The Interior Language of a Prime Tuscan Estate

The design direction begins with material honesty. A neutral, sophisticated base is enriched through a palette drawn from the Tuscan landscape itself, terracotta beiges, earthy browns, and deep, expressive reds and purples that recall Florentine villas rather than rustic farmhouses. Throughout the home, bold marbles take centre stage: Calacatta Viola, Rosso Levanto and darker variations of Calacatta Viola introduce drama through veining, set against softer, matte textures.

‍

“These marbles have so much movement and depth,” Francesca notes. “We wanted to celebrate that character, but always in balance, letting them sit alongside calmer surfaces so the home never feels heavy.” Terracotta tones ground the spaces, while iron-wrought accents in lighting and furniture echo the villa’s exposed beam work, reinforcing a sense of structural continuity.

‍

Texture plays an equally important role. From woven fabrics and tactile wall coverings to sculptural furniture forms, warmth is layered gently throughout the interiors. There is also a quiet nod to the kind of hospitality found in a Tuscan nonna’s home, the sort where chairs are generously upholstered and hospitality is assumed rather than arranged, reinterpreted here through a more refined lens. Art is integrated as part of this material dialogue, adding rhythm and softness rather than statement. The result is an atmosphere that feels rich yet composed, luxurious without excess.

A large part of the interior planning focused on the journey through the home, and ensuring the entrance feels worthy of the villa’s grand exterior was paramount. To define this moment of arrival, a previously unused area is being reimagined with a sculptural fireplace designed to anchor the entrance. Curved and enlarged to enhance its presence, it becomes a moment of arrival rather than a passageway. Above it, a hand-painted crest, once part of the villa’s fabric, as been recommissioned as a framed artwork, reintroduced as both history and focal point. Antique furniture, wrought iron lighting and a checkerboard rug set the tone: layered, confident, and quietly grand.

‍

From here, the home will open into the main lounge. Vaulted ceilings and arched forms give the space architectural drama, softened by generous seating and textiles. Whilst we retain the paint on several arches as purposeful features of the architecture, the middle adjoining archway will be painted white so the living space reads as one. “It’s about guiding how the room is experienced without interrupting the architecture,” Francesca explains. In a similar way, a large rug bridges the adjoining areas below, visually tying the two halves of the lounge together so the room feels expansive rather than divided. Red marble coffee tables, their structure echoed in a geometric motif on the rug below, add weight and richness, while velvet sofas and custom iron-wrought seating balance solidity with comfort.

‍

Tucked to one side, the study offers a more intimate counterpoint. Colour-washed in a deep red that mirrors the arches beyond, it centres around another fireplace and crest, creating a cocooned space for reading and retreat.

‍

The dining room and kitchen in true Italian style sit at the heart of the home, conceived as places of gathering rather than display. Arched ceilings continue overhead, while the kitchen itself is designed around flow and ease. A cherry-red La Conche oven sets the tone, paired with a farmhouse sink and pink-toned marble counters finished with a thick double bullnosed edge, giving the marble a sense of weight and craftsmanship more often associated with furniture than cabinetry. The island itself is designed slightly lower than standard and supported by slender spindle legs, allowing it to read more like a generous farmhouse table than a fixed kitchen block. “The island needed to feel like furniture,” Francesca explains. “A place people naturally gather around, somewhere that invites conversation rather than dominating the room.”

‍

Upstairs, the design intentionally softens the pace. Bedrooms are designed to envelop rather than impress, with drapery used generously to create a sense of calm while keeping spaces light and breathable. Custom joinery in darker oak introduces functionality, softened through fabric-panelled surfaces that avoid anything clinical.

‍

The principal suite sits at the end of the corridor, its beamed ceiling and tiled surfaces preserved. An opening leads seamlessly into the ensuite, where a freestanding roll-top bath, mottled glass screening and marble-topped sinks create a sense of quiet indulgence. Terracotta flooring underfoot grounds the space, while Gessi fixtures in dark bronze add depth.

‍

Beyond the principal suite, the remaining bedrooms each take their cue from the views and rhythms of the estate. One looks out over the tree-lined approach and vineyards beyond, where a bespoke wardrobe and newly defined suite layout give the room a sense of quiet independence. Another, a personal favourite of co-founder Mélie for its sunset views across the pool, is being designed as a self-contained ensuite retreat. The final bedroom, arranged as a zip-and-link, introduces a slightly greener palette alongside antique furniture, with its own bathroom just across the corridor.

‍

The annex, once a utilitarian storage space, has been reimagined as a house within the house. On the ground floor, a compact kitchen allows for complete independence, while a study-library sits opposite. Upstairs, cotto flooring has been reinstated to tie the space back to the main villa. A generous TV lounge, anchored by a bold rug and a dramatic oversized lampshade, becomes the visual centrepiece of the annex. Custom made in Valencia, the piece is intentionally scaled far beyond a typical pendant, its woven structure and soft velvet trim designed to emphasise the height of the double-volume room. “By playing with scale like this, the lamp draws the eye upward and celebrates the architecture rather than competing with it,” Francesca explains. It leads naturally to the bedroom above, which will be enclosed to create a sense of warmth and intimacy. Bespoke joinery conceals modern comforts, ensuring the annex feels relaxed yet considered.