Chromastudio has transformed an apartment into a unique retro space, where color and material blend to create an elegant and exclusive environment. The complete renovation has redistributed the spaces, introducing chromatic games and geometries, with black as a unifying element.
In the world of interior design, there is an apartment that stands out for its retro style, elegance and exclusivity. A place where design plays a leading role and the aesthetic sense leaves no room for ambiguous interpretations. It is the apartment created by Chromastudio, a multidisciplinary studio led by Giuseppe Albanese and Elga Ancona, two young designers and artists who have combined their skills to create unique and memorable spaces.
The complete and radical renovation of this apartment has focused on the redistribution of the spaces in order to improve its functionality. The goal was to create an environment in which the new would take the place of the old, but with an eye to recovery. The result is a continuous play between color and its geometries, which contrast with neutral tones and create new scenarios. Going through the various rooms of the apartment, one experiences a sort of "story" in which each area is characterized by a creative use of colour, with black and its shades as a connecting element.
The apartment, which covers approximately 90 square meters, has been redistributed to obtain a more spacious living area, a more comfortable bathroom and storage areas, following the new living standards. The heart of the apartment is represented by the living area, which occupies 35 square meters. The starting point of the project was the kitchen with a central island in royal blue, a chromatic monolith created by Cesar Cucine and supplied by Mo.1950. This kitchen is positioned in the center of the room, showing all its beauty and sophistication.
Mo.1950 is a company specialized in the sector of bespoke furniture and interior design. With over 70 years of experience, the company offers high quality customized solutions for the residential sector. His consolidated expertise in the panorama of furniture and design has made possible the realization of this unique project. Thanks to Mo.1950 it was possible to obtain the desired color for the concrete floor, made in the same shade of blue present in the kitchen, creating a carpet that identifies this functional area without real limits.
Geometric and chromatic elements are the fulcrum of this project. For the kitchen walls, a three-dimensional tile with a triangular section was chosen, the Rombini Triangle by Mutina, in the glossy glazed version to accentuate the handmade and retro look of the project. The Smeg refrigerator, with its iconic blue colour, fits harmoniously into the environment, recalling the retro style of the entire project.
In the living area, which is configured as a single room with the kitchen, the long walls are colored in light ash, in contrast with the Celadon green used in light tones on the short walls and in dark tones on the ceiling. This play of contrasts between cold and warm tones creates a welcoming and harmonious atmosphere. A painting by the artist Giorgio Pasqualetti and a glass lamp by the artist Paola Croci emerge from the back wall, giving value and personality to the environment.
Art plays a vital role in furnishing this house. Chromastudio has chosen to collaborate with the abstract artist Giorgio Pasqualetti and to exhibit his work "Rovell n.16", an acrylic on canvas that restores three-dimensionality to the wall and invests the environment with a very powerful energy. The glass lamp by the artist Paola Croci, called "L'Incluso", completes the living room furnishings with its lightness and harmony.
The color black represents the leitmotif of the whole project. The "model 265" lamp by Flos draws a perspective line in space, taken from the decorative motif of the "Blanco" carpet by Karpeta, made of wool and cotton. Karpeta is a company that keeps alive the ancient traditions of textile craftsmanship, weaving traditional techniques with modern decorations. Their carpets, real precious artifacts, project contemporary design onto a textile work.
In the sleeping area, significant changes have also been made here. In the master bedroom, a masonry walk-in closet was demolished to create an anteroom that acts as a filter area between the living room and the actual bedroom, ensuring greater privacy. The walls are tinged with a warm red clay colour, which hides two spacious and comfortable closets. The bedroom is configured as a solid quadrangular, with long light ash colored walls and cornflower blue short walls and ceiling. A masonry boiserie acts as the headboard of the bed and houses the two bedside tables, while the flush-to-the-wall wardrobe, made up of six doors, integrates perfectly with the environment.
In the child's bedroom, the design is based on the use of simple geometric shapes and primary colours. A high Savoy blue boiserie creates a chromatic corner that delimits the space dedicated to rest. This same color is taken up in the decorative arch of the walk-in closet, while the ocher yellow descends slightly from the walls to the ceiling, creating a protected and safe area.
The bathroom in this apartment has been customized to meet the specific needs of the owners. There is a double bowl washbasin from the "I Catini" collection by Ceramica Cielo, complete with container drawer. The walk-in shower is spacious and welcoming, while a soaking tub and laundry area set in a custom closet complete the furnishings.
Access to the bathroom is through the entrance corridor, where the royal blue color accompanies us in an environment characterized by the contrast between light sienna and red clay. These colors divide the space through a horizontal line that separates the shower/tub area from the rest of the bathroom. The chosen colors and materials give a material and sandy appearance, guaranteed by the continuous cement cladding from the Innovative Surface company, which covers the entire bathroom, transforming it into a real oasis of well-being.
For the wall of the shower/tub area, a fiberglass wallpaper was chosen with a nuanced decoration that goes from the darkest to the lightest colour. This wallpaper was customized especially for the client by the company Texturae, modifying the colors of their Shadow collection.
A fundamental role within the whole project was given to lighting. The insertion of luminous grooves and recessed spotlights creates plays of light that lead to the discovery of the rooms. The iconic design lamps underline the glamorous character and attention to the smallest details of this home, where nothing is left to chance.
The entire construction of the apartment was carried out by the Re Modulor construction company, with a team of highly qualified professionals who followed the client in all phases of the construction site. Attention to the customer, quality and professionalism are the values that distinguish this company.
Chromastudio, led by Giuseppe Albanese and Elga Ancona, is a studio that stands out for its innovative approach to interior design. Their skilful use of color and matter creates unique and impactful spaces, in which even the energetic study of colors becomes an integral part of the creative process. Giuseppe Albanese, with his training in interior design, and Elga Ancona, with her background in scenography, combine their skills to create projects that fully exploit the potential of color and form.
Chromastudio is a company that believes that color can influence our emotions and behavior, and therefore it must be used with care, based on the function and personality of the rooms. The very name of the studio, Chromastudio, reflects the importance of color in their work.
The retro apartment created by Chromastudio is an example of how design, color and material can come together to create a unique and captivating space. Through a careful choice of materials, a creative use of color and well-studied lighting, the apartment is transformed into a place where art and beauty blend harmoniously.
With their innovative approach and attention to detail, Chromastudio demonstrates that interior design can be a work of art in itself, transforming spaces and improving people's quality of life. The retro apartment is an example of how design can go beyond functionality and become a complete aesthetic experience, where every detail contributes to creating a unique and fascinating environment.
project info
Interior project: chromastudio
Type: Residential
Area 90 m²
Location: Milano
State: Completed July 2022
Realization: King Modulor srl
Floors and resins: Innovative Surfaces
furniture: Mo.1950
Decorations: Karpeta+Texturae
Artistic Objects
Framework Living: Giorgio Pasqualetti "Rovell No. 16"
Glass lamp: Paola Croci "The Included"
Styling: Elga Ancona + chromastudio
Styling assistant: Samuele Capra + Federica Castaldi
Photo Credits: Richard Gasperoni
