Federica Scalise introduces colourful interventions to neoclassical Athens apartment

In a late-1920s apartment in Athens’ historic Plaka neighbourhood, the past comes with a little colour. Architect Federica Scalise has renovated the 70 sqm home inside a neoclassical building, preserving its original character while introducing contemporary details that feel comfortably at home alongside it. After decades of use as a rental, the apartment has been reimagined as a home for its owner, with the existing layout largely left intact. The original pitch pine parquet flooring has been restored, timber windows and doors refurbished, and decorative ceilings carefully preserved. Most of the changes are concentrated in the kitchen and bathroom, where colour and stainless steel bring a fresh perspective to the historic interior. A ruby-red floor begins at the entrance, continues through the corridor and into the bathroom, creating a colourful thread between the rooms. In the kitchen, different shades of blue meet glass, steel and a mix of vintage and contemporary pieces, giving the room a character of its own. The palette takes its cue from an original stained-glass window, allowing the new additions to feel connected to the apartment’s history without imitating it. Custom stainless steel details introduce a more contemporary note, sitting alongside the warmth of the restored wood and decorative features. The renovation makes room for a different way of living while keeping much of what made the apartment special in the first place.