Growing up, Massimo Ricci cherished the time spent at his grandparents’ summer home in the historic center of Termoli, an old fishing town filled with narrow alleyways and pastel facades on Italy’s Adriatic coast. The 650-square-foot, two-story house accommodated as many as seven family members when his mother was a child, although space was always an issue, and socializing happened mostly outdoors. To this day, some of Massimo’s fondest memories are of his grandparents chatting with their friends in the street outside.

So when he and his girlfriend, Valentina Martinelli, asked Gaetano Guerrera at Rispoli Guerrera Architetti to remodel the modest summer residence, they wanted all the things found in a “normal” home—a kitchen, a table, and a sofa for cozying up and watching soccer games—but they were concerned about the lack of light and space. The result is a deeply personal renovation, packed with vivid color and space-saving solutions, that has everything the couple asked for—including ample play space for their three cats: Rafa, Marvin, and Lucio.

Massimo Ricci: My family home is just three hundred feet from the seaside in the historic center of the town—it’s the perfect Italian summer escape. Since Valentina and I work in two restaurants I own in the main square nearby, we decided to live in the house and restore it according to our taste. Gaetano had already renovated the restaurants, so we knew we could trust him.

Gaetano Guerrera: Renovating a home is different from a commercial space. A restaurant needs to be fun, practical, and profitable, but a home is different because every detail is personal. As an architect, you have less freedom.

Working in the historic center came with all kinds of challenges. The alleyway is just over six feet wide, so we couldn’t access the front door with a van or an excavator. We had to bring everything by hand or hoist it down onto the small patio on the opposite side of the house.

GG: Massimo and Valentina asked me to create a colorful and joyful space. Positioned in front of the patio door, which is the main source of natural light on the ground floor, the bright-yellow kitchen and accent staircase reflect the sunshine from outside. The navy blue and turquoise floor tiles bring the sea into the house without making it kitschy.

The space may be limited, but next to the entrance there’s a dedicated laundry area, a small bathroom, and a play space for the cats with a climbing tree. They roam freely in the house, and Lucio, the Maine coon, is big—like a wolf! Upstairs, we also made a space for them in the window nook.

GG: Historic buildings are full of surprises: There are no straight lines, and all the walls are slanted. A nearly four-foot-thick stone wall made it tricky to install an extractor hood above the kitchen stove, so we went for a cooktop equipped with an integrated filtering hood.

MR: Coming home after working late, I want a space that is warm, colorful, and comfortable. We don’t host much since the restaurants are just a few minutes away, but we have the perfect, cozy space just for us.

Valentina Martinelli: I was worried we wouldn’t have enough room for our clothes, so I love the sixty-five-square-foot walk-in closet.

MR: My favorite spot in the house is the extendable red sofa. It’s big enough for me, Valentina, and the cats.

Project Credits:

Interior and Lighting Design: Rispoli Guerrera Architetti / @rispoliguerrera

Structural Engineer: Rocco Fiorilli Architect

Cabinetry: Petti Cucine / @petti_cucine

—

Head back to the January/February 2025 issue homepage

Also Appears In

Construction Diary: 650 Square Feet Is Perfect for an Italian Couple and Their Three Cats