Casa Silvestre in Grumo Nevano, Crafted as a Calm Urban Refuge Home
Casa Silvestre unfolds as a two-level apartment in Grumo Nevano, Italy, where Labia Design leans into dark tones and carefully tuned light. The project reworks circulation, furnishings, and finishes to give daily life a richer, more composed setting, turning a once-ordinary family home into a layered interior experience. Spaces feel generous yet precise, with each level shaped around a clear purpose and a distinct, tactile palette.
Soft light catches the edges of dark wood as it moves across the living room wall, sliding over brass inlays and the curve of a round dining table. The atmosphere stays quiet and grounded, while contrast between deep finishes and pale surfaces gives each room a clear, almost theatrical depth.
Casa Silvestre is a two-level apartment in Grumo Nevano, Italy, reshaped by Labia Design around a decisive interior palette and a few key architectural moves. The commission begins with the stair, which shifts from a simple connector to a wood and glass presence that organizes daily routines and visual rhythms. Around it, dark tonal choices, warm metals, and tailored joinery set the mood for living, gathering, and retreat.
Stair As Centerpiece
The new stair stands at the heart of the home, conceived as a composed volume of wood and glass rather than a background utility. Its transparent surfaces keep sightlines open, while the solid elements carve out a sense of depth between dining area, circulation, and living room. At the base, concealed storage volumes fold into the structure, a practical layer that keeps clutter down and lets the architecture read as calm. The stair reshapes the dining zone, framing the generous round table and giving meals a subtle theatrical setting.
Living Room Warmth
The living area stretches out as a relaxed, social room anchored by a large Edra sofa that signals comfort and long evenings. In front of it, a custom dark-wood wall becomes both backdrop and cabinet, its vertical planes cut by slim brass inserts that catch light and bring a sense of measured luxury. The room feels open yet grounded, with the sofa’s soft mass balanced against the crisp joinery. Relaxation and conversation sit side by side, supported by a palette that leans into rich tones rather than pure brightness.
Kitchen In Contrast
Across from the living zone, the kitchen arranges itself around a white island that stands out against full-height dark cabinetry. This simple contrast creates a clear working core, where preparation and daily cooking stay centered while tall columns in a deep finish hold storage and integrated appliances. Material echoes tie the room back to the living wall, with similar wood tones and a shared sense of precision. Light surfaces keep the island welcoming, while the darker envelope wraps the room with a composed, deliberate character.
Quiet Suite Above
Upstairs, the main suite reads as a retreat tuned to warmth and softness, distinct from the bolder contrasts below. Gentle colors, padded textures, and calibrated lighting create a slow, enveloping atmosphere that supports rest. A walk-in wardrobe extends the room’s sense of order, hiding storage behind clean surfaces rather than open rails. The en suite bathroom folds in an area conceived as a daily spa, where water, light, and tactile materials support an everyday ritual of care.
Color For The Next Generation
The child’s room shifts the palette with an intense blue that plays against teak parquet underfoot, giving the floor a warmer counterpoint to the vivid walls. That dialogue keeps the room energetic yet balanced, with the natural grain anchoring brighter tones. In the private bathroom, white and blue return in softer shades, lending continuity without overwhelming the compact volume. Color becomes a tool for character, tailored to age and routine while still echoing the rest of the home.
As the day moves from kitchen island to living sofa and up to the quiet suite, the apartment’s layers reveal a consistent, calm sensibility. Dark woods, brass details, and measured color keep each room distinct yet connected. Casa Silvestre lives as a home where material choices and crafted furnishings quietly shape how light, movement, and daily rituals unfold.
Photography by Carlo Oriente
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