, cabinets, and furniture.
It is not possible to create special workings such as handle grooves or shaping, but if linear panels are expected, the wide range of colors and finishes of laminates can satisfy every taste.

Among the most famous companies that specialize in phenolic and melamine laminates, we find One World, Abet e Polyrey.

Here a kitchen completely made with a sage color bilaminate and HPL (20mm plastic laminate) worktop.

Here a shop in bilaminate with textile finishes

MELAMINE-FACED PANEL

Melamine-faced panels refer to a particular type of material derived from wood veneering, but with a substantial difference: veneered wood has a thickness of only 0.5-1 mm, while melamine-faced panels have a thickness of 0.2-0.6 mm, obtained through digital printing of melamine or phenolic papers that replicate the essences, colors, and textures of different materials.
This allows for obtaining highly resistant, practical, and easy-to-clean surfaces.
Melamine-faced panels are widely used in modern and contemporary furniture for their versatility, durability, and ease of maintenance.
Among the many available textures, many wood-effect ones have a truly realistic appearance.

Here, for example, a bathroom (where real wood is not recommended due to the type of humid environment) in plastic laminate with a Rosenheim oak effect.

CONCLUSION

In modern furniture, solid wood is increasingly less used and replaced by lighter, durable, and versatile materials such as laminate, MDF, plywood, and melamine-faced panels. These materials offer a wide range of colors, finishes, and textures that allow for creating customized and high-quality aesthetic solutions to meet every need and furnishing style. In addition to aesthetic considerations, it is important to also evaluate the technical characteristics of the materials used, such as resistance to moisture, temperature variations, and sunlight, in order to ensure optimal durability and functionality over time.

← Design Week 2023: New trends in the record edition Cozy and Versatile Oak Kitchen: A Symphony of Design and Functionality →

Pleased to Meet you

by Alice | Mar 28, 2023 | IN THE WORLD OF DESIGN, PRODUCT DESIGN

When art chooses wood, a warm and lively material, sinuous and soft shapes born. We are delighted to present you here Pleased to Meet you, an art project by Nelcya Chamszadeh.

THE ARTIST

Born in 1972, Nelcya Chamszadeh, French origin, has lived in Milan for 10 years. After working outside the public scene in a totally private way, she decided to give her work a real container and she opened her own creative laboratory.
This atelier is her oxygen. Here Nelcya brings into questions and materializes her revolt to the conventions of contemporary society and expresses her personal point of view about world’s theme.

By visiting her studio, you’ll be surprised by the quantity of containers and jars filled with meticulously sorted small items. One small object beckons another and develops into an artwork and giving life to a new theme or concept.
An approach made popular from the Dadaists that find, in the works of Nelcya Chamszadeh, a deliberate Pop development thanks to the link with mass consumption and the forms of addiction to which it occurs leads back. Nelcya deals with the great and frightening themes of our society with disenchanted and somewhat cynical irony: death, sex, war, politics… subjects that obsess, that they consume, sometimes, to the point of madness.
One of the cathartic ways out is represented from creation, from letting go freely to artistic expression to escape the depression.

The title of each work plays a fundamental role in the reading and in the understanding of the work itself. “Help!”, “Uffizi”, “Les Connasses”, “You’re fat!” have the intent to guide towards an emotional direction or, for the surprise effect, to force the voyeurism.

our Francesco with the Artist

Pleased to Meet You

“Art is the only time in my daily life where modesty does not exist, where I let myself go totally and feel absolutely free to express everything I feel, my anxieties, my intimacy.
The womb is for me the universal representation of life.
Life that would therefore be impossible without the woman.
It amused me to make it a self-portrait, in which I invite the viewer to look inside, while at the same time looking in the mirror.
In short, a game of voyeurism and intimacy.
One finds, peeping through keyholes, the scenes that, seen through the prism of my anxieties and ghosts, I imagine may have constructed my life.
I wanted to make it a tribute to women, to their primordial role in life, to their strength, their will, their capacity for resilience.
This work is a declaration of love and admiration of women.”

Nelcya Chamszadeh

THE PROJECT

We begin by introducing this project with a quote from Picasso: “The artist is a receptacle of emotions that come from everywhere: from the sky, from the earth, from a piece of paper, from a form of passage, from a spider’s web.”
And I would also add from a piece of wood because that’s where the work of art evolved layer by layer.

The uterus of Pleased to Meet you contains many small microworlds, to be peeked through a mirrored glass that allows a glimpse of its contents.
We had the pleasure of creating the shell of the work and we want to show you the stages of construction step by step.

We started from the basic shape of the uterus that Nelcya gave us and that we made on MDF base.

To this were added several levels shaped for the necessary thickness to house the various wooden boxes.

For these, in fact, an exact space was provided on the back and once “filled” with detail by the artist, they were then assembled by interlocking.

A LED connection expands throughout the structure with an arrival point at each box.

On the front, a wooden template with the locks carved coincides perfectly with a mirrored glass, applied last on the front.

This has the fantastic feature of appearing homogeneous from a distance, while its transparency is perceived only when the LED inside the scene is turned on.

As a finale, the application of many small faces divided into groups on the front.

THE REFERENCE OF WOOD IN THE PROMOTION

For the event, in which Pleased to Meet you was presented, we have created, thanks to the collaboration with LegnoStyle small laser cutted keychain gadgets in which was engraved the instagram profile of the artist and the Misschief collective.

Grazie Nelcya per averci coinvolti in questa avventura 😊

ps: un’altra sperimentazione lingnea a questo link

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The Elegance of the Garage in a Fusion of Collecting and Modern Interior Design