Set Architects adds reflective steel and glossy furniture to Rome apartment

Located in Rome’s Nomentano district, a short walk from Villa Torlonia, House with Reflective Furniture reimagines an early 20th-century apartment for a young family. Designed by Set Architects, the renovation responds to the limitations of a traditional floor plan while carefully preserving the architectural identity of the original residence.

Like many apartments of its era, the home was organized as a sequence of enclosed rooms connected by thick load-bearing walls. Generous four-metre ceilings and original openings defined a formal layout that no longer reflected contemporary patterns of living. Rather than erase this character, the architects selectively reshaped it, introducing greater openness without losing the building’s historical presence.

The most significant intervention occurs within the living area, where two new structural openings connect the kitchen, dining room, living room, and lounge into a continuous sequence of spaces. The result is a home that feels visually connected while remaining adaptable to changing daily routines.

Flexibility is further reinforced through a series of full-height folding panels and sliding partitions. These movable elements allow rooms to shift between open and enclosed configurations, giving the apartment the ability to accommodate family life with varying degrees of privacy while maintaining a coherent spatial flow.

Throughout the renovation, existing architectural details are treated as integral parts of the new interior. Original timber doors with coloured glass inserts and decorative ceiling mouldings remain in place, providing a tangible link to the apartment’s early 20th-century origins.

The contemporary intervention is defined by a restrained material palette. A bespoke oak parquet floor, laid in a continuous geometric pattern, establishes visual continuity across the apartment. Custom-built cabinetry finished in glossy butter and grey-blue lacquer introduces warmth and subtle colour, while stainless steel brings a crisp, reflective quality to the kitchen, sliding partitions, and bespoke bathroom fixtures.

Rather than contrast old and new, Set Architects allows both to coexist through careful restraint. Historic details remain visible, while contemporary insertions introduce flexibility, clarity, and precision without overwhelming the existing architecture.

Project Credit

Project Name: House with Reflective Furniture
Location: Rome, Italy
Completion Year: 2026
Design Firm: SET Architects | @setarchitects
Photographer: Federico Farinatti