The renovation of Odilla Chocolat’s new home, in a seventeenth-century Milan building, faced two problems: the small size of the premises (40 square metres), which made it difficult to create some breathing space; the need to invent an icon that made Odilla stand out from other chocolate workshops. The first requirement was resolved by the use of mirrored surfaces and soft lighting, arranged so as to create visual depth. As do the cementine tile flooring and the offset cubicle entrance in grey-painted metal decorated with motifs inspired by Cartier jewellery design. The store sign is raised from the wall and lit from below, emphasizing the refined font.

The need to link Odilla to an unmistakable look was met by the use of exclusive Pierre Frey wallpaper, featuring the fruit and flowers of the cacao tree, a composition reminiscent of eighteenth-century herbal illustrations. The furnishings consist of two large Carrara marble counters and a series of inset shelves with suitable lighting. The wood coffer ceiling has been restored to its original splendour. Glassware and lampshades were made by skilled artisans.

“The end result is a welcoming, peaceful interior, where every detail has been designed to order, without any one dominating over the others.”.