A recent renovation of an Italian apartment was completed by architect Mario Santini with the intent of showing design influences from the 1950s and 1970s. Based in the heart of the historic city of Verona in northern Italy, the 2,700-square-foot living space consists of a large open area, including the kitchen, four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The architect turned to beautiful varieties of natural stone from Italian stone producer Antolini to transform the rooms.

Throughout the residential design, natural stone is paired with other material such as wallpaper, wood and metal, which allow the prominence of the stone in each application. In particular, the kitchen design is striking with Black Cosmic granite used for the large island, as well as perimeter countertop. The countertop features Antolini’s Lether finish – part of its Exclusive Collection -- and was designed to include an induction hob and a retractable sink. When closed, the surface becomes continuous – making a great visual impact. Wallpaper featuring a 1950s-style pattern covers the wall behind the work area and, through its geometries and colors, presents a strong identity to the space while highlighting the kitchen and the granite countertop.