Friday, June 5, 2009

Celebrities

I was reading today the latest post by Style Court.
Courtney had the great idea  of the "Three Wishes" and asked Interior designer Grant K.Gibson, whose blog I also follow daily, to describe his. If I can add a comment I am sure Grant had another wish come true having just returned from Venice.
When I read that one of his wishes was to own Villa del Balbianello at Como Lake, being a Milanese myself I could not pass to mention again the superb Villa which luckily was donated to  F.A.I. (worth looking at the website) and which we can now visit during the year.
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In the spring of 2006, the movie Casino Royale was filmed in front of the villa (the outdoor scenes of Bond recovering).The same villa can also be seen in Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones.
I often spend time at Como Lake, in Moltrasio, not far from that villa and I was there when they were filming Ocean's Eleven in 2001. The whole area was so excited (Brad was there with Jennifer, they were still together then, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia were sipping cappuccino in town...) George Clooney soon after  bought a beautiful 18th Century villa 10 minutes from us and here are some images you may enjoy.

This is the facade, simple, elegant, neoclassical style.
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The dining area with the original large fireplace and floor. The monk's table may be from previous centuries (it is called "Fratino" in Italian)
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The master bedroom (not my favourite interior decoration...but who would care???). The floor is an elegant ornate "terrazzo veneziano" or "graniglia di marmo".
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The ceiling...apparently George bought the villa because very fond of the ornate ceilings and he said in an interview "This was before television, so you just watched the ceiling"...well if this ceiling is in the master bedroom it would be so great to forget about television and I am sure many of us would looove to watch that ceiling...while resting...
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This is where he maintains his "physique du role"
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and here is where he can relax after so much excitement (!!!)
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and, just between us, when in Moltrasio we can still see him playing soccer at times with the kids outside the church! What a guy!
In my "Art, Architecture, Interiors" tour in Milan I added a night at Como lake because I find it magnificent and also because...you never know...
Thanks to Courtney and to Grant for the sudden inspiration they gave me to write this post.

You may also like to read:
A House on Como Lake
The end to an era of excess
James Bond's bedroom

13 comments:

Maria Killam said...

The piece of that movie I remember was the outdoor stone staircases, they were so amazing!

That ceiling is certainly incredible!

Grant K. Gibson said...

Great post.
I just ADORED Milan and the Lakes a few years ago.
I can't wait to go back!
Happy weekend.

MEADE DESIGN GROUP said...

Now! Now! I want a villa in Lake Como (lol) Its all your fault Albarosa (lol)

Velvet and Linen said...

Steve and I have traveled to Italy twice, but we have never been to Lake Como (shame on us!).
I think I need to plan our next trip to include this gorgeous part of Italy. Thank YOU for the inspiration!

xo
Brooke

Monica said...

Hello !!!!!!
Beautiful photos.......I would change the interiors .....but if Clooney comes with the package......who cares........
Have a nice day.....!!!!!
Monica in Rome

cotedetexas said...

What a gorgeous place. I am dying to go Lake Como one day!!!

Marie Cole said...

I love the Lake Como area....Dream destination to live, so serene and beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

DesignTies said...

I so want to travel to Italy! I've been to the Italian influenced part of Switzerland and loved it!! A trip to the Milan and Tuscany regions would be a dream come true, though!! Thanks for sharing this little bit of Como Lake. :-)
Victoria @ DesignTies

Brillante Interiors said...

To all interested...please follow my blog on travel.
The first trip to Milan and Como Lake will be in October 2009 (very limited space) other customized tours for small groups will follow in 2010.

Peg said...

Hi Albarosa, I cannot open your main site here in Tibet - is it subversive? Does it mention the Dalai Lama? It is strange to see your photos of such sublime beauty when surrounded by beauty of a completely different sort. The Tibetan aesthetic is wonderful, so many rich colours and patterns; the women hold themselves proudly and use adornment with reckless abando. It is wonderful. Here are some photo inside a very humble Tibetan village home and another of a beautiful group of Tibetan people. looking forward to seeing you at home, Peg

Maria Killam said...

Thanks for the birthday call today!! I'm so looking forward to seeing you on the 16th!

imhkki said...

beautiful decoration, diningroom and floorings

Onsite Support said...

That is a wonderful place and who would not like to stay in such a place
Teak Aluminium

 
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