25 Beautiful Homes – July 2019

for stockistsgo to where to buy

BATHROOM

Blackhardwarepops

againstthewhitescheme

andisa low-maintenance

alternativetochrome.

Arezzoroundmattblack

bath/showermixertap,

£119.95,VictorianPlumbing,

would work well here

MASTERBEDROOM

‘Weenjoythemoodier,cosylook

andfeelinthisspace,’saysCristina.

blueVerditerintelligenteggshell,

£64for2.5L,Littlegreene,is a similar

wallpaint.DFtPNexus 10 walllight

in black, £48.04, Lyco, is a match

MATILDA’S

BEDROOM

Cristinalether

daughter’spersonality

shinethroughinthe

decoratingscheme.

trywhiteLeDLiva

heart, £26.50, trouva

kitchen,it wastimetoletthe
furniturebringthehousetolife.’
Cristinachosepieces
judiciously,selectingplenty
ofvintagefurniture.‘Thereis
nothingfragileinourhouse,’
shesays.‘Manyobjectscome
fromfleamarketssothey
alreadyhaveflawsandhidden
stories.’Mostofthefurniture
featuressimple,graphiclines,
suchastheclassicHansWegner
Wishbonediningchairs,theiron
diningtablefromCaravane,or
thevintagetrestletablethatacts
asa consoleinthediningroom.
A relaxed,bohemianstyle,
characterisedbyunusualfinds,
naturalmaterials,selected
ceramicsandglobalcuriosities,
is favouredbyCristina.Yearsof
bargainhunting,plusa network
ofantiquedealers,hashonedher
eyefordetail.‘I grewupinMilan
inlargehousesloadedwith
objects,’shesays,‘soI triedto
reproducethatsenseofa family
home,fullofinterestingpieces.’
Onthefirstandsecond
floors,Cristinaintroduceda
moodierpalettebywayofstrong
featurewallsinthebedrooms
andstudy.‘I wantedtobringa
cossetingfeel,’shesays.‘Plus,
bothmydaughtershavestrong
personalitiesandtastesand
I wantedthattobereflected.’
Thefamily’snextfocusis
totacklethegardenandspend
timewithfriends.‘There’sa real
senseofcommunityhere,’says
Cristina.‘Weliketohavedinner
withourneighboursandvisitthe
streetmarketfororganicproduce
everyweek.It’sgreatthatwe’ve
foundtheurban-ruralbalance
thatweweresearchingfor.Best
ofall,thishomehasa serene
familyatmospherethatweall
love.Thechallengewastorestore
alittlemodernitytoit andI
think we’ve achieved that.’

LESSONLEARNT

‘Weregretnot

installinga

chimneyor

fireplace.It’son

the to-do list’

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