A heartfelt restoration for contemporary hospitality

Stepping into the large private courtyard of Villa Teresa in Valeggio sul Mincio, one feels transported to an old farmhouse with its distinct rustic character. Yet the villa is located in the very heart of the town, framed by a picture-postcard view of the Scaligero Castle.

Dating back to 1920, the villa was fully renovated in 2024 by owner Claudia Ballarini and her partner Daniele Facchin. Having inherited the property from her grandmother, Ballarini remained faithful to the spirit of the place. “Villa Teresa belonged to my grandmother. For me, it was a renovation from the heart; my goal was to truly step into her home. Despite carrying out significant structural work, from the floor slabs to the walls, I remained faithful to the soul of the place,” she explains.

The ground floor houses the living area, dominated by an original exposed stone wall, 1970s rounded-corner doors and the kitchen. There is also a laundry room featuring a traditional washbasin with a handcrafted wooden washboard and a freestanding tub. The first floor contains the sleeping quarters: two bedrooms and a bathroom with a walk-in shower and double washbasin. Finally, the attic has been converted into a play area and library, which also serves as a space for yoga.

But the real highlight of this renovation is the kitchen floor, a 1950s-1960s style porcelain stoneware surface featuring a floral motif designed specifically by the owner. “I had a photograph of the original floor, so I searched for hexagonal tiles in burgundy, white and black that would allow me to recreate floral patterns to bring movement and character to the space. Tonalite’s Examatt collection proved perfect for this project. To facilitate the work of tile layer Marco Bertaiola, whose craftsmanship turned our flooring dreams into reality at Villa Teresa, I designed the pattern myself,” Ballarini explains.

Architects and designers from Lucca and Turin who have stayed at the property have complimented her on the meticulous accuracy of the interiors and the details. The project stands out for its coherent interplay between the antique and the modern. Every room contains a piece of furniture skilfully restored by Daniele Facchin, paired with other furnishings and accessories found over the years in markets across Europe – such as the 1970s kitchen chandelier from a Roman market or the bathroom towel rail sourced in Spain.

In the kitchen, the main cabinetry is raised from the floor so that dedicated lighting can highlight the patterned tiles beneath. The table, however, is the grandmother’s original 1970s piece, beautifully refurbished. Another high-impact aesthetic element is the bathroom flooring, which also has a vintage flair, supplied by Ceramica Sant’Agostino.

In 2023, Tonalite obtained “Certiquality third-party verification” for compliance with the international standard ISO 17889-1: Sustainability for ceramic tiles. This is an independent assessment carried out by an external body to certify that a product satisfies the sustainability criteria set out by the standard.