The Velvet Lady

The Velvet Lady is costume designer Dada Saligeri who was my elementary schoolmate, we lost touch but after (quite a few…) decades we met again and spent a few days together, as it happens in life: we lose friendships, we make new ones, we cross paths, we reconnect again…

In my last trip to Milan I went to visit her to admire her latest collection of velvet, stunning textiles woven with metallic threads, which give an extra layer of texture and shine.

 

 Turandot by Giacomo Puccini at The Met

Aida by Giuseppe Verdi at The Met

She was involved for years in designing costumes for major productions, including operas, many represented at The Metropolitan in New York, Rigoletto, Aida, Turandot, La Traviata, just to name a few.
She was at times working for these productions with her husband, Gianni Quaranta, director, production designer and set designer for theatre and cinema who, amongst many prizes, won an Oscar for the charming movie “A room with a view”.

 

  To say that her apartment was a joy to visit is an understatement, starting with the beautiful Liberty street facade.

 

Then entering through the main carved wooden door I found myself in the elegant courtyard.
Many Milanese buildings from past centuries have gorgeous courtyards and even luxurious gardens, hidden from the view of people passing by on the street…

 

Another elaborate entrance inside the courtyard leads to the marble stairs,  with gracious wrought iron and decorated glass windows.

  

 Now entering the apartment I am greeted by this mirror frame, where Dada has decided to put ribbons of silk, how beautiful and creative.

 

An antique cane bench against a faux marble wall is adorned by a heart pillow in her velvet creation. This home has a heart!

 

I could not refrain myself from taking pictures also of interior decoration, objects, antiques, collections…I was fascinated about the stories behind every piece, like the magnificent 1930’s crystal vase above with metal decorations, belonging to her mother.

The walls were full of oil paintings, sketches, drawings, like the clown drew by Franco Zeffirelli, with the dedication “To dearest Dada, a true friend”.

 

 

Being in love with Sicily I noticed the two small ceramic heads, a classic and popular subject, related to a centuries old story of a tragic love.

Now a few examples of exquisite and original velvet, different colors, textures but all extremely elegant and timeless.

 

How not to mention that also the elevator has red velvet seats and transports you not just from floor to floor but also to a past era of theatrical luxury.

If interested in any pieces of those fabulous textiles please contact me and I will put you in touch directly with the designer.

©2016 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!

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".
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!

Contemporary Rug Art by Jan Kath

 

A new showroom in Vancouver opened a few days ago in the Design District with a great party and a display of unique rugs and pillows.

They were all designed by Jan Kath, a third generation of a family of carpet dealers. When he was a young boy he used to visit manufacturers in Iran and Nepal with his father. Many trips later on his own and long periods spent in Asia and the Middle East the connection with the “world of carpet” was reestablished.

 

Now Kath is bringing back classical elements of Oriental and Middle East carpets with a twist of contemporary, minimalist design.

The huge showrooms was filled with diverse styles of rugs, some were homage to traditional Oriental rugs from the collection Erased Heritage others were vibrant florals from the collection From Russia With Love then monochromatics from Le Maroc Blanc and charming simplicity of the ones from The Lost Weave.

Perhaps the great Vancouver muralist Stefano Piccone (on the right with a friend) will  be inspired even further by all the patterns seen on these walls?

Jenny Thomas, of Jan Kath company, chatting with guests.

I loved the rustic drawers with natural wood on the front, when open they display many colorful samples.

The beautifully radiant, six months pregnant Shannon Heth of Heth PR was modeling for me against a fantastic textured silky rug.

We all went home with a treasure of books about Jan Kath’s rugs, even if we all wished to squeeze instead a rug in the gift bag…

Jan Kath, a true master of carpet design with a defined style and uncompromised ethics.

Photography by Albarosa Simonetti

©2014 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!

Exquisite wallpaper … and more

 

T‘Askew’ design in full custom design colours on a bleached white dyed silk. De Gournay ‘Chinese Chippendale George III’ mirror in the Chambord finish.

‘Early Views of Italy’ design in Azure design colours on Azure scenic paper. Four Seasons Hotel in Geneva. Photography by Nial Clutton.

 

‘Oriental Landscape’ design in part custom design colours on Emerald Green dyed silk. Photography by Jonny Valiant.

Today I had the pleasure of seeing the most beautiful wallpaper and textile samples… if you are familiar with the name de Gournay  you know what I mean, otherwise run to their website and enjoy the exquisite hand painted wallpapers, hand painted fabrics , hand painted porcelain and hand carved furnishings.

Rachel de Gournay from the de Gournay family and Gwendolyn Rayner, director of the New York Showroom were in Vancouver to do a presentation. What a treat to see …and touch…the real thing which I admired many times on paper or online.

Silk, Tea paper, Linen, Organza, all the best materials are used to customize wallpaper or textiles to adorn the most exclusive residences or public spaces.

Many collections to choose from and all can be customized to your desire.

Japanese style

 

Chinoiserie style

 

Eclectic style

 

I was so mesmerized that I could not resist to take pictures even from the glossy catalogues on the table:

Expensive? Perhaps!

Priceless? Absolutely!

Top three images from de Gournay website, other images by Albarosa Simonetti

©2014 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!