FRANCO ITALO DISCO

A 105 sqm Belgrade apartment brings restored furniture, Italian lighting, French references and a confident use of colour into a home that has no interest in erasing its past.

This apartment never needed a clean slate. In fact, some of its strongest elements were already there. Original parquet, marble, built-in cabinetry and pieces of furniture had enough character to make replacement feel less interesting than reuse.

The interior was therefore built in layers. Olive-green walls give the living room a deep backdrop for restored furniture, while ochre Jannelli&Volpi wallpaper shifts the mood in the dining area. The kitchen introduces lavender blue and terracotta, loosely connecting Italian and French references without turning either into a theme.

Lighting adds another layer to the mix. Bespoke pieces from Oktogon sit alongside vintage lamps sourced from Jane Doe’s Interiors in Rome. The same studio was involved in repainting and restoring the existing cabinetry, making it difficult to draw a neat line between what is new and what was already part of the apartment.

In the bedroom, the palette settles into eucalyptus and walnut, while the children’s rooms are lighter and more restrained. The original floors were sanded back and brought closer to a natural oak tone, while decades-old marble was polished rather than replaced. Windows, doors and radiators were retained wherever there was a good reason to keep them.

FRANCO ITALO DISCO is not an attempt to recreate Rome or Provence in Belgrade. It is more interesting as a home where different geographies, decades and personal histories are allowed to coexist without being forced into a single style.

I believe in sustainability and giving old things a second chance—but only if they can truly shine again. This apartment was full of such elements, each carrying the weight of time.

The original parquet, over 40 years old, was in perfect condition. It just needed a little care—sanded, lacquered, and transformed from its deep mahogany tone to a natural oak finish. The walls and ceilings, on the other hand, told a different story. Cracks from age required a glass mesh overlay, a faster and more effective solution than traditional scraping. Radiators were blended into the walls with a matte coat, while the windows and doors were refreshed without unnecessary intervention.The biggest challenge was the marble, over four decades old. Time had left its mark, but instead of replacing it, I chose to restore it. Carefully polished, it now reflects light once again, carrying the story of both its past and future within this space.