A room featuring a dining table with a black-and-white striped base and top, a sculptural gradient-colored floor vase, and a vase of yellow flowers on the table.

October 9, 2026

Words: Maghie Ghali

Photography: Ibrahim Özbunar and 645

This Urban Villa In Istanbul Is A Study In Contrasts

Tucked away in the Etiler neighborhood on the outskirts of Istanbul, NS House by Turkish interior design studio escapefromsofa reimagines an urban villa into an inviting abode that blends contemporary design with original architectural elements.

Built in the 1990s, the villa was originally designed with a strong classical architectural aesthetic, one which the studio sought to work in harmony with rather than erase. Architectural elements such as the original plasterwork, marble flooring and the main staircase were preserved and became highlighted features of the new design.

“The transformation was less about changing the architectural identity of the villa and more about shifting its atmosphere,” escapefromsofa partner and interior design Irem Baser Ogan tells Interior Design. “By bringing contemporary pieces into dialogue with the existing classical framework, we were able to give the house a new life while retaining the character that made it distinctive in the first place.

Walk Through The Home

  • A room featuring a dining table with a black-and-white striped base and top, a sculptural gradient-colored floor vase, and a vase of yellow flowers on the table.
    A view of the dining room.
  • View through a doorway into a kitchen with dark cabinetry, a white farmhouse sink, and black and white checkered flooring.
    The kitchen contrasts minimalist cupboards with ornate plasterwork.
  • A living room with two dark armchairs, a beige sofa, and a glass-topped coffee table with stone supports, illuminated by a table lamp.
    The salon contrasts cream sofas with dark velvet armchairs.
  • Two brown armchairs with chrome frames positioned in front of large windows, with a coffee table in the foreground.
    The main livingroom with cream sofas.
  • A high-angle view looking down a wooden spiral staircase with a dark handrail.
    The staircase acts as a sculptural feature in the villa.
  • A bathroom vanity with a stone countertop, an arched mirror, and brass sconces, set against wallpaper featuring blue fish illustrations.
    This washroom features playful blue fish wallpaper.

“We wanted the house to feel layered and personal, as though it had evolved over time. Each room has its own character, but there is a consistent sense of warmth and continuity throughout the house,” he adds. “The result is sophisticated but not overly designed — a home that feels connected both to its architecture and to the people living in it.”

The staircase is one of the first things visitors will notice in the villa—a sweeping form with an open void running through the villa’s levels in concentric rounded spirals, acting as an sculpture within the space.

The main living room contrasts cream sofas with dark velvet armchairs, and a large circular wall relief come together around a herringbone parquet floor, creating a quieter and more formal atmosphere. The dining area features a bold black-and-white striped table paired with Mies van der Rohe cantilever chairs, bringing graphic energy to the space. Ceramics from local designers and small trinkets fill the nearby shelves, giving the austere space a more lived-in look.

In the smaller spaces, more playful and colourful elements are incorporated. One washroom boasts blue fish-print wallpaper with a carved marble sink and a brass sconce, while the other is a dark and moody powder room with black chinoiserie lacquer and a crystal starburst light.

Similarly, the kitchen is full of black and white contrasts, with a minimalist look that allows the decorative plasterwork to pop.

read more