It’s seldom that I pair a home and its garden with individual posts. But Terry Rakolta’s exterior and interior are so elegantly and sympathetically considered — one flows gracefully into and informs the other. The northern Italian lake district (think Lake Como and Lake Garda) that captured my heart many years ago, also inspired Terry. I’m remembering Casa Tranquila well…understated, where each carefully chosen piece, detail and finish contributes just enough to compose an appealing and handsome picture, with no extraneous additions. The juxtaposition of large stone and simple, unfinished wood floors with grand antiques keep a balance at CasaTranquila that further accounts for its appeal. Unexpectedly, this is not an overly-large house; its rooms are graciously sized for smaller gatherings.

The faux-limestone block walls of the circular entry hall and living room beyond…

The coffered ceiling in the living room…

Studied views from one room to another…

A Fortuny clad dining room table presided over by a rock crystal chandelier…

Elaborate blue and white Italian tiles accentuating the kitchen’s walls…

A paneled library that opens onto the owner’s personally designed rill garden.

All meld seamlessly with the lanai and the poolside loggia whose views include arched green walls that continue the northern Italian garden design vernacular.

The small pool loggia is just off the entry hall with a tile studded shower to make those quick morning dips an easy in and out for Terry (no need for a separate “changing room”).

Aaaah, the pleasures of traveling in northern Italy…and we never left our armchair.