According to legendary American magazine editor Diana Vreeland, “The eye must travel,” and this recurring saying could not be more appropriate when it comes to the playful interior layers of this London duplex, undoubtedly one of the best homes in the world. There are interesting details throughout, from the polished terrazzo-shaped archways to the intricate fluted tiling, each inviting the eye on a journey of exploration.
North Carolina-raised Rebecca Young-Riboldi and her Italian husband, Riccardo, own the remodeled space with a distinctly international flavour, encompassing a disrespectful mix of global elements.
“We share the same sense of humor and I think that comes from within,” says Rebecca, who turned to designer Erin Gunter of Gunter & Co to help revitalize the space.
“We love the light, fun touches and also being away from the slick and even getting a little messy and flawless at times.”
Aside from the chaos, Irene took that brief and ran with it. “We took a cue from the couple’s love of contemporary abstract art,” Erin says.
Behind the decorative details lies a group of clever designs that transformed the apartment. Erin did “opening work” to identify the bones of the building and found that the ceilings had been lowered and the original dimensions obscured. In the end, no room is left unchanged, yet the resulting blueprints look as if they have always been there.
Living room
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
One of Erin’s decorative living room ideas was to spark interest in shapes. “We enjoy the rounded shapes and the soft edges,” says Rebecca, the homeowner of this space, where the modern rug and hanging offer a graphic element.
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
The contemporary lines of the louver and chair unit are a striking chip of the ancient architecture.
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
A built-in bench from Gunter & Co makes a feature of this bay window. “It’s one of my favorite places to relax while reading a book,” says Rebecca.
kitchen
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
A narrow hall between the kitchen and the living room was removed to fit the spaces.
Other kitchen ideas include the spacious arched entryway in an oak frame with double doors, an unexpected decorative and contemporary element. “We wanted to reference the traditional use of oak in older homes but with a modern twist,” says Erin. Victorian homes have always featured oak trees, so we wanted to get back to that look, albeit in an updated way.
Color and pattern are key elements. “Where I grew up, in the American South, color was everywhere,” Rebecca says. Ricciardo, who grew up in Milan, also has a keen interest in design. “It happened in our kitchen, and it’s a real chef’s space,” says Rebecca. And also in our use of terrazzo, which is a major Italian ingredient. While we were reworking this house, we were also renovating a venue in Puglia and some of these design choices were replicated here in London, including our large collection of Pugliese ceramics.
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
The glass-fronted cabinets feature fluted details, adding an exotic flair to the style.
kitchen dinner
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
The couple stretched out in the back to create a light-filled dining space. Dining room ideas include a blue faux leather banquette for elegant casual seating. The black metal frame of the glass insert is complemented by a classic Flos pendant.
master bedroom
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
In the basement, three bedrooms have become two rooms to make room for an en-suite bathroom, dressing room, guest bathroom and toilet.
One of Erin’s bedroom ideas was to introduce surprising shades of pink inspired by the couple’s Puzzle IV artwork designed by Kim Bartelt above the bed. “Seeing how unexpected colors can work on canvas makes it very easy to make bolder choices for interiors,” says Erin. A green headboard and black window frames add splashes of pink.
(Photo credit: Mary Wadsworth)
A bath is comfortably curved under the window, providing space for the couple to take a generous shower in their en suite suite. “Some of the decisions were practical rather than stylistic, such as placing the bathroom under the window in the bedroom to make room in the shower room,” Erin says. “But it works brilliantly – we widened the windows so showering there feels like a luxurious and relaxing experience.”
Four years in the making, Erin says this project has barely deviated from the couple’s initial vision of an uncrowded, colorful but cohesive home. “As an in-house designer, you would expect a little bit of backlash from clients who might be nervous about making a leap of faith,” she says. “But in this case, we can’t think freely enough.” The striking results are a testament to this adventurous spirit.
Photography: Mary Wadsworth
Text / page Emma J