After an extensive search for a team who could help them bring their newly acquired historic Tuscan estate back to life, an American couple landed upon British interior designer Nicola Harding, who is known for the atmospheric abodes she crafts mostly in England.

The couple was drawn not only to the warmth and energy of Harding’s style, but also to her attitude about the process of making a house a home. “Core to what we do is to understand the people who will inhabit a home, to discover what kind of moments they want to have there, the deeply held values they subscribe to, how they imagine an ideal Sunday breakfast,” says Harding. “Weaving elements of their stories into the spaces so they feel connected is key to creating a sense of place, a sense of belonging. So we spent a lot of time getting to know the house, each other, and all sorts of interesting people in the area who eventually came to get involved in the project.”

Nestled amid the hills of the medieval village of Magliano in Toscana, the enchanting estate had long been home to an olive grove with sweeping views of the countryside. It also presented the husband with an opportunity to deeply reconnect with his Italian roots. Yet, while the setting itself was idyllic, the two-story home and its expansive grounds were sorely in need of some seasoned attention to make the property viable as a getaway for the couple and their two children—and as a working olive farm.

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INTERIOR DESIGN BY NICOLA HARDING

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILLIAM JESS LAIRD

WRITTEN BY JEAN NAYAR

This story appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of MILIEU.