Dreaming of a White... Canvas

A white canvas.  That is the sensation when standing in the center of the Boscolo Exedra Roma lobby, as the walls are painted a stark white, from the 24" deep dental molding down to the equally substantial base boards.  Often in design this is just a starting point to "paint it out white," followed by some overlaying details, applied moldings in another color or art work that adds meaning to the space.  But not here, in this neoclassical building, which dates back to the XIX century, constructed by Gaetano Koch (also responsible for the twin building on the other side of Piazza Reubblica).  But, the 'white canvas' is clearly from another hand (or hands): architect Maurizio Papiri and designer Adam Tihany.  

And the Christmas decor of the Boscolo is quite minimal as the white would lead to believe, just a smallish tree perched atop a round marble table in the lobby, but filled with ornaments the size of a soccer ball in classic red and gold.  The walls are so rich in detail that the white is truly understood as the designer's canvas.  

 

St. Regis + St. Nick

It is hard to beat a classic... And the luxury of the St. Regis Hotel in Rome never disappoints.  Each time that I enter the lobby and look up at the blue painted ceiling (hosting names from literature) and the illuminated crystal centerpiece, I need a moment to soak in the surrounds and just gaze.  The details in the holiday decorations are manifest from the street view and they usher you into the porte cochere and then the magnificence of the hotel itself.  Having worked with the Starwood Group, and the St. Regis specifically, it is no surprise that details are of the utmost importance with a refined touch... A key element that has remained since the beginning with the Astor family in New York... And that continues to live on.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aleph Roma

As a designer, specializing in hotel design, my eyes are always wandering towards the newest hotel and innovative design.  The Boscolo Aleph in Rome, designed by the phenomenal Adam Tihany is one of the city's more modern beauties... all the red is strong, yet not over-the-top.  I was at the hotel recently for an event and I found it a perfect opportunity to begin my short series of blogs on the holiday decorations around the city.  The red (wittily symbolizing Hell) makes you feel completely at home as it is so fitting with red berries, white and silver accents. The tree is a classic in the library, set on the herringbone floor... And the large bell hanging over the concierge?  It makes me want to sing out those carols... 

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..."

Aleph Roma

The Danish Pinecone

Just the other day I was outside on my balcony with a sackful of large pine cones that I (along with my willing and good spirited husband) gathered around the wooded area near the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.  After letting them sit and dry for a few days I was ready to transform them into my holiday decor, spraying them a shining silver.  

Perusing different design websites as they were drying, I stumbled upon a gorgeous pendant lamp that fit the theme of the day, Pinecone, from a young Danish designer in Copenhagen.  Jonas Lönborg, designer and owner of Hello Sailor, has designed Pinecone and Pinecone Mini (currently in prototype stages and looking for investors) in a series of different materials, working to get the exact look and feel, while producing an adequate light source.  To date, both plywood and acrylic have been used for the pendant trials.  The mirrored acrylic is quite special as well as the soft glow echoed from within the birch plywood... And I eagerly await Lönborg's final version!   

 

 

  

Moquette vs. Carpet

 

Recently, I had the opportunity of having a short article published in one of Italy's most important newspapers, La Repubblica.  More precisely, in the online version of Casa & Design, the home and design section of the newspaper.  The subject: carpet.  Or, since the article was in Italian, for the Italian public: moquette.  I must admit that it was a bit tongue and cheek in picking the topic, since I knew from the start that the Italian perception of (or prejudice toward) carpet is dismal to say the least.  Accompanying the article at the end was a poll "for" or "against" carpet-- the results were no shock: 81% against.  Yet, despite the great opportunity of writing for the site, there was clearly a missed opportunity and a skewed impression.  The article was not intended to convince an Italian to use wall-to-wall carpet in each room of their flat-- not even I want that for my home-- but to open the Italian mentality a bit, keeping in mind another option for floor covering.  As a designer, the visual impact is essential when working with a client.  In the case of the article the readers are the client, and unfortunately, the visual, a series of photos prepared along with the article, were not shown online. Maybe this visual tool could have assisted the words... and opened a few more minds.

Herein the "photo gallery":   

 

 

Raw Edges for Stella

To know the work of Stella McCartney is to know that she is green to the core-- it is part of her DNA.  As a devout vegetarian, no leather or fur is used in her products, yet she maintains exquisite styling nevertheless.  With her green attitude, it is no wonder that her latest store opening in Rome (Via Borgognona, 6) was realized using environmentally sustainable materials, most notable being the floor.  The masterpiece, created by Yael Mer ad Shay Alkalay, two young Israeli-cum-British designers, best known as Raw Edges, is a modern play on the herringbone pattern using oak wood planks taken from a forest certified FSC (from the Forest Stewardship Council).  Raw Edges is motivated by turning two-dimensional sheet materials into pneumatic functional forms, while learning how things move, function and react, as evident in the varying monochromatic colors-- from plum to pale pink-- installed for Stella. 

Forest Stewardship Council 

Raw Edges 

Stella McCartney