L'Arte di Arredare

For the Italians, Settembre is the start of a new year... And it has been a month of new, budding ideas in more respects than just "back to school."  In the past 26 days, a frenzy of design fairs has transpired-- from the Cersaie International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings (Bologna) to the Kartell Muesum opening (Milan) to Made In Italy & National Identity presented by Compasso D'Oro at the MACRO (Rome)-- All fantastic fairs (and cities) in their own right.  

And yet, I must pause and spotlight one in particular: L'Arte di Arredare (12th Edition) in Piacenza, a city that is very sentimental to me, as it's the birthplace of my husband as well as the location of our intimate wedding.  Diverse from the other fairs around the country, this one-- small regarding the the selection of items contained within-- is, however, quite majestic in the way the furnishings have been displayed.  You see, the backdrop for "L'Arte" is the Basilica di Sant'Agostino, built by Bernardino Pannizzario "il Caramosino," in the ten years spanning 1569-1579.  This marble palette creates a harmonious juxtaposition for modern materials, which included soft bedroom suites by Flou (in particular the upholstered closet doors), Giorgetti's curvacious Ellis and Arabella lounge chairs, Valcucine's new super luxe version of their Logica System kitchen (that prompted my husband to utter continuously, "che figo")... As well as local fares such as, a wonderful stacked wood table lamp from Design Relax (1 Via Veneto, Piacenza).

The 'art of furnishing' has never looked so good.  

FLOU

Valcucine

Giorgetti

The Raphael Gallery

And so the experience of actually lounging around the V&A museum in London has finally been realized to really reflect on Raffaello Santi's seven 'cartoons' or in Italian, cartone... And it's been done so in an array of blues, greens and multiple morphings of the two cool tones by Kvadrat and their Hallingdal fabric.  Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec are the creative masterminds behind the 'Kvdrat Textile Field' installation which has been applied as part of the The London Design Festival (September 17 - 25).  As the young, French designers explain, "Our intention is to propose a different, casual approach to freely experience what can be a quite intimidating environment, such as a museum. We conceived an expansive, coloured foam and textile piece with gentle inclinations to produce a sensual field on which to comfortably lounge while meditating on the surrounding Raphael Cartoons. Everyone can immerse into this temporary installation, for a minute, an hour or more, that is the idea. No efforts, no apprehension just contemplation."

Kvadrat Textile Field

London Design Festival

Home Town Icon

As we approach the end of the summer, I still have some images of my last trip home (Marietta, GA) that are just lingering.  Even after five years living in Italy, a trip home still awakens those endearing, yet unrelenting, home sick feelings.  One of my last days before heading back to Rome, I visited a part of town that I haven't seen in over 10 years.  Arriving to the destination requires passing an icon of sorts.  Well, quite frankly, it is an icon, the icon of Marietta: The Big Chicken!  And I must admit that it was a sight for sore eyes; the 56 feet of steel have never looked better. 

In the summer of 1999 I wrote a spread on Marietta Square in the lifestyles magazine, Atlanta Citymag, noting the theaters, children's, vintage and antiques shops, along with the good eats, some of which I found again that Friday morning--  And others, such as Sugar Cakes, where I met my friend, Elizabeth Cossick (publishing editor of Little Black / Dress Little Red Wagon), for a perfect cup of coffee and a delicious fruit parfait.  BTW: Elizabeth profiled me in her magazine's summer "adventure" issue.  Mille grazie, E.!  

Yet, despite the passing of 10 plus years, the feeling of the square was still familiar--  A street view composed of southern architecture, colorfully painted clothing shops, bakeries and cafes along side an art deco style theater (The Strand).  And the park, green grass gleaming beneath the high noon sun, with the large water fountain freestanding as center piece, can't help but remind me of a line from that Citymag article: "[The] square still has the perfect balance of new additions and traditional Southern pride in the air."