This Delightful Abode Is a Modern Take on “Grandma’s House”

Oozing with bright, cheerful vibes, this revamped apartment captures the nostalgia of hanging out at your cool grandmother’s house.

Text by

Michele Koh Morollo

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Named Le Temps Retrouvé, which translates to "time regained" or "the past recaptured," Andrea Marcante and Adelaide Testa of local studio Marcante-Testa have envisioned this lovely home to be "a repository of the most intimate facets of people and their memory."

Located in the center of Milan, Italy, the 1,300-square-feet apartment has been lightly renovated on a tight schedule to improve spatial perception, as well as add character.

A look at the candy-colored sofa by Arflex with cushions by Kvadrat, and a 1950s rattan wicker by Gio Ponti.

The airy abode features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and gorgeous French windows that look out to trees in the internal courtyards.

Marcante-Testa has integrated materials like wicker headboards, linen-upholstered seats, straw chairs, accessorized dividers, colorful wallpaper with botanical prints, and splashes of candy-toned greens and pinks to create a modern rendition of "grandma’s house."

Although the home is nestled in a busy city, it has the pleasure of overlooking a peaceful internal garden. Here is a verdant tree in the middle of the courtyard on the property.

Details of the passageway: wallpaper by Maharam, a reading area with a vintage bookcase, and a 1950s armchair from Carrozzeria 900.

Shop the Look

In the living room sits a side table by Classicon. The Aubusson carpet is by Carpet Eden.

Here is a look at the lacquered MDF and Vienna straw cabinet, which was designed by Marcante-Testa and crafted by Falegnameria Fiore.

This room features wallpaper by Fornasetti for Cole&Son, a wall lamp Grillo by Petite Friture, a custom-made table-top in marble-effect laminate by Abet Laminati (sitting on legs by Hay), chairs by Hubsch, vases by Spotti, resin on parquet floor by Rezina, and a suspended lamp Formakami by &Tradition.

The interior perspectives change and vary depending on the chromatic contrasts on the walls. Sunlight pours in through the windows, imbuing the vibrant walls with a somewhat surreal glow.

In the bathroom there is a lacquered MDF, metal, and glass cabinet, which has also been designed by Marcante-Testa.

Here is a look at a rattan headboard by Maison du Monde, and a metallic frame wardrobe designed by Marcante-Testa, with a curtain by Kvadrat. The Suzie pedant lamp is by Colonel.

In the dining area, the architects have also incorporated a pale-green resin to partially cover the wooden floor and create a "carpet" around the table and chairs.

In this room, the wallpaper is by Svenskt Tenn, and the table lamp is by Servomuto.

Using the visual relationship with the greenery outdoors as a guide, Marcante-Testa has created a family home with plenty of personality, where humor, lightness, and a delightful sense of nostalgia bring family members closer together.