This 753-Square-Foot Milan Apartment Is Extravagant, Romantic, and Extremely Pink
Just like every other aspect of interior design, color is a conscious choice. Color has always played a key role in communication, sending messages that are appealing or off-putting. Architect Nadia Orecchio has long explored color through her styling and interior design projects, and she has now created an entirely pink home that expresses femininity, elegance, romanticism, and a pop sensibility all at once. The apartment stands as a bit of aesthetic madness, catapulting her guests into an extravagant, almost fairy-tale world.
“Dealing with this apartment was a real challenge,” Nadia says, “a feat of complex, stylistic choices and color and geometric combinations. The goal was always to transform a traditional three-room apartment into a modern and very personalized environment.” The impetus for the project was Giovanna Siliprandi, the architect’s partner and muse, who, with her delicate features, fair skin, and warm red hair, inspired Nadia to create a home that captured Giovanna’s spirit. “Ornella Vanoni, a great artist and family friend, exclaimed as soon as she entered the apartment, ‘You have made an apartment that looks just like her.’”
Pink, an eclectic and vital color—symbolizing the ability to give and receive love—includes among its countless unique traits being able to transcend gender divides. If one associates pink only with femininity, well, a history lesson is in order. In the first half of the 19th century, pink was not automatically associated with women: it was the opposite. Because of its proximity to red—a color that expressed strength, virility, and military prowess—pink was seen as a masculine hue.
Exploring the color’s many nuances, the great designer Alessandro Mendini helped the world discover how objects could be given a new identity precisely through the very simplicity of color. Following Alessandro’s lead, Nadia has become a leading proponent for an interior design approach built around harmony and delicacy. With pink, Nadia has transformed her apartment into an ethereal place where one can dream and immerse oneself in an almost surreal universe.
All 753 square feet of the apartment are tinged with pink. From the walls up to the ceiling, including furniture pieces like the large bookcase that dominates the entire living area, pink is ubiquitous in this home. Pillows, fabrics, upholstery, and even the cat’s comfortable bed glow with all the various warm shades of pink. It is a shade that, in Nadia’s eyes evokes the austere and, at the same time, delicate beauty of her companion.
The home offers many atmospheric nooks and crannies, such as the dining room where a stunning sideboard has vintage design elements, illuminated by Louis Poulsen’s bright lamp. Making the room even more magical, vintage furniture in neutral shades further enhances the dominant color of the design. Stand-out pieces include the sofa by Ditre Italia, the coffee table by Kartell, the bedroom closet by Driade, and the table light by FontanaArte. The magnificent red armchair by Molteni&Dada complements the colors of the home, as does the Smeg Italia kitchen in a flaming red that stands out against the pink walls. In short, it’s an apartment in the heart of Milan that looks like something out of Alice in Wonderland.
Marco Tacchini1/9In this 753-square-foot apartment, everything has a pink tone, from the walls to the windows and even the curtains.
Marco Tacchini2/9In the living area, a large custom bookcase houses an LG Signature television.
Marco Tacchini3/9Nadia has created an all-pink home that expresses femininity, elegance, romanticism and, at the same time, a decidedly pop sensibility.
Marco Tacchini4/9The dining room is luminated by a Louis Poulsen PH5 lamp. In the background are a lamp by Kartell and glass doors by Foa Srl.
Marco Tacchini5/9Vintage furniture sits alongside contemporary design elements.
Marco Tacchini6/9The Smeg Italia kitchen in flaming red contrasts with the pink walls throughout the home. Ceramic tiles by Tonalite Italia, lamp by Kartell, and glass doors by Foa Srl.
Marco Tacchini7/9In the bedroom, a Driade Italia closet, a coffee table by Kartell that serves as a bedside table, and a FontanaArte table lamp.
Marco Tacchini8/9Pink walls by Sikkens Italia, BTicino sockets, and ceramic wall tiles by Ceramica Vogue.
Marco Tacchini9/9In the bathroom, Ceramica Vogue wall tiles and accessories by Fornasetti make a statement.
