It feels as if time has stopped, frozen in the swinging 1960s, as you pass through the pristine gate that opens on to this enchanting lakefront building. The lake in question is the magical and wild Mergozzo, tiny, utterly charming and yet still rarely visited by tourists.
The house was built in 1963. Its equally fascinating current owner, Hilary Belle Walker, has American roots – San Francisco is her hometown, but she moved to Italy at the age of 23.
The house was a coup de foudre from afar, especially since it had preserved all the charm of its era. In 2018, Hilary, already in love with the area, registered on a real-estate website, almost as a game. When she received an email notifying her of the house’s availability, owning it became an obsession. After sending friends to view it, she bought it remotely, without visiting it in person.
Hilary has a keen eye for detail. An entrepreneur in the vintage fashion sector, she’s the founder of Bivio Milano, a second-hand boutique chain that has become an institution in the city. She managed to maintain the home’s original spirit while adding pieces sourced from markets and warehouses. The two vintage Missoni rugs dominating the living room come from different estates yet harmonise perfectly with the recurring colour palette of green, plum, aubergine and pink – hues that are strikingly contemporary. The burgundy ceiling was deliberately chosen to enhance the ambience. The original green floors remain beautifully preserved. The addition of 1960s wallpaper by a Swedish illustrator amplifies the vintage feel of the space.
A large glass door opens on to a balcony with its original tiles, offering an uninterrupted view of the lake. A short flight of stairs leads from the ground floor to the sleeping area, where the master bedroom and her daughter’s rooms are located. The latter is furnished with twin beds for visiting friends.
The bathroom is the only space that underwent a more radical change, though it remains true to the era. Hilary sourced never-used avocado-green fixtures from a nearby warehouse – ideal for recreating the authentic 1960s atmosphere. Outside, a massive stone table sits beneath an old oak tree. Transporting it was a logistical challenge due to its weight, but it now serves as a perfect relaxation and dining spot for friends and family.
Time flows differently here, compared to the city. Hilary and her daughter live in an apartment in Milan, but escape to the lake whenever school and work allow. A record player replaces Spotify, a DVD player takes the place of Netflix and groceries are bought from the local shop as needed, rather than stockpiled from the supermarket. There’s a different way of life here: this Italian region’s inhabitants often feel a closer connection to Lombard and Swiss traditions. A welcoming space with unique traditions and habits.
In front of the house, a small pathway off the large sloping lawn leads to the road below. Just across the road lies another hidden gem, invisible to passersby: a small private beach that has retained all of the lake’s wild and natural beauty. A poetic place to swim undisturbed and read a book.
In the end, Hilary has crafted a small, magical universe for herself and her daughter, between the mountain range known as the “Sleeping Dragon,” where trains occasionally pass, and a stunning body of water that never fails to deliver on its promise of unspoiled beauty.
For more details, go to biviomilano.it