In Rome, an Apartment Comes Alive with Color and Tradition
Studio 02A’s renovation of VDS House, a 1930s Rome apartment, blends expressive design with historic preservation. The defining feature is a series of custom iron-and-glass doors in vibrant “Chinese lacquer” red, which introduce rhythm and color throughout the home.
These doors frame original terrazzo flooring, which has been carefully maintained and extended into newer areas like the kitchen, where it’s paired with Marazzi’s marble-look porcelain stoneware in the “Ghiara Minuta Mix” finish for a cohesive yet elevated touch.
Each room showcases a curated palette of high-end materials and design objects. In the kitchen, a VenetaCucine layout is framed by FermLiving’s “Grid” wallpaper, and anchored by the sculptural “Clessidra” table by Midj and “Fifties” chairs from Calligaris, upholstered in Rubelli’s luxurious “Nexus” fabric.
The lighting is equally intentional: the kitchen features the iconic ASTEP 2065 lamp by Gino Sarfatti, while the living room balances modernism and tradition with Fontana Arte’s “Tropico” wall lamp, the “Flat” pendant by Vibia, and Flos’ “Taccia Small” table lamp. Vintage furniture, custom plaster moldings by Stucchi Cecere, and Topakustik acoustic panels complete the composition.
The bathrooms reveal refined contrasts in tone and texture. The guest bathroom features Marca Corona’s coral “Multiforme” tiles, Catalano’s “Canova Royal” sink, and lighting from Atelier Areti and Kdln. In the master bath, Ceramica Vogue’s “Confetti” tiles in the Torino pattern line the walls, paired with Zucchetti “Pan” faucets and the “Small Globo” wall lamp by Gropius Lamp.
Throughout the apartment, bespoke elements like oak-framed arched openings, walnut mirrors, custom curtain tracks in iron, and soft textiles—from Lisa Corti quilts to velvet-and-gauze curtains—reinforce the studio’s approach: layering tactile, timeless design with bold personality.