A Historic Seaside Apartment Reimagined with Smart Compact Design
In Santa Margherita Ligure, a 45-square-meter apartment inside an 18th-century fisherman’s building has been carefully redesigned by TIPS Architects. Once limited by just two street-facing windows and a dark entrance, the layout was opened to bring natural light across the entire unit.
The living area now stretches through the apartment, divided into functional dining, kitchen, and lounge zones, while the opposite side houses a bedroom, walk-in closet, and a larger bathroom.
Custom furniture and finishes were tailored to maximize every inch. Original features such as exposed beams, arched windows, and wall niches were preserved, while antique double doors were repurposed to separate rooms flexibly, echoing the home’s history.
Their painted surfaces blend with whitewashed walls and ceilings, contrasting with minimal contemporary handles designed by Marco Pisati.
A restrained palette of white, oak flooring, and custom pieces in brass, marble, and ebony defines the compact interior. In the living area, the sculptural Pierre coffee tables by Flou provide flexible arrangements, while the Counterbalance lamp by Luceplan adds a striking linear accent and functional light.
The kitchen conceals tall units within walls to reduce visual weight, and storage is integrated seamlessly to hide technical systems. Modern lighting and enlarged bath facilities complete a layout that balances efficiency, comfort, and historic character transforming this small apartment into an elegant year-round retreat.
Photographer: DANIELE PAVESI