A young family from Milan, in love with the beauty of Salento, its culture and traditional food and wine, decided to set up their second home in Puglia. They wanted a refuge in which to spend their summers, holidays and all their spare time, together with their 3 young children. An escape way from the hectic pace of life in the city…
So, after much searching, they found and purchased a generously-sized top floor apartment in an historic noble dwelling in the heart of Lecce.
The building, which is a spectacular 14th Century architecture in the city centre, affords unrivalled peace and quiet. Indeed, high walls separate it from the swarming city streets. All the interior spaces actually overlook an enchanting entrance porch which can be reached from the street along a hallway.
The shady loggias on the piano nobile, along with the large equipped terraces, also overlook the internal courtyard.
The contrast between the Baroque architecture and the minimal designer furnishings
The building, which was renovated during the Baroque era, is richly decorated with cornices, friezes and bas-reliefs sculpted from traditional Lecce limestone. This type of limestone is easy to process and, when the sun strikes it, it turns a warm golden shade of honey.
The apartment in question is located on the top floor of this ancient complex and it boasts a large terrace affording spectacular views of the city.
After major refurbishment work, it was finally time to make the best decision: the furnishings. Indeed, “dressing” their home has always been a great passion the owners share, along with a passion for good food. To create an attractive contrast with the architecture, they wanted to give their Salento home a contemporary, minimal look, that blends in with the austere elegance of Lecce Baroque style.
The owners succeeded in creating a setting that is concurrently eclectic and welcoming, by alternating designer objects with vintage pieces from the 50s and 60s.
So the furnishings, which are all distinguished by a simple and minimal design, liaise harmoniously with the many references to the history of art made in each and every room.
In a “total white” space stands a kitchen from the Ego line
The most daring contrast (yet a veritable success) between old and new can doubtless be found in the large kitchen.
Here, the owners – who are both gourmet junkies – wanted an uber-modern stainless steel kitchen by Abimis. The decision was inevitable: indeed, they had already picked a kitchen from the Atelier line by Abimis for their Milanese home. They therefore demanded the same top quality for their “holiday” home too. The choice fell on a kitchen from the Ego line in stainless steel which has been orbitally polished by hand.
A model with a minimal, highly distinctive design, in a warm and matt finish.
To give the kitchen maximum visibility and allow it to play the true starring role, they decided on a setting with a total white look. The walls are white, in typical Mediterranean plaster. The exposed beams on the gabled ceiling are white. The floor is also white, covered with bright polished-look acrylic resin. Last but not least, the table and chairs are equally white. The only splash of colour is provided by the yellow door and a vintage drawer unit from the Fifties, in emerald green lacquered natural wood.
An Abimis kitchen (or rather, two…) for dinners on the terrace
Fully exploiting the superior performance levels of this professionally-derived kitchen, the owners often organise social events on their terrace to host the many guests and friends who come to visit. But even when they are alone, they are used to dining outdoors. This is a privilege they can grant themselves all year round in Lecce owing to the mild weather with very little rain. And after eating, they can enjoy the cool breeze at night and the view of the cathedral which, at sunset, lights up with twinkling golden lights.
This is probably exactly the reason why they ordered a second outdoor kitchen by Abimis to be fitted on the terrace. This way, they won’t even miss one minute of this indescribable show, even while they are cooking.
