A loft in Florence

A large loft, airy and bright, with its industrial bones, as a former small factory, maintained, adding interest to the contemporary interior design  and the dominant colors.

The dining table, in a rich and thick chestnut is a project of the designer and owner, Sachiko Bradley. The chairs are vintage Eames  and the ceiling pendants were designed by Achille Castiglioni for Flos. The paintings are all by Sachiko’s father, the English artist Martin Bradley.

A comfortable custom made sofa in the living. Note the beautiful industrial windows with the natural light flowing in. The openness of the loft is what the owner  was searching, a house “Where we would never feel alone”.

The Asian red lacquer cabinet creates a focal point and stands out from the concrete floor painted white. Small lanterns drop from the high ceiling at different heights, probably Flea market’s finds.

The children room with different stripes of vintage wallpaper on the main wall, a white Ikea piece continues with a custom designed desk, a smart way of mixing vintage, new, mass production and original pieces. 

The kitchen, open to the living area, echoes the industrial feeling of the loft. Unusual decorative elements, the old alphabet characters, salvaged from stores signs, contrast in a great way with the stainless steel wall above the stove, a clean, functional, bright area where to cook, gather, create new recipes.

The designer maintained the original doors to the courtyard, worn iron and the rust tell us a story, like in so many houses in Europe where centuries of lives are creating a mosaic of styles and memories.

An open space fit for a modern family.

Photography by Lorenzo Nencioni/VegaMg

©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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I am not Scottish

I am not Scottish but I love tartan pattern and I follow closely

The adventures of Tartan Scot blog, 

always entertaining and refined.

While recently in Milan I was walking one day by La Rinascente, the city's main department store, and I saw the most beautiful windows display, all about Christian Dior Fall 2011 and all about tartan. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me and I went back two days later, with the purpose of sending pictures to Scot but…the windows were changed already.
(Did you know that Giorgio Armani started his career as a window dresser? And coincidentally just for La Rinascente!)

 

 

I cannot show you the gorgeous window display in Milan so I found these equally gorgeous images  from Style website (and courtesy of Christian Dior);  they say about the Dior pre-fall collection “A Scottish hunting theme opened with forties-inspired tartan skirt suits in eccentric colors such as lavender and sage, trimmed (or not) with fur (…)” I find this collection very appealing, what do you think?

As for me…I am Italian and I love tartan!

©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

Loop by Casamania.

A chair and a rug at the same time, designed by Sophie De Vocht as seen at I Saloni 2011 in Milan. The technique of tufting creates extreme softness  and the metal support gives comfort. 

The result? Absolute relax!

Photography ©by Albarosa Simonetti

©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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Meet Vanessa Beecroft

Lia Rumma Gallery, Milan, the courtyard.

While in Milan I went to the opening of the internationally famous Italian artist Vanessa Beecroft, for her new exhibition and performance at the Galleria Lia Rumma, a big white cube on three levels with even space outside for installation of sculptures, a bonus for a city like Milan where space is at premium. Beecroft created a great performance with more then ten naked models, their bodies like sculptures, painted in different colors, sitting on marble slabs in various poses and moving in a very slow motion under the direction of the artist, who stays out of the scene though when the performance begins.
The live sculptures and the marble ones created a unique, very evocative sculptural group on the main level. It was a rainy day and we had to wait outside long time to allow only 150 people at a time to enter but it was worth the wait.

 

On the second and third level of the gallery amazingly powerful sculptures waited for us like the female figure above, emerging from the most amazing piece of marble, as all the others the artist uses: Green and Red Onyx, Blue Macaubas, Blue Lapis lazuli, Black Belgian marble and other precious cuts. The preciousness of the material contrasts with the fragmentation of the human body, always missing some parts, at first you admire the monumental work, but then you are forced to elaborate thoughts on the female condition and also on eating disorders, which are a constant theme in Beecroft’s art.

Above: models sitting on marble slabs, sculptures, the great, smart, gallery owner Lia Rumma dressed in white talking with Vittorio Sgarbi, a famous Italian art historian and art critic, a controversial and genial  personality and the curator of Padiglione Italia for the 2011 Venice Biennale. Of course the performance cannot be reproduced with a simple picture, because the two hours presented a continuous change and exchange between the public and the models. Things changed slowly and even my approach to her art as a viewer changed during the time I was there.

One model with the body painted in black, in a plastic pose. To see more pictures (professional ones) go to Lia Rumma website and click on “current”.

And here I am with beautiful Vanessa Beecroft, who now lives in Los Angeles continuing her study of the body, the beauty and the identity of the female gender.

Photography ©by Albarosa Simonetti

©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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Welcome to “Collioshire”

Collio is an area in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, a region in the North East corner of Italy, where my family is originally from.
This area is famous internationally for its  superb production of wine, especially whites like Tocai, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Ribolla and others. The landscape is beautiful too, with hills, towns punctuated by bell towers, vineyards, orchards, fields of poppies and wild flowers.
Some houses are built in stones and present the typical balcony of the region, with wood balustrade, geraniums and petunias flow from them creating a cheerful focal point.

 

 

 

 

In clear days the crown of Giulian Alps can be seen, as a spectacular backdrop, especially when snow is on the top, in winter.
You may wonder where the name Giulia for the region and the Alps come from, and it comes from Julius Caesar, the Roman emperor, even the name Friuli means Forum Julii or city of Julius.
The whole region has a pre-Roman origin since it was first inhabited by Celtic people, and remains of their history can be seen, together with Roman artifacts.

A region not yet well known, as I said previously in other posts, even by Italians, but worth the trip for a visit to absburgic Trieste, the Venetian Udine, the Longbard Cividale, the Roman Aquileja.

To go back to the title of the post: “Collioshire” I refer to the success of the Tuscan region of Chianti that became famous years ago to the point of being called Chiantishire by English speaking travellers, the same success is starting now in Collio, where Sting, Depardieu and others are trying to buy vineyards and where luxury country Hotels, Bed and Breakfast and simple Agriturismi are offering great choice of accommodations.

A toast to Collio!

Photography ©by Albarosa Simonetti

©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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Timeless elegance

Poltrona Frau at I Saloni 2011, Milan, presented the skeleton of a sofa, manufactured with superb skills.
I personally have sofas from Poltrona Frau acquired in 1970, still super comfortable and with so simple lines that make them timeless.

Poltrona Frau desk and chair as seen at I Saloni 2011 in Milan.

Poltrona Frau table and chairs as seen at I Saloni 2011 in Milan.

Buy less but buy the best you can afford!

Photography ©by Albarosa Simonetti
©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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Meet Gio Ponti

A famous architect who designed buildings from Hong Kong to Sao Paulo to New York, a founder and editor of Domus, iconic architectural magazine founded in 1928, a University professor and more…I am talking about Gio Ponti (Milan 1891 – Milan 1979).

His native city, Milan, is now presenting two major retrospectives, one on his beautiful ceramics “Il fascino della ceramica” regarding his production for Richard-Ginori in the 1920’s. The exhibition is hosted in the same building designed by him, the tallest building in Milan “Grattacielo Pirelli” built between 1956 and 1960.

“A metaphor on the opening on the city’s horizon” as he said.

Two pictures taken by me from the 31st floor of the Pirellone, the Milanese nickname for the building, where you can have a 360° view of Milan.
At La Triennale (design museum) another exhibition called “Espressioni di Gio Ponti” will show the 70 years of his creativity, from architecture to industrial design, from artisanal production to every aspect of his artistic talent.

Domus magazine

Two chairs, on the right the “Superleggera” a chair designed by Ponti for Cassina, year 1957.

A classic reference.

Year 1950, a chandelier designed for Venini

Almost metaphysical.

 

Cabinet designed by Gio Ponti and decorated by Piero Fornasetti.

Gio Ponti …a timeless talent, always with an eye to the past, and one to the future.

©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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The Joy of Spring

Roses and Jasmine in full bloom everywhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

All these images were taken in the gardens of  Palazzo Lantieri in Gorizia.

From Palazzo Lantieri website:
“Palazzo Lantieri is situated in the historic centre of Gorizia in beautiful surroundings: a visit to
this prestigious historical dwelling with its harmonious blend of modernity and tradition is a unique experience. Its spacious and elegant rooms were frequented in the past by royal and stellar literary figures including Goethe, Goldoni and Casanova, and are now open to those who want the experience of being seduced by their timeless charm.
(…)
Palazzo Lantieri has been an important cultural reference point for centuries, not only for Gorizia
and its county, but for Central Europe as well. It was built in the 14th century to guard the south-western entrance to the city. Various alterations were carried out to enlarge and adorn it, resulting in its slow transformation from fortress into the noble dwelling we see today. Its famous guests have included the French royal family, Pope Pius VI, the Archduchess of Austria Maria Theresa and Napoleon, as well as important cultural figures such as Goethe, Schiller, Goldoni, Pietro Metastasio, Casanova and Lorenzo da Ponte, all of whom mention it in their writings.”

Gorizia is a charming city situated in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, at the borders of Austria and Slovenia.
The whole region is an enchanting area going from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea, at the North East corner of Italy, where my family is from and I have to say...an area not well known even by Italians!

Photography© Albarosa Simonetti

©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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