Lizzy Art House draws on the rich layers of Italian palazzos, where materials are solid and classical in detail with a contemporary twist. Spaces gravitate around a two-storey ‘veil’ of Venetian glass blocks that in one dynamic gesture transforms a once dark interior with light. Shooting beyond the first floor, its shimmering surface brings privacy and sunlight deep inside, in-sync with the dining room’s silver leaf ceiling that casts an ephemeral glow.
Oak floors, thick carpets, detailed marble, colour and important pieces of art and furniture were carefully curated to evoke the senses, and handcrafted details shape every surface. Around the fireplace, stone tiles are stitched into timber floors, making a crafted pattern that avoids a jarring line between the two materials. In the library, a contemporary wall system is lightly placed, not quite reaching the ceiling to highlight its beautiful geometry, adding a colourful tapestry of art and books.
Rethinking the plan allowed spaces to open and flow. Between the kitchen and living room, an island bench in sweeping solid marble now provides a nuanced space for pre-dinner drinks. The solidity of the marble expressing the honesty and beauty of the two connecting stones. Volume shifts in the living room reflect the scale of what was once the exterior of the building, the classically detailed steel framed windows and exposed raw concrete beam adding a contemporary layer in tune with the grandness of the historical building.
