CNN - arts & style - Scacchetti's 'ever-expanding house'

MILAN, Italy (CNN) -- Among the neighborhoods of Milan is a building with concrete waves and a modern feel that sharply contrasts with the 19th-century Baroque architecture surrounding it. That's the home of architect Luca Scacchetti.

He describes his design philosophy as "updated classic" and has imprinted it on the exterior and interior of his house.

He designed the entrance of the building to symbolize a mouth, with walls that lead inward. Inside, on either side of the stairs, are giant paintings of horses poised as guardians of the home. They're by Luca Pignatelli.

"These are urban horses that I like very, very much," says Scacchetti (pronounced skah-CHAY-tee). "I think they're perfect in my entrance. I don't really think too much about the choices I make. If I like it, I buy it."

At the top of the entrance stairs are two closet doors painted in trompe-l'oeil by Paola Marzoli. These types of paintings -- usually still lifes -- are meant to create an illusion of actual objects. One closet looks like a bookshelf; the other appears to be lined with the plants of northern Italy, where Scacchetti was born.

Scacchetti's portal

The entrance gives way to the living room with its red marble floors and a fireplace that Scacchetti designed.

"The fireplace for me is like another door leading to something beyond," he says. "But of course this is a mental concept, it's only in my mind.

"Just like all the rooms flow off one another -- the fireplace represents a portal that's consistent with the flow of the house. It's like an ever-expanding house."

The focal point of the green dining room is a set of 16th-century etchings by Domenico Fontana.

"They depict the erection of the obelisks in front of St. Peter's in Rome," Scacchetti says. "The chandelier is from 18th century, from Genoa I believe."

Scacchetti says his favorite room is the library, which houses his collection of architectural books that date back to the 16th century.

"These books are my passion, and each one brings some part of the outside world right here into my home," he says. "I do think I have one of the best private libraries with books between the 16th century and the end of World War II."

'It's like having vertigo'

Scacchetti says the spiral shape fascinates him, so he built a spiral staircase.

"The concept for me is two-fold. First, it's like a tree with branches growing from it. So the staircase is the trunk and the rooms (are) the branches.

"I'm also a fan of the thriller genre, so the staircase also reminds me of one of Alfred Hitchcock's masterpieces, 'Vertigo.' Especially if you look down from the top -- it's like having vertigo."

Scacchetti divided his bedroom into a polished, paneled dressing room and a sleeping area.

"I wanted two very distinctive looks," he says. "The dressing room is modern but the idea comes from classical Italian ... .

"The actual bedroom is completely different. It's lighter, relaxing. There's an elaborate church bench, some of my favorite photos and paintings, and some furniture that I designed."

Above the bed, Scacchetti hung part of the gate from his family home in the north of Italy.

"The house doesn't exist anymore," he says, "but I remember it vividly, and now this piece is always with me and a constant reminder of my childhood."

CNN Style Correspondent Elsa Klensch contributed to this report.

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