Room Gallery ~ Palazzo Margherita

The infamous movie director, Francis Ford Coppola bought a grand but decaying villa, and renovated it with the help of renowned French interior designer Jacques Grange.

I recently read a  piece covering the transformation, and I just fell in love particularly with suite no. 9 of the Palazzo Margherita.


{via WoI, March 2012.}

This suite overlooks the palazzo’s private gardens and it was previously a covered terrace.  Coppola installed glass into the windows and painted the vaulted ceiling.


{photographs by Tim Beddow}

The bejmat floor tiles were designed by Grange, as was the headboard’s inlay which follows a traditional Syrian geometric pattern.  Grange also designed the bathroom tiles, and the overall feel is one of a bohemian Morocco set in Italy. As Coppola says, it is “authentic, quality, pleasure with a dash of the exotic”.

What’s even more exciting is that Ford Coppola has opened the Palazzo’s doors to paying guests wishing to stay.  The next time I’m in Bernalda I shall certainly be booking myself into here as a treat!

What other beautifully designed location would you like to stay in?

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Posted on February 13th, 2012

Room Gallery ~ Daydreaming in the bath

As the evenings are drawing in, I think I might be in slight denial that we haven’t had (yet again) a brilliant summer and am being completely drawn to light and summery rooms. As a final fling before we turn the clocks back this weekend, I’ve chosen Michael Smith’s own divine bathroom as the Room Of The Week.

Michael creates a very gentlemanly feel in what is actually a rather small space, combining a dressing room and a master bath with an old world elegance that brings to mind Claridges.

The tub is orientated to the view through the French doors, which can be flung open in the summer. The look is finished with old fashioned fittings, and the French Neoclassical stool covered in the restrained olive green compliments the neutral palette.

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Posted on October 24th, 2011

Wednesday’s Spotlight On… ~ What are your design values?

In my last post I mentioned the trade show, Decorex. For you that are not familiar with it, it is essentially one of the foremost design shows in the UK, if not Europe, for the highest quality artisans in the world of interior design. Not only does it host the world’s best craftsmen and tastemakers, it also showcases lectures from design luminaries from around the world.

I was lucky to attend one such lecture by Michael Parry, of Morris & Co who so expertly spoke of the history of that magical company Morris & Co.

William Morris was a truly exceptional man, one who strove to break free from the binds of class structure and the expectation that comes with it. He was a true luminary – he designed fabrics, wallpapers, wrote extensively, started a printing press, created businesses….he was an entrepreneur before the concept was officially branded and bandied about.

Morris

A theme that wove throughout his work and his life was the idea that he wanted to create interiors and art for all, not just for the elite who could afford it. Sadly, due to the pricing of the highest quality items that his stringent standards demanded, the true manifestation of this reality eluded him to his death.

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Posted on October 12th, 2011