The joy of Spring

California? France? Tuscany?

No…this is a house in the center of Milan, where in Spring the lucky owners can start dining outdoor. What I love here is the simplicity of the wrought iron pergola, the industrial feeling of the building, the choice of greenery and the touch of white flowers in tune with the white canvas on the classic wooden chaises. A few candles create more atmosphere and the table as you can see is set in a very elegant, but still unpretentious way.

I find this image absolutely charming.

Photography Adriano Brusaferri for Bravacasa

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".
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Night & Day

Night & Day, designed by Joe Velluto for Ruggiu is a refined and magical ceiling light.

Milk is the color (but it also comes in black) and generous is the size, it has three different lighting levels, fluorescent to create ambience lighting, 24 white led for an effect of a starry sky in the dark or both for a magic result.

Night & Day will be present at Euroluce, Milan, April 12-17, 2011

Euroluce (International Lighting Exhibition) is a, not to be missed, biennial event now in its 26th edition, in conjunction with I Saloni (Milan International Furniture Fair) presenting timeless fixtures and the latest innovations and creations in lighting.

Let’s celebrate the first 50 years of I Saloni in Milan with magic, innovative lights.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".
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Tic-Tac, Tic-Tac

Waiting for the Design Week in Milan (I Saloni, April 12-17, 2011) …  the first clock dedicated to 12 fascinating areas where design will be present from Brera area to the Fairground, from Tortona area to La Triennale museum of design to every block in the city where creativity will appear (project by Blitz Bovisa)|

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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Marriages and houses

Today I am transporting you to an  Abbey in Tuscany and an apartment in Florence, both the set for a 2010 Italian movie “Matrimoni e altri disastri” (Marriages and other disasters) starring, among others, Margherita Buy and Marisa Berenson.  It is a comedy talking about a single lady living in Florence  organizing (or trying to…) the wedding of her sister in the parents’ old mansion in the country. Even if the movie may not come to North America (or has it already?) I love to show some beautiful images of those houses filled with antiques, warmth and memories of several lifetimes as European houses often are.
Above is an image of a classic “giardino all’italiana” or classic Italian garden where  the lack of flowers and the 'chiaroscuro' effects are created by sculpted trees and shrubbery, in a geometric pattern, not my favorite I should say but still representing centuries past.

 

Badia a Coltibuono, where part of the movie was shot, is an ancient Abbey from XI century, in the hills of Chianti, recently in part renovated as an Hotel with pool, gardens and acres and acres of land where the owners produce excellent olive oil and wine. Add to this a famous cooking school, wine tasting seminars, a shop where you can find the most delicious and organic products and you got the picture.

 

Eight rooms and three suites are available for clients, as you can see from the images floral patterns, ancient affreschi, antique furniture are decorating these glorious rooms.

Timeless elegance in the common areas.

One of the guestrooms with the beauty, acquired through centuries, of the cotto tiles. 

Very different but also fascinating is the movie set in the apartment in Florence. Again this place is in an historic XVI century building which, after the movie,  the shooting actually took place here during renovation, was transformed in the  Hotel Palazzo Guadagni with 15 rooms, elegant common areas and antique furnishing.

The Hotel reception which in the movie was set as the living room  and on the right a veranda opening to a large terrace. I love the ceiling treatment and the tall doors.

Margherita Buy walking in a vast corridor filled with chairs, books, art.

 

Mid century bed and a gorgeous Thonet settee reflected  in a mirrored armoire.

The Florentine roofs and the Tuscan hills in the background.

The terrace, or I would call it a loggia,  has a beautiful view over Florence roofs.

One of the sets of the movie in the  apartment.  If you like to see more of this here is a a video clip

with some scenes from the movie.

I have a fascination to see how set designers work, do you?
 Photography by Simone Martinetto



©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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Qerat, Jordan

Furniture designed and made with passion.

This is the spirit of Qerat, Jordan, an extraordinary company established in 1995 in Amman, creating superb pieces made with exotic woods and celebrating “less is more” aesthetic in its approach to furniture, textile and interior design.
In this age of mass production, it is great to see a dedication to classic craftsmanship.
Above is an image of Sqrd, a side table from the Mondrian collection, don’t you love the name of this beautiful piece? and I personally love the shape and color, sooo yummy, like a stack of delicious chocolate.

Screw is a side table from the Masara collection

 

Lanya are floor lights from the Marlene collection.  Halogen up lighters that start at 1.80 meters high and go up to 2.20 meters. They are quite dramatic in scale, as a sculpture.

Libra bench, from the Japasia Collection, balances the straight lines of its seat with a beautifully curved and tapered base.

Cushion from Qerat soft furnishings collection, precious silk and vibrant colors.

Ki, meaning table in Japanese, is a coffee table from the Japasia collection, pictured here in Cherry with black stained Mahogany legs.

Did I make you curious about the person behind all this? If you want to know more about Tareq please read the interview by Ivan Meade.

It would be a pleasant discovery.

Qerat is now a Brillante Interiors valued sponsor.
If you like to advertise on this blog please send a message  to info@brillanteinteriors.com

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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Brillante choice

Sidewall

A bookcase to be fixed to a wall or, if on a rotating base, away from walls or even in the centre of a room, creating separation between areas or the effect of  a column. A totemic piece in many colors, modular and customized at several heights. In wood for the wall or metal for the floor version.

 

Sidewall is designed by Piero Lissoni for Porro.

A fun way to display your precious books or collections.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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150 years of history

For the anniversary of 150 years of Italy unification, events in Italy and all over the world  where Italian communities are (I doubt there is a single country without at least a few Italian families…) are being held in these days and also at Venaria Reale, near Turin,  Esperienza Italia 150 will be present from March to November 2011.
In my last trip to Torino (Turin) the first capital of the Italian Kingdom, I visited the magnificent Palace of Venaria, the country secondary residence for the Savoy family, the dynasty that ruled over Italy after Unification until the end of Second World War. In the picture on top you can see a special version of Flap sofa by Francesco Binfarè for Edra  this time with the colors of the Italian flag, produced exclusively for the 150th anniversary of Italy.
A few images of Venaria from my previous trip.

Esperienza Italia (Italy experience): an incredible, fascinating series of events on

Italian art, history, fashion, food, style and design.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about  new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".


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Handel Hendrix House

 
What  George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) and Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) could possibly have in common? Both involved in music, yes, but  what else? Follow me to London and then to Milan for a great musical surprise.

George Frideric Handel
25 Brook Street, Mayfair, London is home to a museum devoted to the great baroque German born composer George Frideric Handel. Now called the Handel House Museum is where he lived from 1723 until his death in 1759. The only composer museum in London, this house is where he wrote the notes for some of the greatest music including Messiah and Music for the Royal Fireworks.

George Frideric Handel

The house has been restored to look as it did during Handel's 36 year occupancy.  A typical early 18th century London terrace house, it has a basement, three levels and an attic, and Handel was the first occupant, paying  £60 a year rent for the whole house.

The Museum celebrates Handel's life and works, displaying portraits of Handel and his contemporaries in finely restored Georgian interiors and by bringing live music back to his house with concerts and special musical events.

Jimi Hendrix
23 Brook Street, Mayfair, London, the city that he called home from 1966 to 1970.
Although we often associate him with Woodstock, much of his off-stage time was spent in apartments like this one, clubs and hotels in London.

  

Jimi Hendrix in his flat at 23 Brook Street, on January 4, 1969.

Jimi Hendrix, one of the greatest rock guitarist, lived here for two years from 1968, before he died  in a Notting Hill hotel in 1970, aged 27. Hendrix and his girlfriend paid £30 a week for their attic flat and he wrote in 1968: "This is my first real home of my own." He was charmed when he learned of Handel living there in the past and bought many records including The Messiah.
The Handel museum now extends to the upper floors of its neighbor, 23 Brook Street and both houses have Blue Plaques for their respective occupants separated by two centuries, who lived in the two once separate buildings but now connected.
And now from London we go to Milan where another composer lives and  created music called “Handel Hendrix House”  part of the album “Ten Directions”. 

Roberto Cacciapaglia

Roberto Cacciapaglia   “(…) a prominent figure on the more innovative Italian music scene and a point of reference in Italy and abroad, for his musical research between classical and experimental electronic and direction towards music without borders that goes beyond divisions (…)” 
I had the pleasure of meeting him for the first time when he was still studying music composition at the Milan Conservatorio , quite a few years ago I must say...
Now listen and be transported by his music.

Top image:  Courtesy of Handel House Museum.     Hendrix image: Courtesy of Barrie Wentzell Photography.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about  new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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Pray for Japan

And the Award goes to…

  
Do you know Claudia Juestel of Adeeni Design? She is a great designer, editor and  blogger from San Francisco and I invite you to know her better through her Blog, where you’ll find “Tea with Claudia” featuring interesting interviews, the latest with Kyle Bunting, great stories and what also intrigues me, frequent referral to European culture, being Claudia from Salzburg and I from Milan, two cities not far away. 
Now back to the title:
She was so kind to nominate my blog on The Stylish Blogger Award and I am honored and grateful, being in the company of extraordinary bloggers and designers.

Seven images of what I consider style true to itself:

Ischia, under a pergola a set of 1950's chairs

Macerata, geraniums in terracotta pots and a spectacular view

Milan, vintage chairs and a chandelier made of recycled glass shades

Milan, an Ikea lamp and an antique lacquered Chinese table

Venice, an antique bookcase, vintage objects and art books

 

Milan, in a XIX century building a sleek set for an icon of style

Grado, VI century, the Romanic style church

Seven  quotes by great personalities:
1) Only great minds can afford a simple style. Stendhal
2) Fashion fades, only style remains the same. Coco Chanel
3) When we see a natural style, we are astonished and charmed; for we expected to see an author, and we find a person. Blaise Pascal
4) Style is knowing who you are, what to say, and not giving a damn. Gore Vidal
5) Oh, never mind the fashion. When one has a style of one's own, it is always twenty times better. Margaret Oliphant
6) He has found his style, when he cannot do otherwise. Paul Klee
Finally a controversial quote on style:
7) Style is a fraud. I always felt the Greeks were hiding behind their columns. Willem De Kooning

Now it is my turn to choose and …The Stylish Blogger Award goes to…
Grant K. Gibson: who I follow from the beginning of my life as a blogger and who I have seen blooming exponentially.
Patricia Gray: for her fabulous blog and for pushing me in the blogosphere when I did not even know how to spell “blog”.
Ivan Meade: for the fresh approach to design, his weekly eye candies and for the intriguing interviews to top designers.
Vicente Wolf: who I had the great pleasure to meet recently and whose blog I follow to learn everything I can from a master designer.

I hope they can share their 7 thoughts on style with us!
Believe me, I have so many more names in my mind, some were already nominated, but for now I need to refrain myself.

Images© in color by Albarosa Simonetti
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Venice treasures for sale

 

In a beautiful “palazzo” on the Grand Canal there is
a superb collection of antiques, art and furniture.

Let’s go up the stairs and have a peek inside.

"Le Roy" clock with 12 stars to celebrate coronation of Napoleon, 1803

One of two gueridons of the Directoire period, from Naples, very rare.

Venetian secretaire, 1760, Rosewood and fruit woods, built for Doge Marino Balbi

with his initials MB inlaid.

Sculpture by Mussolin (Nove) in ceramic with bronze effect (1970)

Bust by Lecompte, signed and dated 1769.

Flemish cabinet (XVII century) in Mediterranean tortoise, ebony and ivory with a French clock of the same period. The cabinet was never restored, in original conditions.  A similar one was used by Michael Smith (see his book “Elements of Style” page 158)

A collection of antique miniatures

A magnificent silver Fabergé cup, signed, with dolphins and siren in a shell.

A collection of elegance and style telling stories of many centuries.

If you are interested in any of these items or if you want to receive more information on price, dimensions, material, other items for sale, please write to:

info@brillanteinteriors.com

I will be happy to help you.

Photography©Albarosa Simonetti. All images cannot be used without written permission from the author.
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