Designers: Arseny Brodach, Katya Rostova
Location: Nice, France
Year: 2025
Area: 45 m²
Photography: Arseny Brodach
Located in Nice’s vibrant Port district, this 45-square-metre apartment occupies a unit within an early twentieth-century residential building. Theproject combines preserved historical features with contemporary interventions,custom-designed furniture, and carefully curated vintage objects, creating acompact yet highly functional home for a young family.
The apartment was selected for its original architectural character, including hand-painted ceiling frescoes and traditional terracotta Tomette floor tiles.Rather than restoring the interior to a specific historical period, the designers sought to establish a dialogue between the building’s heritage and acollection of twentieth-century design classics, contemporary furniture, andbespoke elements developed specifically for the project.
Despite its modest footprint, the apartment accommodates two bedrooms, anopen-plan kitchen and living space, a spacious bathroom, and an entrance hall.A strategic reconfiguration of the layout allowed the designers to maximizefunctionality while preserving a sense of openness and visual clarity. Therenovation was completed within two and a half months.
The most significant intervention involved relocating the kitchen into theformer living area. Built around a modified system of standard IKEA modules,the kitchen stretches across the entire length of the room, adapting to theapartment’s irregular geometry. Vertical side panels and architectural framingelements were fabricated from IKEA MDF components and custom-installed on site.A red travertine countertop and backsplash, sourced from a manufacturer innorthern Italy, introduce warmth and material richness while acting as a visualfocal point within the interior.
Several furniture pieces were designed by the architects and produced by theirown furniture brand, Delo. These include an amber velvet sofa and bent-plywooddining chairs finished in Italian Alpi veneer. The walnut dining table, stainedin a deep burgundy tone and finished with a high-gloss lacquer, was produced bythe Vibe workshop according to the designers’ drawings. A vintage USM Hallershelving unit was sourced in Lyon and integrated into the living spacealongside contemporary and collectible design objects.
Lighting throughout the apartment relies on carefully positioned local sourcesrather than conventional ceiling fixtures. In the living area, the iconic Arcofloor lamp by Flos illuminates the dining table, while portable and table lampsby Hay and &Tradition contribute additional layers of light. A vintageItalian lamp featuring a Murano glass shade introduces colour and character,while integrated kitchen lighting highlights the texture of the travertinesurfaces.
The interior incorporates a mixture of contemporary design, vintage finds, andcollectible pieces. Decorative objects from Alessi, Artek, and Delo aredisplayed alongside items discovered at antique markets in Nice and Milan.Among them is the rare Fuoco lamp designed by Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia,produced in a limited edition of one thousand pieces.
Artwork also plays an important role within the project. Paintings acquiredfrom local galleries include a landscape by Theodore Schempp, the art dealerknown for representing Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Nicolas de Staël inthe United States, as well as a mid-century view of Saint-Tropez by Frenchpainter Jean Pons.
In the primary bedroom, walls are finished in a muted blue tone that echoes thecolours of the original ceiling frescoes. IKEA furniture is paired with Artekstools used as bedside tables, while lighting is provided by a Hay wall fixtureand the Love is a Verb lamp designed by Tatiana Brodach for Seletti.
The bathroom retains much of its original character. Existing white ceramictiles were preserved, while a yellow ceiling introduces a contrasting accent. Softpink sanitary ware by Bleu Provence, a Jacob Delafon shower system, a vintageflea-market mirror, and a Louis Poulsen wall light contribute to the room’sdistinctive atmosphere.
The entrance hall is finished in a grey tone that references the kitchencabinetry and interior doors. A sculptural pendant lamp by Normann Copenhagenand a vintage Unghia mirror designed by Rodolfo Bonetto complete the space.
Attention to detail extends throughout the apartment. Minimalist Rond switchesand sockets by Belgian manufacturer Prado are integrated flush with the walls,while interior doors feature classic German-made porcelain handles.
The project draws its palette from the colours and textures of Nice and theFrench Riviera. Warm terracotta, soft blues, burgundy accents, natural stone,and vintage objects create an interior that feels both contemporary and deeplyconnected to its Mediterranean setting.
