FIR ITALIA AND CANTERBURY 30 COLLECTION A Touch of Britain in the Apulia Countryside

Project: Casa Natalie (Ostuni – Apulia)

Year: 2020

Designer: Architect Engineer Dario Flore | Studio Flore - www.florestudio.it 

A country house in the #ostuni area, remodelled over time and with the trullo itself being the only element of value. The aim of the project was to completely redefine the building in order to create a better distribution of the rooms, and to enhance the outdoor spaces with the addition of a garden and a swimming pool.

It was decided that the two-storey house should be renovated in an elegant, refined style, with a timeless classic and romantic touch. The challenge was finding the best way to integrate the bold furnishings and finishes with the environments characterized by essential architectural elements, typical of the area, set against a silvery green background of majestic olive trees, which create an enchanting atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.

Casa Natalie has various different environments and combinations of finishes. In the living area there is an evident homage to local tradition: the typical pavement made of ancient limestone slabs creates a sense of continuity between the old and new spaces of the trullo, as does the white lime-based plaster that covers the walls in all the rooms, including the barrel vaults. The white walls create a strong contrast with the coloured furnishings and decorated materials, making them stand out, in particular the bright blue kitchen, which was made by local craftsmen. The bedrooms and bathrooms are the most decorated environments, with artisanal hand-painted ceramic tiles. 

The master bathroom, characterised by the strong contrast between the opacity of the Carrara marble and the glossy ceramic tiles, is embellished with Fir Italia #canterbury30 taps and mixers, chosen with the elegant and refined English Deluxe Gold finishing. The Anglo-Saxon style is revived in this two-handle tap and mixer collection with simple, stylised lines. #canterbury30 reinterprets the values of Old England aesthetics, giving life to furnishing elements that create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, reminiscent of the British tradition of surrounding yourself with traditional objects that recall past times and make you feel at home.

And it is precisely the Deluxe Gold finishing three-hole wash basin and bidet mixer, shower bar, towel heating rail and coordinated bathroom accessories that connect the three bathrooms in the house: the master bathroom, the second bathroom, and the guest bathroom, located in different areas of the house. In the second bathroom, the marble gives way to a classic black and white checkerboard and the polished white marmorino plaster wall finish frames all the different details with a retro touch. The black enamelled cast iron bathtub completes this entirely "black and white" bathroom with gold accessories, embellished with antiques and elegant velvet chairs.

The guest bathroom is of particular note. Like a jewel set in stone, it is completely covered with Vietri majolica tiles by Francesco De Maio, thereby creating a colourful environment with a strong visual impact; Fir Italia #canterbury30 tap and mixer collection was also chosen for this bathroom, again in the Deluxe Gold finishing.