




Modern meets ancient in this recent renovation by Ludovica Serafini and Roberto Palomba, the high-profile design couple whose work has been heralded by many superstar manufacturers and won several prestigious awards. Eager to find a holiday home that serves as an escape from their hectic Milanese lifestyle, the designers carved out a serene retreat out of the 17th-century oil mill in Salento, a good 600 miles away from Milan.
Immediately appreciating the mill's potential, the couple have retained its raw spirit, preserving the ancient stone floors, walls and arches. In order to allow more light into the space, a number of sky lights were created, and the back of the structure was opened up to fashion a sun drenched courtyard, letting natural light flood through the rest of the space. The entire dwelling is filled with the couple's designs, from furniture that Serafini and Palomba designed for Zanotta dominating the living room, through to the artfully adapted kitchen area, complete with two of the couple's designs for the Italian cabinetry company Elmar.