A long and narrow hallway can be a challenge in any homeor in the hands of the right firm, a stylistic protagonist. The 1,023-square-foot apartment is in Milans Citt Studi neighborhood, in a typical building from the early 1900s. Its young owners were still new arrivals in the city when they found this abode, which retains many fascinating period elements, including parquet floors in two rooms and vintage cement tiles with classic designs. The main challenge of the home, however, was the hallway. The clients were unsure what to do with it, but we immediately decided that we couldnt just ignore it. Instead, we wanted to emphasize its proportions and length, turning it into a sort of promenade, explains Mario Abruzzese, founder of Kick.Office studio.In the hallway, custom cabinetry and hidden doors are painted in a matte lacquered rust color. The marble-chip floors by MIPA are in Tef from their Seeds collection. The Mini Glo-Ball hanging lamp is by Jasper Morrison for Flos and the Tropico wall lamp in opaline glass and metal is by Gabriele and Oscar Buratti for FontanArte.The long, narrow hallway was emphasized with a custom-made matte lacquered terracotta-colored installation and the addition of a powder-white barrel vault.Niches, built-in cabinets, and even a small home office can now be found in the long, narrow hallway. Clients increasingly want a dedicated workspace, or even two, in their homes, the architects say. We made the hallway more dramatic by creating a barrel vault and playing with a combination of a milk white and a very intense terracotta red. On the floor, we used marble chip tiles, a historical artifact in many Milan apartments, but here we used more contemporary colors, Kick.Office explains. The designers were also very particular when it came to the lighting, using a series of wall sconces that amplify the feeling of depth. Thus the entryway, now reimagined as a sort of promenade, becomes the backbone of the apartment as it leads to the living area.A view from the living room of a section of the hallway that now includes a home office. The teak shelving unit on the left is an Italian design from the 1960s. The Alanda coffee table in clear glass and black painted metal is by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia, the Wassily armchair is a design by Marcel Breuer (Knoll). On the small desk, a 1962 Marco vase of mold-blown etched glass vase by Sergio Asti for Salviati. The brass and mahogany table lamp is a 1950s design. The restored herringbone parquet floor is made with Italian oak and the marble chip tile floors are the Tef design from the Seeds collection by MIPA.False ceilings, which had been added after the original construction of the apartment, caused it to lose some of its generous proportions, but surviving stucco details and cornices were carefully restored. The layout of the apartment, however, was entirely reimagined. The sleeping area was moved to the back of the house that overlooks a quieter courtyard, while the living area now faces the street. The latter features restored Italian oak herringbone parquet flooring, and now includes a number of beautiful additions, like a Wassily chair designed by Marcel Breuer and a vintage shelving unit.Detail of Veneta Cucines forest green kitchen. The 265 lamp is by Paolo Rizzatto for Flos.In the living room, a 1960s Italian teak shelving unit, a Parentesi lamp by Achille Castiglioni and Pio Manz for Flos, an Alanda coffee table by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia, and a Wassily armchair by Marcel Breuer (Knoll).Next to it is the dining area with an open kitchen: We chose a dark green Veneta Cucine model with an ivory-colored quartz countertop, the design team explains. On one wall, hidden doors conceal the laundry, refrigerator, pantry, and oven. The dining room includes an LC6 glass table with black painted steel base by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, and Charlotte Perriand for Cassina, Cesca chairs by Breuer in chrome metal and rattan, a Diabolo hanging lamp by Achille Castiglioni for Flos in cherry red, and theres a 265 adjustable wall lamp by Paolo Rizzatto for Flos in the kitchen area. We didnt only furnish the long and narrow hallway. Throughout the entire home we wanted to create a mixture of custom designed furniture paired with both modern and classic pieces that make the best use of the space to create a functional architectural envelope, the architects add.The dining area with its open kitchen has an LC6 glass table with black painted steel base by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, and Charlotte Perriand for Cassina; Cesca chairs in chrome metal and rattan by Marcel Breuer for Knoll; and a Diabolo hanging lamp by Achille Castiglioni for Flos in cherry red.The bathrooms have their own surprises. They have been radically transformed, Kick.Office says. The shower, for example, has been carved out of a room where a kitchenette with a sink used to be. An oval door provides access to the large shower while a mirrored door in the closet area leads to the ensuite bathroom with toilet and sink. A glass-block wall separates the two bathroom spaces and allows light in while maintaining privacy.Vintage details and contemporary influences, along with restored details and radical new additions, improbably add up to a comfortable home that balances functionality and aesthetics. Here, excellent design is allowed to steal the show.This 1,023-square-foot apartment was originally published in AD Italy.A view of the primary bedroom from the en-suite bathroom, separated from it by a glass-block wall and a mirrored door. on the wall, Drawing 8 print by Ronan Bouroullec. The cement tiles are original.In the living room, a 1960s Italian teak shelving unit, an Alanda coffee table in clear glass and black painted metal by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia, and a Wassily armchair by Marcel Breuer (Knoll).In the dining room, an LC6 glass table with black painted steel base from Cassina. Cesca chairs by Marcel Breuer in chrome-plated metal and rattan. A Diabolo hanging lamp by Achille Castiglioni for Flos in cherry red.A forest green lacquered kitchen with an ivory quartz countertop. Hidden doors conceal the oven, pantry, refrigerator, and laundry.The guest bathroom is separated from the primary bathroom by a glass-block wall with a circular design that pays homage to Pierre Chareaus Maison de Verre in Paris.In the guest bathroom, forest-colored enamel painted walls, ceramic countertop bowl sink, and green Guatemalan marble top made by Bianco67. The matte lacquered terracotta-colored storage shelf is custom. The LEDinestra lamp with black painted metal base is by Osram.A detail of the interior of the shower area in the guest bathroom with wall tiles by Marazzi from the Crogiolo Lume series. The glass-block wall has a circular design that is a tribute to Pierre Chareaus Maison de Verre.In the primary bedroom, a bed with an upholstered headboard in linen-blend fabric; natural brass swivel lamp, and a colored-glass stool/bedside table. On the wall, Drawing 8 poster by Ronan Bouroullec. The walls are painted a milk white, the ceiling is cumin-colored. On the floor, restored original cement tiles.An oval door serves as the unusual entrance to the shower area; it has a chocolate-colored painted metal frame. The Passepartout JH12 gold wall lamp is by Jaime Hayon for &TraditionIn the primary bathroom, a Teti wall lamp by Artemide and a custom washbasin unit with a marble-chip top. On the floor, beige 5x5 tiles; the ceiling is garnet-colored, and the walls are in milk and a cumin color.Detail of a wardrobe door with a natural brass handle and sand-colored Barene Wall embossed vinyl wallpaper by Rubelli.