In the rolling hills near the village of Roccalbegna in Tuscany, designer Harry Nuriev has completed a stunning transformation of a traditional stone farmhouse that challenges every expectation. The founder of New York-based Crosby Studios has radically reimagined the interior of this 17th-century property, creating a family retreat for himself, his partner Tyler Billinger, and Billinger's parents that seamlessly blends Tuscan tradition with contemporary industrial design.
The property's exterior maintains its classic Tuscan charm, with gently rolling hills and slender cypress trees creating what Nuriev describes as "something out of a postcard." However, step inside and visitors encounter a completely different world. Nuriev, known for his "transformism" philosophy, has created interiors that are not what they appear to be at first glance. Since bursting onto the design scene in 2014, he has built sofas from Balenciaga returns, upholstered collector furniture with denim, shaped sideboards to look like office printers, and sewn boxer shorts into comforters.
The journey to this Tuscan retreat began as part of a long-held plan by Nuriev and Billinger, who serves as Chief Marketing Officer of Crosby Studios. The couple wanted to entice Tyler's parents to settle in Italy, at least part-time, as they had been living in the San Francisco Bay Area. They first visited the property on Tyler's mother Nina's birthday, and as Billinger recalls, "Everyone fell in love immediately." The connection wasn't entirely surprising, given that Nina's family has roots in Northern Italy.
The former farmhouse, which had been converted into a guesthouse before Nuriev and Billinger acquired it, sits on an impressive 130-acre property featuring approximately 1,000 olive trees. Shortly after their retirement, Tyler's parents found themselves with a new purpose: olive farming. They now produce olive oil under their new label "La Terra di Neena," a play on Billinger's mother's name, and spend six months of each year on the estate.
While the parents tended to the land, Nuriev focused on transforming the interior spaces. He preserved many original elements, including the rustic wooden ceiling beams and travertine floors. However, on the first floor, he installed countless small river pebbles, creating a slightly surreal effect that gives the traditional house what he calls the "electrifying Crosby touch." Citing Marcel Duchamp as his greatest teacher, Nuriev created decorative elements from scrap car parts, turning headlights into imposing steampunk chandeliers.
Throughout the house, Nuriev installed rearview mirrors on the walls as a tribute to the coveted mirrors of French designer Line Vautrin (1913-1997). Another nod to French craftsmanship is a velvet-covered sofa printed with Nuriev's AI-assisted version of a 19th-century tapestry. Questions about the value of objects run through Nuriev's work, as he elevates everyday items and waste into luxury goods. In the master bedroom, he created his wild version of a four-poster bed with a canopy made from sewn-together vintage red sports shirts.
"I like the idea that 120 people who didn't know each other first decided to buy these shirts and then decided to sell them to me," Nuriev explains. Ironically, neither he nor Tyler wears red. "These T-shirts are quite common in Italy, but probably the last thing you'd expect to find in a farmhouse in Tuscany," he adds.
A signature element of Crosby Studios is the use of gleaming silver metal throughout the design. The dining room features a 13-foot-long stainless steel table with matching benches that perfectly complement the custom-made kitchen island. Nuriev's obsession with steel extends even to the bathroom, where he installed a toilet from a manufacturer of public restrooms. "Usually you hide such things," he says, "but I put them right at the front of the stage."
The couple's unconventional approach extends beyond their interior design choices. Nuriev and Billinger, along with their toy poodle Mishka, admittedly don't blend seamlessly into village life at first glance. However, they've been warmly welcomed by the local community. "We're part of the community here," Billinger explains. "Our neighbors come over for lunch; one of them regularly brings us fresh eggs."
The transformation includes practical elements that serve the family's lifestyle. Guest rooms feature silver-gleaming curtains, patchwork blankets, and sculptural lighting, all designed by Crosby Studios. The couple enjoys the nature on their expansive property, swimming in the river and serving dinner on stainless steel dishware. A new terrace was added during the renovation, offering beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.
Nuriev's design philosophy centers on making light things heavy and heavy things light. Throughout the house, this concept is evident in unexpected ways, such as a bookshelf in the small salon that appears almost too delicate for books, paired with robust stainless steel furniture. The juxtaposition of rustic, refined, and quirky elements creates a unique living environment that somehow works perfectly in the Tuscan setting.
The project represents more than just an interior design makeover; it's a successful fusion of contemporary art, family values, and respect for traditional Italian craftsmanship. As the couple has discovered, Tuscany can indeed handle their avant-garde approach to living, proving that tradition and innovation can coexist beautifully when thoughtfully combined.
