luxury interior design concept
VILLA NESSI
Extreme virtuosity of elegance
“Where shall I begin your praise, O utmost Lario? | To the sumptuous tables great gifts thou bringest. | | In thee it is always spring, for thou ever bloomest in the green clods; as thou conquerest the cold in thee it is always spring. | Thou art surrounded by olive groves on both sides; | Thou art never leafless, thou who art surrounded by olive groves. | Pomegranates blush on both sides for the joyful gardens; mixed with laurel blush the pomegranates. | Myrtle fronds always smell with their berries; | Myrtle fronds are useful even with leaves. | The fruit that comes from Perside captures with its fragrance; | Cedar wins it all with its fragrance. | […] | With your throbbing billows beware of drowning the little boats. With your billows beware of drowning the men. | If thou shalt abstain from this wickedness, thou shalt always be praised by all; if thou shalt abstain from this wickedness, thou shalt always be loved. | To thee be praise and honor, O vast Trinity, forever; | To thee be praise and honor for doing such wonderful things. | Thou who read these verses, say, please: O Savior, have mercy on Paul – and do not despise them, thou who read these verses, please.”
Paolo Diacono, Historian, 8th century
Details
Status: Concept
Address: Faggeto Lario, via Umberto I
Inside: 860 sm
Outside: 7500 sm
Floors: 4
Rooms: 15
Bathrooms: 7
Extra Features: century-old garden, marble fireplaces, panoramic view, garage, private chapel, annex, gym, SPA
Description
Villa Nessi, a historic mansion dating back to 1780, overlooks the shores of Lake Como in an exclusive panoramic position. Those with a taste for beauty and a sensitive soul will appreciate the atmosphere full of charm and history that characterizes it. The villa boasts a glorious past, having hosted many celebrities over the years: an important legacy that makes the property one of a kind.
Surrounded by a centuries-old Renaissance-style park with artificial caves, terraces, Italian-style hedges, many fine essences and a charming private chapel, the villa is a particularly exclusive place. This luxurious property is ideal for those looking for an elegant and refined environment, surrounded by nature and characterized by a romantic aura, able to combine the charm of tradition with a modern style.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
On the route of the ancient Roman road that runs along the shores of Lake Como, a famous 18th century villa stands surrounded by a lush Renaissance-style park: Villa Nessi.
The name of the villa comes from its historical owners: the Nessi family. According to documents, the family bought the villa in 1906 and owned it until 1940, when it was sold to Marquis Spreti, a patrician from Ravenna. In the post-war period, the villa underwent profound structural changes and was transformed into a holiday residence for aristocratic nobles. The echoes of a piano that accompanied the parties of the past and the clinking of champagne glasses can still be heard in the large living room.
Under the ownership of the Ravenna family, the Villa experienced its period of greatest glory. A place of pleasure loved and visited by the nobles closest to the family, it has welcome illustrious people of the Italian history, including Pope Pacelli and Prince De Curtis, better known as Totò.
In the 1970s, the residence was bought back by the Nessi family and continues to be a place of retreat and inspiration for owners and guests.
The recovery of this important architectural heritage by FONTANA Milano 1928 is based on a conservative design that is not meant to compromise the original distribution of spaces. No demolitions and/or new constructions were planned; the project envisages a transformation of the existing building capable of enhancing the spaces adding some stylish elements and scenic expedients.
The volumes and rooms of the villa can be identified as follows:
2: Second Floor: two double bedrooms with private bathrooms, private living area, gym, SPA, bathroom/dressing room.
1: First floor: master suite with private bathroom and walk-in closet, double bedroom with private bathroom, two double bedrooms, conversation lounge and bar/entertainment area, bathroom.
0: Ground floor: entrance, dining room, living room, kitchen, study, two guest bathrooms, guest cloakroom, bathroom, outdoor living.
-1: First Underground Floor: cellar, utility rooms
ENTRANCE
The entrance lobby gives access to the building and the hall designed to welcome guests. It is designed to have a great impact and to be immediately remembered. The inspirational model is the winter garden: different types of indoor plants, placed between semicircular stone seats, frame a central fountain with flounces. A deeply symbolic entrance that brings together the three identifying elements of the place: vegetation, stone and, of course, water.
The symbolic value of the environment is enhanced and embellished by marble floors, floral decorations on the walls and a precious crystal chandelier perfectly dialoguing with the water jet below. An elegant and refined environment designed to be a continuous celebration of life in all its forms.
To the left of the entrance there is the dining room followed by the living room.
The dining room is set up with a large inlaid table around which up to ten diners can sit, and its walls are lined with design sideboards. In this environment past and present, tradition and innovation, antiques and design come together in a union devoted to Italian elegance.
LIVING ROOM
The large living room, measuring about 45 square meters, enjoys natural lighting for several hours during the day thanks to the large windows. The space is divided into two distinct areas: a living room with TV and corner sofa, and a conversation area facing the fireplace that has been preserved and enlarged with marble frames.
The research carried out on furnishings is remarkable. The stylistic choice is, once again, dictated by continuity: double glazing with insulating glass has been made, wrought iron finishes on the inside, while the original fixtures are more visible on the outside. This is a common solution in the renovation of period houses so as not to give up the taste for details and, at the same time, to meet the new requirements of energy efficiency, avoiding unnecessary heat loss.
To further protect the building from this point of view, it was decided to use nanotechnology to restore the exterior plaster, preferring a less invasive solution to the use of other types of exterior coatings.
A hallway reconnects the living area to the entrance lobby, but from the back of the dining area, where a guest bathroom and a reception area useful for reception and concierge functions are located.
KITCHEN
Behind the reception area we have the kitchen with adjacent pantry and small appliances.
The kitchen features a private dining area, a peninsula snack and bar area, ideal for breakfasts, and a large work surface divided into competence areas.
There is space for all the accessories that distinguish a modern kitchen, complete with all the amenities: double electric and steam ovens, blast chiller, vacuum machine, refrigerator differentiated from freezer with Ultra-Low technology for long keeps, and wine cellar. The pantry also turns out to be in harmony with the kitchen.
A utility room, which can be used as a storage room, and an access staircase to the basement are also located here.
STUDY
All the rooms are very bright, with large windows that allow a constant dialog with the outside and the enjoyment of natural light for many hours.
The bathrooms are decorated with light-colored marble tiles in neoclassical style.
ENTERTAINMENT AREA
On the first floor, four of the five existing rooms have been remodeled; the fifth has been converted into a living room dedicated to conversation and entertainment activities.
Conceived as a living area, this living room is divided by a curved glass curtain wall. In the first part, the furniture consists of a large table with a minimalist design, complemented by a counter complete with a bottle rack to create a lounge bar corner; behind the transparency of the curtain wall, a maxi-screen area with comfortable sofas finds its space.
MASTER SUITE
The bathrooms have been kept in their original locations, so the master suite enjoys exclusive use of a large bathroom, as well as a dedicated walk-in closet.
The other double bedrooms feature the following: the largest also has an en-suite bathroom and a walk-in closet; the other two double bedrooms share an external bathroom but also have their own private walk-in closet.
Here the floors are covered with Quadrotta “Versailles” oak parquet, for highly customized compositions that result in very elegant linear designs. The walls are covered with a colorful boiserie, which adds a peculiar touch to the environment, and furnished with modern pieces reinterpreting antique to create a contemporary environment with refined taste.
As to the bathrooms, we have chosen very bright marbles evoking an elegant and refined style, with ad hoc details in the molding, where nothing is left to chance.
The lighting plays a key role; it has been designed to create different settings according to the use of the spaces; they should be warm in the bathrooms, natural in the reading area and soft in the bedrooms.
Spa and Gym
On the second floor, the design included two different areas: the former with two bedrooms for guests or permanent staff, complete with walk-in closets and en-suite bathrooms, as well as a private living area that combines kitchen, dining room and living room in a single space; the latter, which has included the creation of fitness and wellness areas, with its own bathroom.
Since the second floor is attic, there are sloping pitches, which resulted in a design of spaces capable of providing limits of use for the lower areas.
Both areas find their place in perfect harmony. The spa is small but complete: sauna with wood-burning stove, steam bath and essence fountain in the middle of a relaxation area. The gym, on the other hand, is fully equipped and offers free space for body work.
On this level as well, the floors are covered with parquet in a light oak shade. The intention is to keep a consistency with the floor below, with less redundancy but the same taste and attention to detail.
ANNEX
Completing the property is the large private garden, visible from all the windows of the villa, which the new project considers as a place to live and enjoy. The project includes the re-functionalization of the stone building with large windows, located in the widest and flattest part of the garden, which will be used as an annex.
The only room, of ample square footage, has a full view of the lake, offering a breathtaking panorama to the eye. Here, a rustic-style kitchen has been designed in masonry with a large 360-degree fireplace and a bench table on two sides. The walls and floors are rustic in style, echoing the materials used in the construction and furnishing (stone, iron and antique wood). It is the ideal place for convivial moments and long days of celebration among friends.
During warm weather, the outdoor area can be equipped to fully enjoy the park.
To improve accessibility, some walkways have been carried out and the outdoor lighting has been carefully studied to highlight the paths and rest areas even at night.
Both the panoramic area and the private chapel have been preserved, making the property one of a kind. The panoramic area has an open view of the lake, while the chapel continues to be a small hidden jewel, fulfilling its functions and delighting the eyes and spirit of visitors with mosaics and period glass walls.
