In an old house in Puglia, architect and interior designer Andrew Trotter brought life to a space that used to be a school. The simplicity of the lime plastered on the walls, the organic materials and the environment are the keys to this Mediterranean jewel.
If you look for old houses in the Puglia countryside, you’ll find stone buildings that served as sheds, or massive, stately estates that were once inhabited by landowners. Both have potential but the dimensions… are difficult to handle. Architect and interior designer Andrew Trotter, who has already worked on several houses around the town of Carovigno (mainly newly built), has also taken note of this.
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Years ago, a Briton living in Barcelona helped an acquaintance find a home in the area. As the car passed by, he saw a building across the street that looked like a historic massif, but was much smaller than usual. Casolare Scarani (his name) became a school, behind whose walls girls from the area studied until the 1960s. Trotter says “the house was beautiful, old, with lots of great features”; And, above all, not too big: It was the perfect size. Another very important issue was the preservation of its history, which was of great importance to the local people.
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The arch on the north side of this house in Italy’s Puglia region appears to frame the setting sun.
Shortly before the nightmare of the pandemic broke out in 2020, Andrew Trotter showed a home to a family friend in Australia. Only Ian Coleman saw him in person; His wife Mary made it through the photos, and still continued to buy it. A year later, Andrew began renovations and the three worked together for a few days to rid the portico of the many layers of paint that had peeled off to reveal the original stonework. Upstairs, on the first floor, is now one of three en suite bedrooms. The old garage was converted into the kitchen, fronted by its island and terracotta tiles, and the barn, into the dining room. For the two bathrooms on the ground floor, Trotter designed a cubic extension whose façade is connected to the historic core of the house.
© Salva Lopez
One of the two bedrooms on the ground floor. The wooden cabinets are original.
Mediterranean minimalism with lime plaster
Anyone familiar with the work of Andrew Trotter will also recognize his sculptural signature on the interior. The base that characterizes this house is the white lime plaster on the walls and ceilings, made by a local plasterer. The powdery surface forms round arches and the vaults appear to have been carved out of limestone. If Mediterranean minimalism is present, Trotter has reflected it here in an exemplary way, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. He had all the old stonework replaced, and the remaining floors covered with chinka tiles.
Historic details, such as the star vault and a large fireplace in the living room, are seamlessly integrated, as are the shelving and wall niches, some of which the architect added later. Ceramics and local crafts find their place here; The furniture is made from old wood and the textiles are made from natural materials. Andrew Trotter has retained a patina that speaks to the building’s former life, but the historic rooms look anything but old-fashioned.
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With Colman, the current owner, Andrew Trotter, discovered the portico walls.
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Like the other ceilings and walls, Trotter’s had a star-shaped vaulted room filled with lime plaster.
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Trotter added textiles and antique wood furniture to the living room seating area.
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Where the dining room is located today, there used to be stables.
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Underneath the barrel vault, a long dining table with rattan chairs.
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The family has decorated various wall niches with local crafts.
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View from the kitchen to the dining room. The house is completely decorated with local crafts.
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Andrew Trotter covered the kitchen wall with terracotta tiles.
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The plastered extractor hood gives the kitchen a classic and rustic touch.
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The staircase of the house maintains the original essence of the bygone era.
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There is another bedroom in the house which also includes its own bathroom.
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The facade was covered in several layers of paint, already peeling off. Faced with reformation, Andrew Trotter decided to search for the original stone.
© Salva Lopez
The cubic extension is attached to the historic façade of the main house.
