An important renovation project has seen the rebirth of a large villa immersed in the nature of Rock Creek Park, in the city of Washington DC: dark colors on the outside, minimal comfortable interior.
Unforeseen events often turn into precious opportunities, to be seized immediately, as happened to Lorla Studio when it was involved in an important project in the United States. The architect initially called to take care of the redesign of this large villa in the city of Washington DC had to leave the position during the preparatory work. On this occasion, the American studio, which had been chosen only to design the interiors, took on the task of the entire project, taking the opportunity to demonstrate its all-round skills.
One of the accesses to the garden of the villa surrounded by greenery in Washington DC.
The large living room with dining area of the American villa renovated by Lorla Studio.
The generously sized home needed a total restyling to become more suitable and suited to the needs of the new owners. The intervention wanted to maintain the original structure and the division of the internal spaces, opting for natural materials, light and welcoming colors inside, while a dark color was chosen for the facade and external walls, so as to better fit it into the lush nature of Rock Creek Park that surrounds it.
The living room, furnished with soft seats covered in solid color fabric and a wooden coffee table.
All the furnishings of the house were chosen by the Lorla studio together with the new home owners, opting for pieces with basic lines, rounded shapes, solid color fabrics and sculptural designer lamps. Sofas, armchairs and low tables create a welcoming and relaxing area in the living area.
IDEA FOR THE LIVING ROOM
For those who prefer a single piece of furniture, with different seats and dimensions, instead of the sofa in combination with the armchairs, the Iago sofa by Natuzzi can be an option. Its linear shapes hide movement systems, which allow you to customize the various elements by choosing from 30 different combinations. And to add a refined note, Jaipur Rugs offers the new Intrigue rug decorated with a two-tone graphic pattern. Hand-knitted with a flat weave, it is made with a 100% acrylic yarn, making it durable and easy to clean.
Iago sofa by Natuzzi, available with different coverings, from €3,540 – natuzzi.com
Intrigue rug by Jaipur Rugs, 162×240 cm, €8,060 – jaipurrugs.com
Next to the large living room there is another portion of the living room, where large wooden bookcases are placed against the walls, and in the center there is a large ping-pong table, thus creating a play area. A hobby room, always in use in large homes, which today is back in vogue even in smaller solutions, recreating intimate spaces tailored to one’s passions.
The other wing of the living room which houses large bookcases and a ping-pong table.
IDEA FOR THE GAMES ROOM
For lovers of table football, and for those nostalgic for that gaming table, the Spanish group RS Barcelona offers a vast range of models in its catalogue. The one that has become iconic is called RS2: the classic five-a-side football table but in satin steel, available in various colors which is well suited to the most diverse environments, indoors and outdoors. And for those who love the model like that of the past, Maisons du Monde sells the Grizou model in mango wood and cast iron, with a vintage flavor but resistant and high-performance.
RS2 Balilla football table by RS Barcelona, €4,655 – rsbarcelona.com
Grizou soccer table by Maisons du Monde, €1,469 – maisonsdumonde.com
One of the requests from the new clients was to have a large equipped kitchen, with an island in the center to be used for both cooking and entertaining. Next to the peninsula, near the window overlooking the garden, a large wooden table with simple black chairs has been positioned, which welcome the whole family.
The large kitchen with an island unit with hob in the center.
IDEA FOR THE KITCHEN
To bring a breath of color into the kitchen, Marimekko celebrates 60 years of the Unikko design with a new tableware collection that includes plates, cups, trays and bowls of different sizes. And among the vast choice of Ichendorf glasses, the Bloom collection combines the elegance of handmade workmanship with the fantasy of pastel borosilicate colors, to be combined as desired for a playful and fun mise en place.
On the left, tray for the 60th anniversary of Unikko by Marimekko, €75 – marimekko.com; on the right, glasses from the Bloom collection by Ichendorf, from €13 – ichendorfmilano.com
The large villa has a room dedicated to the study: its walls have been painted very dark grey, as has the structure next to the window which incorporates the wooden top that serves as a desk. To make the environment more welcoming, a white sofa and a soft light wool carpet were chosen.
The study, with custom-designed furniture that serves as a desk.
IDEA FOR THE STUDY
An office chair, beautiful as well as comfortable? The Forma 5 company offers the Dot.Pro model, with an adjustable backrest, armrests that can be removed and a seat lined with breathable fabric, in a choice of different colours. While a computer bag, also nice to carry around, is the new Capri model from the Spanish company Wouf, which produces only with organic and recycled fabrics. It is padded, with a practical zip closure and a pattern that doesn’t look out of place next to an art book in the living room.
On the left, Dot.Pro chair by Forma 5, from €400 – forma5.com; on the right, computer holder Capri collection by Wouf, €49 – wouf.com
Unlike all the other rooms, which have a tobacco-coloured wooden floor with wide slats, the master bedroom has a white carpet covering, just as the walls and fixtures are total white. On the other hand, the fabric bed and the lamp on the ceiling are black, for a highly effective contrast.
The master bedroom, with light floor and bed lined in dark fabric.
IDEA FOR THE BEDROOM
An alternative to the classic black and white combination, while maintaining the same simple and linear style, can be created by choosing brighter textile accessories. An example is the light and impalpable linen blanket from Once Milano, to be used as a bedspread or on top of the sheet on cooler evenings. And for a more romantic touch, the new home textile brand Zer0bed by Hermet offers a wide range of cushion covers with colorful flowers, all in pure cotton and made in Italy.
Linen blanket by Once Milano, 140×230 cm, €270 – oncemilano.com
Pair of Flowers pillowcases from the Zer0bed brand by Hermet, €9.90 – hermet.it
The preference for light colors is also found in the bathroom, where there is the same white carpet floor as the master room in the sink area. This is incorporated into the marble top supported by a piece of furniture with drawers and wall units, while the freestanding bathtub has been incorporated into a niche, covered with small shiny square tiles.
Two details of one of the bathrooms.
IDEA FOR THE BATHROOM
For those who prefer a shower to a bathtub, Ideal Standard has just presented Ultra Flat S+: a new line of ultra-thin shower trays with a natural stone effect finish. Made with the innovative IdealSolid®+ material, a combination of fragments of dolomite rock and 30% recycled elastic resin, the plates are extremely durable and resistant to scratches and impacts. Can’t you give up a touch of design even in the bathroom? The soap dispenser from the Birillo collection is by Alessi, designed by Piero Lissoni: available for a support surface such as the sink and bathtub, or to hang on the wall for the shower.
Project by Lorla Studio – lorlastudio.com
Photo Jenn Verrier
Shower tray from the Ultra Flat S+ collection by Ideal Standard, available in 4 colors and different sizes, starting from €316.50 for the 80×80 cm size – idealstandard.it
Birillo liquid soap dispenser by Alessi, €40 – alessi.com
On the cover, the facade of the villa surrounded by greenery, in the nature of Rock Creek Park, in the city of Washington DC.
