Tanya Design Montenegro has been honored with a revered Luxury Lifestyle Awards in 2025 in the category of Best Villa Renovation Interior Design in Montenegro for its exceptional work on the Gornja Lastva Heritage Restoration Project. This award recognizes the studio’s outstanding achievement in restoring and transforming a cluster of 19th-century ruins into a luxurious modern retreat, all while preserving the cultural and architectural essence of the region.

Located in the historic village of Gornja Lastva overlooking Tivat and Boka Bay, the award-winning project—Villa Tanya—revives the traditional Montenegrin mountain home with modern functionality and Scandinavian minimalist elegance. Originally built in 1878 and long abandoned, the property has been reimagined into a private estate that includes a main residence, guest house, maid’s quarters, swimming pool, summer kitchen, and designer studio.

The restoration process, led by founder and director Tatjana Pustinja Nikolić, required salvaging rare local materials—including the region’s distinctive pink stone—and integrating smart home technologies and sustainable practices, such as reclaimed wood, rainwater harvesting, and energy-efficient systems. The result is a fusion of past and present: rugged stone facades, partial glass flooring for natural light, and minimalist interiors with rural touches that echo the surrounding landscape.

Tanya, a designer from Belgrade, creates warm, vibrant homes by merging old and new, East and West. Inspired by her life in Serbia, Russia, Cyprus, Greece, the UK, and the Swiss-Italian Riviera, her Mediterranean fusion style reflects the beauty of places like Lago Maggiore and Lake Como.

Client-focused and collaborative, Tanya mixes bold colors with antique and modern elements to craft joyful, personalized spaces. Backed by a skilled team, she ensures every project is thoughtfully designed and delivered on time.

“We are truly honored to receive this award,” said Tanya, Owner and Director of Tanya Design Montenegro. “This project was deeply personal — a labor of love and respect for Montenegrin heritage. Villa Tanya not only revives a forgotten piece of history but is also my tribute to beautiful Montenegro, especially the breathtaking Boka Bay, which hardly needs any human touch to be more beautiful — only a sensitive and respectful blend of architecture with nature, tradition, and memory.”

Alexander Chetchikov, CEO of Luxury Lifestyle Awards and President of the World Luxury Chamber of Commerce, congratulated the firm, saying: “Tanya Design Montenegro exemplifies what it means to elevate luxury through authenticity and vision. The Gornja Lastva Heritage Restoration Project boasts distinction in design, innovation, and cultural preservation. We are proud to celebrate such an extraordinary contribution to the world of luxury living.”

For more information about Tanya Design Montenegro and the award-winning project, visit: www.tanya.design