Residential | Interior design
Li Cuti, Catania, Sicily, Italy
2023
175 sqm

Nestled along the stunning waterfront of Catania, this villa stands out not only for its beautiful architecture but for its prime location. The villa features dual entrances—one for vehicles and one for pedestrians from the main road, plus a private entrance from a secondary road. Centrally located in Catania, it boasts a large garden and a private path to the sea, specifically the famous black volcanic sands of San Giovanni Li Cuti beach. The villa offers a panoramic view on all four sides: Mount Etna on one side and the sea on the other, with the remaining sides facing a ZTL road and the neighboring garden. The villa is spacious, with the main entrance currently located on the north side. The layout includes a long corridor separating various rooms, including a study, bathroom, bedrooms, kitchen, laundry room, guest bathroom, and a large double-exposure living room.
The clients, a young professional couple who recently inherited the villa, sought to unlock its full potential. They requested a modern, well-distributed redesign that retains the original parquet flooring, doors, central air conditioning system, and the false ceiling in the corridor.
Our approach began with reversing the main entrance to the south side, taking advantage of the scenic sea view and the ZTL road, with a gate opening onto the garden. This new entrance offers a continuous visual flow, allowing a line of sight from the garden entrance to the private street entrance. The redesigned entrance features a coat closet, two design armchairs, and a niche for books and decorations. It connects to the kitchen, which remains hidden yet accessible, and the dining area, highlighted by a large sea-view window, a square dining table, and artistic lighting.
The open space includes a versatile, modular sofa for flexible living and a cozy bar area with custom-designed cabinetry and Gio Ponti seating. We addressed the challenge of the existing fireplace and its immovable ducts by elevating the kitchen floor and utilizing the space beneath for essential installations. The fireplace wall, containing fixed pillars and cables, was transformed with a pass-through window between the living room and kitchen. This window, featuring a sliding panel with artwork, allows for dynamic space interaction.
A mirrored door leads to the night zone, featuring two small bedrooms, a guest bathroom, a full bathroom with a shower, a laundry room, and the master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet. Despite the constraints, we exceeded expectations by harmonizing contemporary design elements with the cherry wood parquet flooring. Custom pastel blue and lacquered furniture, alongside a mustard-colored kitchen with stainless steel accents, create a futuristic yet sophisticated ambiance.

Our meticulous selection of furnishings, lighting, and art pieces refined the villa's aesthetic, making it absolutely unique and superb.