A renovation you barely notice

Restoring the Nolla mosaic floor was a key part of the project. Its geometric pattern links the rooms and sets the rhythm of the flat. We preserved its shifts in colour, small irregularities and signs of age, keeping the original floor as part of the home’s character.We restored the Nolla mosaic floor, preserving its pattern, shifts in colour and signs of age.

Restoring the mouldings mattered just as much. Decorative ceiling roses, cornices and plasterwork give the rooms character and draw the eye upwards. A light finish helps the plasterwork blend with the walls and ceilings, while daylight brings out its detail without making the rooms feel ornate.We restored the ceiling roses and cornices; a light finish lets daylight bring out their detail.

The new features are deliberately understated. Simple kitchen cabinetry, clean-lined furniture and a neutral palette let the historic details stand out. The central island adds worktop space without blocking the view through the room, and the new light fittings complement the ceiling roses without copying period styles.Simple kitchen cabinetry, a central island and new light fittings let the historic details stand out.

The hardest part was deciding what to restore and what to update. Keeping a few decorative features was not enough: the flat needed to feel cohesive and work for everyday life. We judged each change by how well it fitted with the original architecture.The key was deciding what to restore and what to update so every change fitted with the original architecture.

The result is a comfortable, practical home that retains its atmosphere. The mosaic floor and plaster mouldings once again define the rooms, while the new features feel as if they belong. Sometimes the best renovation is one you barely notice.The mosaic floor and plaster mouldings once again define the rooms, while the new features feel as if they belong.