A stunning 1960s villa nestled in the hills of Castelli Romani near Rome has been transformed into a vibrant family home through an innovative renovation that masterfully integrates period architectural elements with contemporary design. The Rome-based architecture and design firm Studiotamat undertook the ambitious project for a family of five, creating a space that honors the building's Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired heritage while meeting the needs of modern family living.

The villa, located in close proximity to the impressive Renaissance Villa Grazioli between Grottaferrata and Frascati, was originally built in the 1960s as a summer residence for a cosmopolitan couple who traveled extensively for work. The house exemplified the organic architecture principles popularized by Frank Lloyd Wright, featuring clean lines, natural materials like wood and stone, and fireplaces as central gathering points in social spaces.

Studiotamat founders Tommaso Amato, Matteo Soddu, and Valentina Paiola approached the renovation with a philosophy of respectful reinterpretation rather than radical transformation. "We recognized many elements that expressed the original spirit during our first visit: the essential lines of the floor plan, the absence of superfluous ornaments, the use of natural materials, and the generous openings that frame precisely composed views of the garden and landscape," the architects explained.

The new owners - Daniele, who heads a multinational technology company, and Sara, who runs a consulting firm, along with their three daughters Fiamma, Sole, and Celeste - were drawn to the property's unique location that allows the family to enjoy nature at home while remaining easily accessible to the city. This balance between tranquility and connectivity became a driving force in the renovation approach.

To adapt the spaces to a modern family's needs and optimize movement flow, several walls were removed to open up the floor plan. Authentic materials including natural stone, exposed brick masonry, wood, and concrete were preserved but reinterpreted through fresh colors and glass doors that enhance natural light throughout the home. The architects drew inspiration from existing architectural elements to design new furnishing pieces, most notably incorporating the diamond-shaped motifs from the original window grilles into custom-made glass doors in the kitchen and Sara's upstairs office.

The entrance area immediately showcases Studiotamat's attention to detail through a custom-made, timelessly elegant wardrobe cabinet upholstered in Viceversa Monet fabric from L'Opificio with Tanganyika walnut edges. The original beech wood entrance door was carefully restored along with the windows, preserving the house's historical identity and creating an authentic connection to its past. The most striking feature visible from the entrance is an elliptical staircase that elegantly divides and balances the living areas on both sides.

The living and dining rooms feature faithfully restored fireplaces integrated into stone walls, creating inviting spaces dedicated to socializing and relaxation. The conversation and television area is dominated by a stone-clad accent wall with fireplace, while sleek white built-in shelves and two large raspberry-colored Marenco sofas from Arflex cleverly break up the rustic aesthetic. Adjacent to this area, the guest bathroom is lined with exotic vegetation in the form of Colony wallpaper and equipped with a sculptural washbasin reminiscent of 1920s and 1930s design.

The western section houses a 430-square-foot kitchen featuring a custom-made central island of red travertine with integrated cooking surface, teppanyaki plate, and exhaust hood. The dining nook with a bench under the window provides an intimate space for family meals, while a series of doors discretely integrated into wall cabinets conceal refrigerators, pantries, and two secret passages to the service area and second staircase. A glazed passage with diamond motif subtly separates the kitchen from the dining room, with the red travertine slab serving as the absolute star of the kitchen with its warm color and textured grain.

The furnishing reflects the owners' eclectic taste, mixing vintage pieces with contemporary design. In the living room, two 1970s Arflex sofas sit alongside Rammendi stools and Punto Zero coffee tables. Marcel Breuer's Cesca chairs from Knoll accompany a special table from the Big collection by Punto Zero in the dining area, finished in a personalized glossy lacquer that reflects light and makes the space appear deeper.

The first floor features oak parquet flooring in a ladder pattern that visually connects all rooms oriented toward the main staircase. Sara's office, with its custom-made glass doors and view of the large roof terrace, serves as an oasis of light and inspiration made more intimate by a Tuscan Red ceiling from Little Greene. The main bedroom features a forest-motif wallpaper from Colony that accents a single wall and conceals access to the ensuite bathroom, a small wellness retreat with bathtub and washbasin in Arabescato marble.

The children's rooms reflect the daughters' personal tastes with custom furniture, cotton velvet from L'Opificio, and Disney Home wallpapers creating a sophisticatedly playful atmosphere. The wash area between the two rooms is defined by a custom-made dove-blue metal cabinet and Tivoli tiles by Cristina Celestino for Fornace Brioni. One children's room features a bed with headboard in red cotton velvet from L'Opificio and a wardrobe decorated with wallpaper from Sanderson's Disney Home collection.

The top floor completes the journey through the house with breathtaking views extending to Rome. Terracotta-colored rubber flooring from Artigo defines an area dedicated to relaxation, cinema, and games - an intimate, cozy place where the girls can spend their free time and the family can experience moments of quiet and connection during winter months. The space includes a shower lined with striking orange and white tiles.

Studiotamat successfully achieved an elegant balance between history and present throughout this ambitious project from ground floor to attic. "Contemporary design benefits greatly from maintaining a conscious relationship with history and place," explained Matteo Soddu. "Attention to detail, the choice of local materials, and focus on everyday life were already strongly present here, albeit as expressions of a lifestyle from 60 years ago. Our interventions arose from the desire to harmonize these values with the needs of today's living."

The renovation stands as a testament to the possibility of honoring architectural heritage while creating spaces that serve contemporary family life, demonstrating how thoughtful design can bridge decades of style evolution without sacrificing the integrity of either era.