Gone are the days when you would go to smell your grandmother’s flowers only to realise they were made of plastic and fabric. Today, we want to fill our homes with the real thing – living, breathing plants that can often complete a room as much as artworks on the wall. The houses in this chapter use indoor plants as a conduit to the nature outside. They are smaller, contained and manageable houseplants, perfect for those who do not have a garden but still want to add greenery. Being close to these plants somehow manages to soothe the soul and lighten the mood. They require quality sunlight, and in the act of providing that for the plants, we can benefit from that light too.
Compact, deliberate and vibrant
HOMEOWNERS
Christian Frascaro and Francesco Cristiano
Milan is the capital of the Italian region of Lombardy and has long represented the economic heart of the country. Headquarters, factories and studios dictate world trends for the coming years, attracting creative professionals to the city in search of opportunities. This results in a high number of former office buildings being converted to apartments in very interesting neighbourhoods. Christian Frascaro and Francesco Cristiano have created a home in one of these former offices that displays an elegance and taste well beyond their years. The couple, two dynamic individuals with a bustling schedule, are fuelled by youth, creativity and diverse interests. Hailing from Apulia, Christian immerses himself in the world of luxury hotels, drawing inspiration from architecture and design. On the other hand, Naples-born Francesco, a visual merchandiser, exudes a passion for art, fashion and photography. United by a keen aesthetic sense and a vibrant imagination, the couple bring a unique blend of talents and perspectives to their endeavours.
‘With this project, we have officially entered the world of interior design,’ the couple proudly comments. ‘It all started from an old office on the first floor of a 1970s building, located a short distance from the Monumental Cemetery. It has all the charm and is in a strategic position between the Isola and Garibaldi districts, so it’s super-connected to the city centre. Initially, we were looking for something that could be redone from scratch, possibly on a higher floor, perhaps even with a small outdoor area. But then unexpectedly, during the site inspection, these rooms won us over for the natural light that generously entered from the large windows.’ The entire floor plan has been reimagined, and although it is only 50 square metres, the couple has created a beautiful and functional contemporary home. The one-time executive office is now a spacious living room, and the storage room is now a small kitchen and a bedroom. The only space left in the original position is the bathroom, which underwent a major restyle. Bringing some nature into the well-lit rooms was important for the couple, who both hail from coastal regions with often immediate access to nature. They aimed to introduce as much greenery as possible into their home. Francesco and Christian find delight in the artful fusion of vintage pieces and modern creations. Their design ethos seamlessly blends classic elements with exotic details, drawing inspiration from the Bauhaus movement and the teachings of influential masters. Gio Ponti and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe are among their favourites. Their artistic influences extend beyond borders, incorporating elements from China and Morocco, a testament to the cultural richness gathered from their travels in the quest for fresh inspiration.
CHAPTER TWO
‘A room should feel collected, not decorated.’
– ALBERT HADLEY
The homes in this chapter all focus on using decoration to bring nature into indoor spaces. Some homeowners have chosen to express their connection to nature by using wallpaper, often featuring oversized leaves and flowers, while others use colour or organic shapes. Regardless of the chosen solution, these homes are always bright and airy, with considerable effort made to allow natural light in. There are numerous interpretations of decorating with nature, like artist Sofia Cacciapaglia, who has adorned her walls with a magical field of flowers, painted in her style on recycled cardboard boxes. Whatever your taste might be, nature is always welcome in the home.
A surprising country home
HOMEOWNER
Samuele Failli
For talented footwear designer Samuele Failli, it was very important to have a home that would serve as a refuge from the rest of his life, which can be extremely hectic. Over the years, Samuele has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the luxury business, including Prada, Azzedine Alaïa and Yves Saint Laurent. So, when he arrives home to his two dogs, he needs to feel at peace. As Samuele says, ‘I have found my perfect escape from the hectic routine. Every time I come home after my business trips, I feel like I am finally safe from stress.’ This might seem a certainty given the 360-degree view of the Tuscan countryside, but it was not always like this. There was a huge amount of work that had to be put in to create this elegant and surprising country home. ‘The first time I saw it, the building was in a state of total abandonment,’ explains Samuele. ‘So much so that some of the original decorative elements were hidden. The charm of an abandoned place, oozing with history, immediately persuaded me to choose this place as my home, although I was well aware of all the work that would be necessary to undertake to make my dream come true.’
It might be a house in the country, but once inside, it certainly is not your typical rusticfarmhouse. Samuele enlisted the talents of Margherita Bacci and Cosimo Bonciani, two young architects who were just 25 years old at the start of this project. With the backing of Florence-based architectural firm Studio1 Architetti, they undertook a thoughtful and comprehensive renovation. The result was a significant transformation, breathing new life into the home environment while respectfully preserving its original structure. The interiors are fresh and contemporary, with bold choices of colour and pattern. The architects explain: ‘We were committed to obtaining a very clean and linear scenography, from the choice of floors, with hand-nailed herringbone parquet or reclaimed floor tiles, to the walls and wooden beams, completely painted in white. In this way, the rich and colourful art and modern antiques in Samuele’s collection stand out harmoniously, avoiding unwanted overlaps.’ Constructed in 1721, the home is developed over three floors, where the ground floor has a dual use: on one hand, it is a welcoming space for guests; on the other, it is an intimate zone, with the study rooms and the kitchen, the latter with independent access. The first floor is Samuele’s personal suite, a place dedicated to privacy where he can disconnect from the world. Here, too, the rooms are built as a succession; linked by the colour blue, they are tinged differently in the bathroom, the boudoir (with a precious wallpaper from the 1930s) and the sleeping area. Then there is the attic, dedicated to music and video, with a guest bedroom and a bathroom that hides a small bathtub under the roof. As Samuele explains, ‘The final effect is outstanding, since each room has a mood of its own. Looking out the windows, I see only countryside and tiny villages in the distance. It all creates a unique contrast: a villa that looks like something out of Palm Springs which is instead immersed in the Tuscan landscape.’
Lord of the manor
HOMEOWNERS
Daniela Bennati and Gianfranco Motter
Entrepreneurs Daniela Bennati and Gianfranco Motter embarked on a captivating journey in 2011 when they acquired a seventeenth-century manor house nestled in the serene village of Patú, Salento, on the south-eastern tip of Italy. The transformation of this historic dwelling into a tranquil haven unfolded with the creative guidance of architect Luca Zanaroli, culminating in a unique holiday retreat for the couple and their 11-year-old son Zoltan the following year. Having initially discovered Salento in 2008, Daniela and Gianfranco were captivated by the region’s rich history, its idyllic location at the confluence of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, and the picturesque olive trees that adorn a landscape in which Daniela fondly says, ‘Each village is like a rare jewel.’
The village of Patú, with its agricultural heritage evident in subterranean silos once used for wheat storage, served as the ideal canvas for the couple’s venture, with the manor itself standing in the grounds of an ancient underground olive mill. The couple’s vision for the manor materialised through a meticulous refurbishment process, preserving and celebrating its architectural legacy. The stables, now transformed into a living area adjacent to an open-plan kitchen and dining space, hold a special place in Daniela’s heart. ‘It’s our favourite room,’ she shares. The ground floor further unfolds with a second kitchen, a dining room for entertaining guests, a reading room, a cloakroom and the main bedroom. Upstairs, Zoltan’s bed, specially crafted by Zanaroli, fits snugly in a corner beneath the arching ceiling. The house exudes character, a testament to Daniela and Gianfranco’s commitment to maintaining its architectural richness. Fireplaces dating back to the 1600s grace the kitchen, while intricately patterned flooring in the main bedroom and reading room infuses vibrant hues of green, yellow and ochre. Original windows, strategically placed high on the walls, bathe the interiors in natural light, creating a bright and airy ambiance.
Daniela and Gianfranco have added a curated collection of antiques and modern design pieces, which seamlessly integrate with the house’s ambiance. Metal lights by Artemide cast a warm glow on an array of accessories sourced from local second-hand shops, including antique mirrors, ceramics and a repurposed stone drinking trough now serving as a bathroom washbasin. Beyond the walls, the couple has fashioned an inviting al fresco space for entertaining in the courtyard, complete with white concrete kitchen units and a generously sized built-in barbecue. This modern addition harmoniously complements the whitewashed exterior, creating an enchanting backdrop. For Daniela and Gianfranco, their Salento home signifies more than a residence: it is an escape, a haven where history and contemporary design seamlessly coexist, inviting both relaxation and celebration.
Credits
IMAGES Helenio Barbetta
TEXT Kurt Stapelfeldt
BOOK DESIGN Elise Castrodale
EDITING Amy Haagsma
PP. 18-27, 44-55, 56-65, 74-83, 98-105, 138-145, 146-155, 194-203, 232-239 STYLING Chiara Dal Canto
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