Contemporary art in a 17th century home.




This is a stunning apartment in Milan, the building has centuries of history, but the furnishing and art collection are contemporary, a perfect example of how to blend different styles and periods.  On the table a sculpture by Marc Quinn.


One of my favorite artists, the Anglo-Indian Anish Kapoor, created the vivid blue disc you can see in the entry hall, as many other works by him this one also reflects as a mirror. On the antique credenza a work by Francesco Vezzoli…what a scenography and magic atmosphere.

On the antique console table a photograph by Vanessa Beecroft

In the living room some beautiful romantic pink flowers give a different touch to an otherwise stark choice of furniture.


Another living has a large, so comfortable tufted sofa, with an impressive oil painting by Kate Thyson above. I also love the wallpaper and the herringbone wood floor.


A blue neon light, a work by Tracy Emin, harmonize with the portrait by Julien Opie, the large sofa help to relax the eye with its monochrome textile.


A vignette of the kitchen with a splendid round table and contemporary steel stools. I find the grey on the wall a perfect backdrop, specially for its irregular brush strokes. Notice the carved double doors.


Another surprise…the bathroom with old wood floor, salmon hue sponge-painted walls, an antique armchair and a stand alone tub. It looks like a living room!


The large and functional kitchen, with stainless steel, Carrara marble, reclaimed cotto floor.


A Mao portrait by Yan-Pei Ming, a Chinese artist the owner started to collect years ago, before he became famous. Obviously the Milanese art collector has a great eye for finding exceptional works of art. Decorating is her hobby, and it shows in the attention to details and the, at times daring, but always elegant choices!
Photography by Barbara Corsico
©2013 Tent London 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.  I love your comments!
If you need help to enjoy your home more, please send me 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!

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A-Efendy Antiques and Art, Floors, Furniture, Houses, Interior Decoration, Interior design, Kitchen, Lifestyle, Milan, Tent London Interiors

A Tribute to Gabriella Crespi

I have written about the amazing designer Gabriella Crespi in the past ( click HERE…) and a few months ago in Milano there was a special event dedicated to her:

“A Tribute to Gabriella Crespi”.

The event, held at the magnificent historic Palazzo Crespi,  was organized by Sergio Rossi and Casa Vogue magazine to celebrate the new cooperation between the luxury brand Sergio Rossi and the sculptor-designer Gabriella Crespi, now in her 90’s but still active.

The atmosphere of Palazzo Crespi, built at the end of 1800 and where part of the family still lives, is sophisticated and opulent, with stunning collections and at the same time very lived in: Renaissance paintings, Louis XV pieces, neoclassic art, precious antiques, ceramics… but also books, accessories, daily life objects that create some coziness even in such a grand décor.

 

Daughter Elisabetta Crespi and Christophe Mélard, President of Sergio Rossi.

A special edition of shoes, inspired by Crespi’s furniture and many of her iconic pieces were presented in an intriguing way.

The Yang Yin table and the new shoe inspired by it.

Filigree art piece and shoes.

 

 

Coffee tables and desk from the 70’s and 80’s, iconic pieces of modern design, timeless elegance of forms, reflected by interplay of mirrors and gilded surfaces. An evening to remember.
Images from Casa Vogue and Marie Claire
©2013 Tent London 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.  I love your comments!

If you need help to enjoy your home more, please send me 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!

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A-Efendy Antiques and Art, Designers, Events, Fashion, Interior Decoration, Interior design, Lifestyle, Milan, Tent London Interiors

My fascination with artists and their homes

 

I have just discovered the artist Pierre Bergian, from Bruges, Belgium, through two paintings from his most recent body of work which focuses on interiors. Oh, joy!

 

Pierre Bergian, Palazzo Mora in Venice, 2011, Oil on panel, 80 x 95 cm

I also had the fortune to receive from the artist images of his home and studio, a real treat for someone like me interested in art and in interior design.

Photographing where artists live is one of my passion and this time, without any travel involved I was able to enter into this inspiring home, full of color, full of life, full of art as in the above image of a living-working room.

His art instead is quite subtle, almost ethereal as you could see opening his website HERE.

Pierre Bergian, Abandoned Room 2012 Oil on panel 40 x 47 cm

We can imagine any story for this interior, grandeur, mystery, solitude…

A subtle palette, a minimalist approach, with just a few lines evoking the story of these  interiors.Usually painting is about “adding” and photography is about “deleting” but here obviously there is abstraction, due to only selected lines and objects.

 

Artist Pierre Bergian at work.

 

Pierre Bergian, Temple, 2012, Oil on panel, 71 x 80 cm

 

In a living room of his home-studio we find antiques, a faded Persian rug, a Thonet chair, a collection of precious white and blue china (do I spot Meissen?) on the wall.

 

Inspirations…

 

A well lived, simple kitchen with an interesting Venetian Terrazzo floor.

 

Brushes, painter palette, drawings, unfinished paintings,

books…functional lighting.

 

A lively living room facing a garden and another more

classic room with a Murano chandelier.

 

A glimpse of the decorated floor, a classic bust in a niche.

 

Another work area, a large simple table filled with books and magazines,

different old chairs add a Bohemian touch.

As I said I am always fascinated by how and where artists live and I have many images of artists’ houses I will share with you in the near future. I believe that in every home there is (or there should be) the true soul of the owners, like in this inspiring one.

If you are in London don’t miss his latest exhibition with an intriguing title:

All photographs by Pierre Bergian with express permission of the artist.

©2013 Tent London 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. I love to hear from you!

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A-Efendy Antiques and Art, Artists, Houses, Lifestyle, Tent London Interiors

Eclectic designer and his Parisian apartment

 

Éric Allart is an interior designer, a decorator and an artist, passionate about design, always in search or creating himself beautiful, unique pieces. He loves mixing styles, genres, and he is always moved by curiosity and passion for beauty.  In Paris he lives in an apartment that reflects his creativity, his ability to mix styles and centuries and…he obviously has no fear of color!

 

Coffee table by Fred Brouard (note the book on Fornasetti…one of my favorite artist-designer) and above the fireplace a metal sculpture (by Éric Allart) becomes a mirror, on the sides of the mantel two vintage lamps create symmetry.

 

Antique wrought iron chairs in a foyer with a Fred Brouard’s sculpture on the wall. I love the approach and the blending of different styles and centuries.

 

Here is a great idea  if space is limited, a pile of tabourets that can be used for sitting when guests arrive. I could also see the same concept for storing items not used frequently in cylindrical boxes, creating an interesting totemic sculpture. 

 

Verner Panton suspension lights, a saturated blue paint on the walls and “Pyramidale” lamp by extraordinary designer Gabriella Crespi.

 

A 1970 stunning aluminum desk and in front a creation by Allart, the lamp “Derviche” made of black laquered metal with fabric shade. For his creations Allart prefers the use of metal, mainly bronze, and he always create unique pieces or in a very limited edition.

 

A simple but very inviting kitchen with antique chairs and an English vintage suspension light.

 

I am in love with the color of this custom cabinet painted in "Lamelle de Champignon" by Emery & Cie, and I want to say…a Black and White photograph, as seen in the corridor, is always an elegant touch.

 

A beautiful Fred Brouard’s sculpture and a bas-relief on the wall.

Photography by Nicolas Millet for Côté Maison.

©2013 Tent London 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. I love to hear from you!

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A-Efendy Antiques and Art, Artists, Designers, Houses, Interior design, Tent London Interiors

Timeless Interiors

I just received a copy of Timeless Interiors by Kathryn Ireland, one of the A-List Designers of Elle Decor and TV personality of 2011 Million Dollar Decorator.
Timeless Interiors is a delightful book with beautiful, inspiring images of rooms never boring, often with unexpected twists.
From the front cover with a colorful array of textile, pottery, accessories, art, you are transported into a journey through several countries and Kathryn Ireland was able to distill the essence of their cultures, being it a carefully handmade Moroccan tiles, a hand embroidered and vividly colored textile from Mexico, an intricate carved wood piece of furniture from India or a splendid antique Sicilian mirror bought for herself when she was a young bride.

Special attention is paid by Ireland to her clients’ art: Philip-Lorca di Corcia photograph sets the tone in a living room in Beverly Hills, hanging above a vintage wicker sideboard, while Ed Ruscha’ The End # 24 is greeting guests in the foyer.

In a Santa Barbara horse ranch she used custom tiles from Fez, Morocco. In the bathroom a Berber rug found in Marrakesh recalls the subtle colors of the tiles.

Vibrant hues in this kitchen, vintage stools in ruby red, how possibly can’t you avoid smiling at breakfast time?

 

 

Santa Monica farmhouse living room, with 19th-century bergères upholstered in a custom-embroidred sultan’s robe by Martin-Lawrence Bullard. Kashmir and Bali pieces add another exotic touch.

Vintage mid-century chairs bring the outdoor in; on the windows “Moroccan” fabric from Kathryn M. Ireland textiles line creates a neutral backdrop.

 

Timeless Interiors is a visual delight, a book to be added to your collection, to study Ireland’s style. As you can see from these few images above her personality and energy exudes in her interiors, but they are always an expression of her clients’ lives and visions.
As she said: “The client makes the decorator” something so many designers have forgotten.


Photography: first image by Victoria Pearson, all others by Tim Beddow. All images are © and posted here with express permission of the publisher.

©2012 Tent London 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 need help to enjoy your home more, please send me an email. It will be an investment in happiness at home, 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!

If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.

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A-Efendy Antiques and Art, Books, Designers, Furniture, Houses, Interior design, Kathrin M. Ireland, Tent London Interiors, Textiles

Diamond Jubilee give-away

The Grand Staircase at Buckingham Palace.

BBC Home Entertainment, to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee year, the 60^th year of one of the longest reigning monarchs of the United Kingdom has produced a special, three-episode documentary:

“The Queen’s Palaces” DVD, released on May 29, 2012.

The Grand Reception Room at Windsor Castle.

The King’s Closet in The Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The DVD is sharing an extensive look into the long history, the remarkable interior décor and the architecture that has evolved across the centuries of the Royals homes : Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, which dates back to the 11^th century and has gone from medieval fortress to a romantic fantasy; and the Palace of Holy Roodhouse, formerly a monastery, and now home of objects from the Royal Collection.

Congratulations to:
Comment # 7 - Rosa from the delightful  blog Flutter Flutter
Comment # 4 - Night Owl
Comment # 5 - Alice

Please send me your addresses and I will promptly send you a copy of this wonderful DVD.

Congratulations and enjoy it!

Photography (Top to Bottom) by Derry Moore,  Mark Fiennes, John Freeman.
Source

©2012 Tent London Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".


Tent London Interiors now offers also online consultations so please send an email and we can start the process. It will be an investment in happiness at home, 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!

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A-Efendy Antiques and Art, Give-away, Houses, Lifestyle, Tent London Interiors