From the start, Lessness aimed to preserve the home’s original features, bringing out their natural character while complementing them with new elements. For instance, the original parquet floor in the living room was delicately restored, allowing its vintage warmth to shine through. Meanwhile, in the lobby, they opted for a more striking contrast with navy-blue floor tiling as part of the home’s lively colour scheme which includes shades of navy-blue, maroon, and orange intertwined with unexpected accents of red, purple, and pink. Applied across the predominantly white-painted rooms in combination with bold geometric patterns, this vibrant colour palette creates visual cohesion throughout the house while animating each space in different ways.

For example, the vibrant navy-blue in the hallway transitions into the living room in the form of a painted wall with blush-hued curtains and steel-blue skirting and matching door frame add to the space’s playful character. Navy-blue also extends to the kitchen mixed with white in a checkerboard tile floor pattern which echoes the property’s heritage with a twist, while a maroon-coloured wardrobe dominates the master bedroom. Brass details provide further refinement, notably in an arched opening that elegantly separates the kitchen and hallway, also used for door handles throughout the project. The designers also incorporated whimsical details, such as a wallpaper with flying pigs in the powder room and another featuring Tibetan deities in the study, adding a surrealist touch to the otherwise sophisticated elegance.

Vintage furnishings, including family heirlooms, add more personality and history into the mix. The pieces, all carefully selected, range from restored antique items to design classics like Danish pendant lamps and an iconic marble and crystal table by Giorgio and Maurizio Cattelan, reinforcing the property’s timeless yet eclectic aesthetic.

The main architectural challenge that Lessness faced was undoubtedly connecting the living room on the ground floor with the attic where the children’s rooms are located. The solution was the use of a lightweight, folded steel staircase lined with timber, carefully designed to avoid overpowering the room while visually unifying the two levels. Additionally, they introduced an interior window connecting the living room with the adjacent study, enhancing the sense of spaciousness and allowing light to flow freely.

Dominika Strzałka-Rogal, the lead designer on the project, in referring to the essence of the renovation, remarked: “In this project, I was keen to create a space that was unique but unforced, not necessarily perfect. Rather, one that can develop in harmony with the lifestyle of the residents.” By honouring the home’s heritage while embracing bold, modernist accents, Lessness created a space that feels personal and alive, bringing joy to the owners in their everyday lives.