25bh | c it y
MASTER BEDROOM
Cool, calm shades make Mia’s room a tranquil retreat. Calanque rocking chair is comparable, £324. Maisons du Monde. Try the Cargo canvas by Ben Lowe, £375, Loaf
BATHROOM
The bathroom, designed by Mia, is simple but sleek. Try the Crosswater wall-mounted chrome taps, £261.99, Tap Warehouse. The Barrington oak mirror is similar, £99, Dunelm
BATHROOM
This space has been finished with a splashback made of reclaimed planks. The oak-effect textured wallpaper has this look, £21.97 a roll, Your 4 Walls
wooden stairwell – twice the usual width and made of larch wood and acidulated steel – rises dramatically from the sitting room to connect with the first floor. Mia preserved the original roofing with beams and tie-rods, creating an impressive double-height ceiling. ‘I wanted to be able to take in the whole house at a glance,’ she says. But the project was not without its challenges. ‘Because the building had been a factory, the major issue was to transform it into a house, in accordance with Italian planning law,’ says Mia. ‘It was complicated, but work eventually got underway.’ The two-year project included the conversion from industrial unit to residential property, as well as a total interior renovation. This involved removing part of the roof to reposition the windows at the front, and the creation of a small, private terrace on the first floor. Upstairs, both bedrooms have small balconies and the windows 26 | 2 5 B H FEB RUA RY 2020
look out onto the well-tended garden. ‘Natural light means everything to me – it’s fundamental to living,’ says Mia. It would have been easy for the large space to feel cold and unwelcoming, but Mia’s industrial-style decor, mixing chunky recycled wood, galvanised steel and lights hanging at intimate levels, means the former factory feels cosy and warm. Flea-market finds mix together, creating a timeless, balanced look. Neutral black, white and grey shades and natural fabrics bring a relaxed feel to the space, mixed with souvenirs from trips abroad and inherited pieces. Even with the work finished, Mia likes to make regular updates to further refine the property. ‘My home is different, as it’s quiet, green and I don’t feel as if I live in the city,’ she says. ‘I love the roof structure and the large wooden beams, industrial-style windows, and the volume of the space –it’s the perfect home for me.’ FO R STO C K I STS G O TO W HER E TO B U Y