The White House in Monza, Italy

This spectacular home in Monza, just outside of Milan, actually started out in the early 1900s as a burlesque theatre. It later became a bank before being abandoned and left dilapidated before the current owners found it and undertook a massive transformation. Valeria Presezzi and her family worked with renowned Italian architect Piero Lissoni to create a serene and tranquil home around the building’s original historic shell.

The piece de resistance is the large glass atrium in the middle of the building, softening the starkness of the space with a touch of natural green and making it seem that much more serene and inviting. Fittingly for a former theatre, the high ceilings open space provide lots of room for drama like this over-sized glass chandelier designed by Lissoni for Italian lighting brand Vistosi. The contrast between the original mouldings from the theatre and the clean modern lines make the space so much richer and more dynamic. The skylight atop is a wonderful feature - flooding the space with natural light and emphasizing the beautiful architecture. The all white palette keeps the emphasis on the spectacular architecture and stops the space from becoming too visually busy with too many colours or patterns.