For Agnes Rudzite and Maria Rudakova, who are at the helm of Agnes Rudzite Interiors in Latvia (a country on the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Estonia), are guided by a belief that you shouldn’t take design too seriously. As a result, the duo combine a sense of humour and poetical approach in all their projects, which are characterized by the perfect balance between classic and contemporary design, elegant and daring touches, as well as local and cosmopolitan spirit.
Located in the coastal town of Jurmala, 20 kilometres from Riga (the capital of Latvia), this 550 square-meter home — originally built in 1930 — reflects this philosophy that also focuses on making interiors for pleasant living.
“The building itself, its history and architecture suggested its interior and aesthetic directions,” Rudzite says. “We decided to use quite a strong colour palette, with terracotta and olive tones.”
Marble terrazzo floors, lacquered cherry wood arcade and doors, oak parquet and veneers, and green marble portals adorn the different areas of the home, giving an overall feeling of preciousness.
“The client a couple with three kids gave us carte blanche,” Rudzite confesses. “The only brief was that they wanted something more interesting than a usual pale and white and grey or beige Baltic interior.”
Warm colours and rich textures highlight the historic character of the house adorned with furniture and lighting by renowned brands including Cassina, Gubi, La Cornue, Living Divani, Molteni, Gebruder Thonet and CTO Lighting. Several pieces are vintage (and were purchased in Milan) or custom made, creating an interesting and surprising mix of design icons and contemporary treasures. “Altogether, these elements form a harmonious space where past meets future,” Rudzite says.
The architecture from the thirties and Italian villas were the main sources of inspiration for the designers who introduced many colours, materials and details throughout this home while renovating it carefully. One of the biggest challenges consisted of incorporating all modern aspects of life (such as the spa, among others) into an old building where the architecture had to be preserved. “It was quite difficult to squeeze in the staircase together with the lift”, Rudzite remembers.
“This project is a little bit an homage to Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan,” she adds. “We wanted to create a backdrop as if it was always there, with eternal historical materials like marble, wood and brass.” Described by the designers as “a modern villa that respects its history”, this project is destined to stand the test of time.
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