A concrete floor is a top trend among consumers who like metropolitan or urban-chic design, but it is not always possible. For a Turin loft renovation, interior designer Paola Marè chose Beton porcelain stoneware collection with a concrete-effect by Casalgrande Padana to achieve a similar look.
Located in a courtyard in the center of the city, Loft M50 is a perfect example of adaptive reuse. Marè converted a portion of a building that was originally used as a body shop. She removed the wall that divided the two long, narrow structures to create a wider and more regular plan. The designer also removed a portion of the roof to create a private outdoor space. “This light well, which further enhances the brightness of the space, is bordered on two sides by large sliding windows that create continuity between the interior and exterior,” the designer says.
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Marè exploited the height by inserting three mezzanines: one houses the bedroom with an open-plan bathtub and a small bathroom, while the other two are relaxation areas or spaces for guests.
The large open space houses the living and dining areas, while metal stairs lead to the upper rooms of the unit. “To add a dynamic edge to the whole place, the stairs up to the mezzanines have been designed in different shapes and colors,” the designer says. “The lighting has also been studied with great care to create a distinctive atmosphere for each area and their different functions.”
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The sliding wooden slatted panel that separates the study from the rest of the house was custom-made, as were the fixed furnishings and the kitchen, which is located under the smaller mezzanine and is screened by a masonry partition. Dominated by white, contrasting with black iron, the interiors are also warmed by birch plywood elements.
On the ground floor, the large open-plan area features the living room, the dining area and a masonry partition wall, while the master bathroom and a study are separated from the rest of the home by a sliding wood panel.
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For the open-plan floors in the living area and kitchen, the designer used light Pearl Beton porcelain stoneware tiles in two sizes–30 inches 30 inches and 30 inches by almost 60 inches. She also used the Dark color–in the 30-inch-by-30-inch size–for the bathroom.
The ceramic tile, the designer says, mimics concrete but gives it a soft, cloudy look with an appealing color. It “offers a striking response to the evolving requirements of contemporary living styles, and is the ideal choice to shape enchanting, sophisticated living spaces with plenty of character,” the designer says.
Beton comes in a natural surface and is available in five colors and five sizes, from 30 by 60 centimeters to 75.5 by 151 centimeters.
