Cabana and Dedar, not to mention 1stdibs…

I have published posts on Cabana magazine (click HERE) and on Dedar textiles (click HERE). Now what more interesting than a collaboration between the two!
From an interview of Martina Mondadori : “The design was originally a screen that my parents found in a flea market in California in the Seventies during their honeymoon,” said Mondadori Sartogo. “They brought it back to Milan, and when they were decorating their house with Lorenzo Mongiardino, they showed it to him and he said it was fabulous, but he was going to turn it into two beautiful cupboards. So the story is that Mongiardino turned it into a cupboard, and we’re turning it into wallpaper.”

“Dedar and international interiors magazine Cabana are delighted to announce their collaboration on a limited edition capsule collection.
The union between Dedar’s world of fine fabrics and wall coverings and Cabana’s creative flair has led to the Cabana Wallpaper, inspired by the work of Italian architect Renzo Mongiardino.
On sale exclusively from 1stdibds.com, the world’s online marketplace for rare and desirable objects, and available in Dedar showrooms in Milan, Paris and London.”

Pouf with luxurious Splendido velvet by Dedar.

La bella Martina Mondadori Sartogo at the launch in London of the collaboration between the two brands (Image by Antonio Salgado).


©2015 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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Dark moments

 

There is light and hope outside the darkness…

And LOVE will overcome hatred

All photographs by Albarosa Simonetti taken in Paris a few years ago at Jardin du Palais Royal and Rue des Rosiers in the Marais.

 

©2015 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".
If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.  We love your comments!
If you need help to enjoy your home more, please send us an email.  It will be an investment in happiness at home, because a well designed house is always a good part of a great life and a beautiful room will make you happy every time you walk in!

Martin and Martin

Thanks to my friend Peppa Martin, a great Vancouver photographer and owner of Truth and Beauty photography gallery, who persuaded me to add Instagram to my already long list of Social media, I have become a big fan of it, I learn, I am inspired, I find new sites and people so it all adds depth to my business.
The funny thing is that she (Martin n.1) also persuaded me (and it did not take long…) to look into JJ Martin (Martin n.2) Instagram account.
For some time now I am following (or should I say virtually stalking?) this brilliant lady who lives in Milan, and next time I’ll be in my first city I hope I’ll be invited to see her beautiful place in person (right J.J.?).
 JJ Martin is a California-born, Milan-based writer and editor who regularly contributes to Wallpaper and WSJ Magazine, among others. She is also a fashionista not to mention that her style in interior decoration is absolutely what I often try to achieve for myself and my clients (when I am lucky to find daring ones…).
Here are a few inspiring ideas from her apartment in Milan taken from some of my favorite publications: Elle Decor and The Selby (…is in her place).

The Torre Velasca at a distance and a church nearby create a magical landscape, not common at all in Milan and having a terrace is like finding a treasure. I have to say that the deep red on the chairs and black cushions are just brilliant against the lush lavender and jasmin!

A fireplace in a Milanese apartment? Double treasure!

The tone of that yellow on chairs and vases is just perfetto and look at the ashtrays with the double J…in fact it is not just a reference to her initials because she has also an online site called La DoubleJ with vintage clothing and jewels for sale.

Brutalist light sculpture and ottoman by Il Valore Aggiunto, Milan.

The 1970s desk, a 1950s wall mounted light and the baroque mirror are a winning combination. The wall itself is a stunning background.

Against the deep blue lacquered wall here is a grasta (in Sicilian language), called Teste di Moro, a jar in the shape of a head telling a legend from centuries ago when, around 1100 AD, Sicily was ruled by the Moors. The story was also masterfully described two centuries later in a novel of Boccaccio’s Decameron.
When I was in Sicily last year I was so tempted to buy one of those gorgeous Teste di Moro which can be seen in the female version as above or in the Moor male version (smaller, bigger, different ornaments, various colors…) in so many towns around the island, on flowered balconies.

I wish I knew more about this sculptural table and I love its base’s round shape, same as the lights and the bowl.

Doesn’t she look like an angel?

A collection of vintage Murano ashtrays convinced me to add more to my own very small one.

Inspiration everywhere…Thanks Martin and Martin !

©2015 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".
If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.  We love your comments!
If you need help to enjoy your home more, please send us an email.  It will be an investment in happiness at home, because a well designed house is always a good part of a great life and a beautiful room will make you happy every time you walk in!

High Fashion in Milan

I was recently at Armani/ Silos in Milan, a brand new Museum to celebrate 40 years of Re Giorgio creations.

What a great surprise to see a magnificent renovation and a fantastic installation: the building was born in 1950 to stock grains and it is approximately 50.000 square feet on 4 levels.

On the main floor “Stars” presents images of famous actors wearing Armani…who does not remember Richard Gere in American Gigolo ?

The 600 creations, plus accessories, from 1980 to today are not chronologically displayed but grouped by themes:

Stars, Daywear, Light, Black, Chromatism and so on.

The most beautiful red silk panels in the “Red” room.

The walls changed in every room, here are a background of greige (Armani signature color I should say) silk.

The lighting system created a perfect atmosphere for every single display.

Does it matter to know if this dress was created in 1980, 1990 or yesterday?

The accessories floor seen from above.

Giorgio Armani, a genius of style and elegance, timeless use of colors and shapes, thin line between male and female fashion, and always seductive.

Photography by Albarosa Simonetti

©2015 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".
If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.  We love your comments!
If you need help to enjoy your home more, please send us an email.  It will be an investment in happiness at home, because a well designed house is always a good part of a great life and a beautiful room will make you happy every time you walk in!

At Home with Stella Jean

Stella Jean is an Italian fashion designer, but she seldom designs her creations, not many drawings in fact… because instead she loves to play with fabrics until she produces what is already in her mind.

Stella’s father is from Turin, the mother from Haiti and she grew up in Rome!  No wonder that her house, which she shares with her antiquarian husband and their children, is very eclectic and full of colors.

Dining table is an original by Carlo Mollino, the superb architect-designer from Turin.  I love the trompe-l’oeil on the wall and the skirt on Stella paired with a simple jeans shirt is fabulous.


Black and White photography invites the eye to rest and it is always an elegant touch even in the most colorful surroundings.

A classic sofa becomes contemporary with a vivid color textile draped asymmetrically over it. What an inspiring idea!

A modern kitchen by Arclinea is ideal to prepare Italian and Haitian dishes.

Stella Jean with one of her colorful creations.

Photography of interiors by Helenio Barbetta

©2015 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".
If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.  We love your comments!
If you need help to enjoy your home more, please send us an email.  It will be an investment in happiness at home, because a well designed house is always a good part of a great life and a beautiful room will make you happy every time you walk in!