Sign in with Google
Sign in with email
Nestled beside a large window in his newly acquired and renovated studio, Italian designer Luca Nichetto trails through its sun-soaked, pacifying spaces, annunciating artistic freedom—but with an undertone of subtlety. Embarking on a journey of retrospection, he traces—with care, detail and a characteristic flair for humour—the transformation of a 1930s bubblegum pink villa into the studio's latest address. With the move to a new location at the beginning of 2022, the team at Nichetto Studio took possession of a villa ensconced in nature, away from the whirlpool of urban life. Purchased in 2021, the wooden house underwent a process of renewal in less than a year to meet the multidisciplinary designer’s vision for his studio—the floor plan, architectural elements and interior design were remodelled to yield a new spatial concept. “We are in a very residential area just outside the city centre of Stockholm and you will never expect to find this kind of environment when you jump in through the door. From the outside it is a wooden house typical in Sweden but when you walk in through the door, it is like walking into a parallel universe,” says Nichetto.
In an exclusive interview with STIR, Nichetto paints an enticing picture of the Stockholm studio, shedding light on overlooked details, laying bare thoughts operating behind the scenes, and sharing glimpses of what's NEXT for the studio in the offing.
“Find the Pink Villa”
There are no signs; the studio is a house like any other, but if you think ‘Pink Villa,’ you will certainly not miss it. The candy-hued villa, justifiably the first attribute of the otherwise simple structure that catches one’s eye, was surprisingly not a deliberate choice but a happenstance—and a defining one. “I like the idea that there was this ‘Pink Villa,’ it is so easy to tell people where to go because it is the only pink one,” the designer quips. What originated as a mere directional instruction became synonymous with the project—enough to persuade Nichetto to relinquish the thought of altering it—and soon evolved into the very name designated to the studio: the Pink Villa. All of the wood, with a gabled roof and a garden, the house was acquired in the beginning of 2021. A year later, the renovation, refurbishment, and interior design disintegrated the initial identity and gave rise to a new rooms.
A workshop in colour and materials
Upon entering the villa, one crosses paths with a tailor’s workshop on the left that Luca's wife uses on weekends for her personal creations, and a meeting room with a giant wall screen, books and prototypes. A corridor flows into a bright living room with a relaxing area adorned with a mirror, chair design and sofa designs facing the garden outside. Adjacent to it is the kitchen featuring big bay windows where the housekeeper brews piping hot meals for the team and the guests. The course of materialisation of the spatial concept began by mustering an assortment of product designs the studio has conceived so far—from furniture design to lighting design. “It was an interesting exercise because having designed so many products for companies—from accessories to lighting and furniture—it was a workshop to see if these products can work together; it is a moment for us to see if our service to the community can also work for us,” the designer explains.
What stands out lucidly in the spaces is the choice of colour—vibrant hues interspersed through the interiors. The colour palette diverges substantially from the Scandinavian characteristics that pervade in the country, but Nichetto’s artistic sensibilities often showcase an idiosyncratic propensity towards treading a different path. Vivid hues of blue, yellow and green are splashed around against relatively muted tones; contrast blossoms, strategically underlining volumes while being reverential towards the villa architecture and spatial identity. Despite the heterogeneity that defines the ambience, there is a sense of warmth and coherence that weaves together materials that are culturally associated with the Southern Europe and elements that fall under the umbrella of Scandinavian design. “If you choose to make everything black, white, grey or brown, more often than not, it is because you don’t have the courage to make bold choices,” Nichetto comments. "When you put colour together to create something, it is a risk; if everything is neutral, that risk doesn’t exist anymore,” he adds.
A space defined by fluidity
Ascending the curving peach staircase, one encounters the space accommodating the work area: Nichetto’s private office (where he is seen sitting during the interview) and the principal area that features a fully renovated open space for his team. The workstations are not tied down by rigidity, allowing the team to move around freely and experience a sense of freedom. Nichetto aspired to contrive a space where the world is not restricted to one’s desk, a relaxing home that opens into a picturesque view. Nichetto points out how visitors would often question if the people could even be optimally effective in such an environment. “I think these notions have changed a lot, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staying well in a place, not only with your colleagues but also in terms of the aesthetic of the space, bears a lot of benefits,” he says.
The villa’s allure is not limited to the indoors, it trickles out through the doors into the lush garden, soothing the eye or, better yet, inviting interaction outdoors. “The outdoors, for me, is an extension of what the space is offering,” the designer says. The exterior space circumscribing the studio is bedecked with furniture that allows rituals to take shape around them—from simple phone calls to professional conversations.
The Chalet
The Pink Villa, beyond being a striking showroom for guests and potential clients, epitomises a sense of home, quite literally—welcoming people to visit, experience, and stay. The old garage downstairs was revamped into the current guest suite, called the Chalet, encompassing a cosy living room, a bedroom, and a Swedish sauna. The villa has already welcomed art directors, photographers, and designers from all over the world. In the Chalet, one can find designs by renowned creatives such as Enzo Marie and Alvar Alto, displaying recurring encounters between Scandinavian design and Italian design.
A dedicated suite for guests to live in is an element one seldom comes upon in workplaces. Talking about the initial motive that informed this choice, Nichetto says, “I was so tired of being on a plane all the time that I started to think of a way to invite clients here instead of always being on a plane myself.” This simple yet rare augmentation of the studio allows the client to observe the practice closely and forge deeper connections—establishing the studio’s position as a partner as opposed to a mere supplier. “It's like being in a family: we all have lunch together and there are no fixed workstations to work. Moreover, whoever comes to visit us, if he wants, can stay and sleep. The idea is to create a sense of community,” shares Nichetto.
A melting pot of design interpretations
Housing art and design by pioneers such as Ettore Sottsass, Anna Castelli Ferrieri, and international brands such as Kartell, in alliance with a range of designs by Nichetto himself, the Pink Villa is a unique melting pot of design sensibilities. A harmonious coexistence of culturally diverse elements, artistically contradicting objects, and visually contrasting colours define the welcoming interior composition. An offshoot of Nichetto’s creative tenets, the Pink Villa is a cumulation of spaces that straddle aesthetics and function—interiors that raise spirits. The villa transcends the limits of a workplace—a setting with a sense of home, echoes of creativity, and a warm embrace of comfort and serenity.
Several collections and art direction projects are underway for Nichetto Studio, including collaborations for the much anticipated Milan Design Week. The designer also plans to rethink the Opinionated podcast and release more episodes that include spontaneous discourses between him and the guest without a moderator. Moving into the new year, with a new space and people, the focus of Nichetto Studio shifts inward, filling the discrepancy between services directed towards the world and towards themselves. Redesigning their internal process and redefining a mission becomes the studio’s latest design project. “We have the hardware, but now we need to work on the software,” concludes Nichetto.
What do you think?