A contemporary style with echoes of classicism

The interior design of this apartment in the Sicilian town of Cefalù demonstrates how design techniques and colour schemes can be used to fulfil the owners’ specific needs in terms of both style and functionality. Situated on the second floor of a recently built structure, the apartment belongs to a young couple who value well-lit, spacious and open living areas while also requiring distinct functional zones and ample storage space. The practice Cromìa Architetti came up with the ideal solution. “To maintain natural light throughout the apartment, we created a lightweight, minimally intrusive multifunctional partition between the living and sleeping areas,” explains Enrica Calabrese, an architect and interior designer at the firm. “This partition not only discreetly divides the spaces but also serves as a decorative element facing the living room while offering storage on the other side, accommodating a storeroom/wardrobe.” The decorative backdrop in the living area is one of three interventions featuring ceramic tile collections from ABK. In this instance, Jungle Rust from the WIDE&style collection was chosen, which combines floral inspirations with classical luxury and Art Deco influences.

The apartment showcases a hybrid classical-contemporary style in its details, finishes and colour and stylistic choices, with elements such as walnut and holm oak wood complementing Fenix and ceramic surfaces, creating a dynamic contrast against the white walls.

A hallway leads to the master bedroom, walk-in closet, single bedroom and bathroom, where the shower wall is tiled with WIDE&style modules from ABK with an Incertum design created by Marco Taietta. This design offers a fresh reinterpretation of classical architectural patterns, transforming the bathroom into an authentic work of art. The bathroom walls are clad with Crossroad Brick white-body brick-format tiles (size 7.5×30 cm, thickness 8 mm), which combine minimalist elegance with a handcrafted appearance thanks to the irregular, high-gloss glazed surface. ABK collaborates with various artists and designers to develop its graphic projects, as in the case of the Ceramic Wallpapers and Ceramic Rugs concepts.

The group also places a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability, with many of its tiles made from Eco-Body, a certified ceramic body containing at least 40% recycled material. These tiles contribute to LEED certification credits in the buildings where they are installed, reflecting ABK’s commitment to eco-friendly practices.