LAKE SUPERIOR

A sensitive renovation has revitalised this

elegant family property on Lake Como
WORDS JULIET BENNING PHOTOGRAPHY AND STYLING MARCO BERTOLINI/LIVING INSIDE

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 SITTING ROOM
The stone flooring
in Casa Bianco, the
fisherman’s house
connected to the villa,
came from Moltrasio,
the coastal village where
the owners’ family came
from originally.
Walls in Sage Green, from
local paint maker Lechler.

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 KITCHEN
The glazed, copper-framed
doorway was designed to
mimic an Art Nouveau style.
Wall divider by local artisan
Matteo Molinari.

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O nly a few years ago, Villa Luce,
situated on the edge of Lake
Como, sat dormant. Its shutters
were permanently closed and
its gardens lay quiet. Today, the story could not
be more different. After an extensive renovation
by its owner Massimo Moltrasio, the villa has
reclaimed its former identity as a lively holiday
home for his extended family.
The overhaul was prompted by Massimo and his
sister, Francesca, who were saddened by the house’s
empty status. ‘It had been shared by the family for
many years, but by buying our cousins’ shares we
were able to move forward with our vision for it,’
explains Massimo. The house was in a forlorn
condition when Massimo and Francesca finally
prised it open to reveal its secrets. ‘It hadn’t been
entered for around eight years, so it was in an awful
condition when we started,’ says Massimo. ‘The
humidity of the lake had done some significant
damage in that time, and the house was filled with
a mixture of clashing furnishing styles, from antiques
to pieces dating from the Eighties when the property
was last regularly used.’
The large lakeside villa is actually composed of two
separate, yet interconnected properties. The Villa
Luce is the grander main house, built in 1846, while
Casa Bianca is a fisherman’s house built in the
18th century and is consequently more humble
in size and decor. Keen to give both parts of the
property their own clear identities, two differing
schemes were created. ‘For the main house, we took
our cue from the Art Deco period of the Twenties and
Thirties,’ says Massimo. ‘The fisherman’s house suited
a more Flemish look – simple and modern, yet raw.’
The painstaking restoration took four years and
included the structural improvement and cleaning
of walls and elimination of damp. New floors were
laid and the ceilings were replaced. Throughout the
project Massimo and Francesca were sympathetic
I NSP I RATION
to the period details of the house, making design
choices that suited its historical context. The villa
was rewired with many new technical aspects cleverly
concealed. ‘We had to do a lot of work to bring
air conditioning to each room without disturbing
the traditional look,’ says Massimo. ‘We eventually
opted for bronze copper grilles that looked authentic
to the Art Deco period.’
The siblings were confident enough in their taste
not to employ an interior designer, with their
aesthetic choices informed by their own family
background. ‘We grew up in elegant homes with
amazing furniture that had been passed down through
the generations,’ says Massimo. ‘Much of our
appreciation for colour and textiles has filtered down
from our family business, Somma, which is a home
linen brand founded back in 1867.’ Alongside family
heritage, many of the interior choices are deeply rooted
in local traditions, with beautiful stone from the coastal
town of Moltrasio used for the floor in the old servants’
quarters of the fisherman’s house, as well as the work
of regional artisans, many of whom are long-standing
friends of the family, scattered throughout.
In keeping with the Moltrasios’ sensitive renovation,
the small lake-front garden is a riot of fecundity. It
doesn’t seek to impress, but is rather a haven of roses,
mature trees and rampant, well-established climbers.
‘I think of it as a well-kept secret,’ reveals Massimo,
who is fond of swimming in the lake every day. The
garden was restored by Massimo and Francesca’s
mother, who preserved many of the original trees,
taking special care with the delightful smelling
200-year-old Osmanthus fragrans (fragrant olive)
flanking the front door, typical of 18th-century
planting in the region. It is just another example of
the authentic ingredients that so thoroughly anchor
this charming villa to both its surroundings and the
ancient family heritage of its owners. &
Q The villa is available to rent via villalucelakecomo.it.
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 DINING ROOM
Sea green vases were the
starting point for the
colour scheme. An artist
and friend of the family
created the wallpaper in
the room the Moltrasios
call le fumoir
(smoking room).
Wallpaper,
Elena Carozzi.
Vases, Guaxs.

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I NSP I RATION

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 STAIRCASE
A contemporary light
fitting brings a chic
modern update to the
elaborate balustrade.
Pearls pendant light,
Formagenda.

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CASA BIANCA
MASTER BEDROOM
‘To bathe while looking
out to the most beautiful
lake on Earth is priceless,’
says Massimo.
Bedlinen, Somma. Spoon
bath, Agape.

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