An abandoned Medieval property in Italy’s Chianti region comprised by a deconsecrated church and an adjacent apartment in La Convertoie, has been restored and fused into a single residence.
The property dates back to the 1th century. Siena architect Marco Vidotto and Vero Beach, Florida, designer Susan Schuyler Smith were appointed to bring it back to life.
The nave—now the living room—was restored to reflect its original design.
Restoration of the church was done under the direction of the institution charged with preserving Italy’s cultural heritage. Smith’s goal was to “create a warm and cozy space with the use of lighting, furnishings and colour,” while honouring the structure’s rich history. Vidotto brought the fresco above the altar’s replastered arch back to life.
Converted to a study, the sacristy had been added in the 1800s; Smith chose a wainscot chair and trestle table from that period.
The dining room, with its original beams, previously served as a loggia connecting the apartment to the church.
Smith installed the center island and cabinetry in the kitchen. The mid-19th-century fireplace “was kept as the focal point,” says the designer.
In the terrace garden, Chianti-based landscape architect Nancy Leszczynski planted Italian sage, rosemary, a pomegranate tree and assorted other flora.
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All images and information from Architectural Digest.
