Family Home, Mantua

Could you guess that this beautiful home belonged to a couple of Italian architects?

via Milk

Pattern on pattern on pattern...

...well, what else would you expect from Margherita Missoni's Milanese home?

photography by Mark C. O'Flaherty

Foscarini and Diesel

I've always been a fan of Italian lighting designers, Foscarini. They produce some beautiful designs. It was always a treat when the rep popped by the office with a smoked glass pendant, or the like, as most of the pieces are better appreciated in the flesh.

My favourite design from Foscarini's product range still has to be Allegro (2007), though I am delighted to see that last year, they launched Allegretto, a smaller version more suitable for domestic interiors (although definitely still an 'investment piece'!)

Allegro

Allegretto

In 2009, Foscarini paired up with Italian fashion label Diesel to create a range called Successful Living and the result is pretty spectacular. A Diesel store opened in Glasgow when i was a teenager so of course it was THE place to shop, but i soon grew out of the clothes (and so did my chest!)
The young, industrial edginess of the fashion label has fused with Foscarini's elegant design and masterful use of materials, namely glass, producing some stunning pieces.

Rock suspension lamp, Cage table lamp, Glas table lamp

Cage table lamp and suspension lamp in a range of colours

Glas suspension and table lamp

All images found at Foscarini

Luna di Miele

For our honeymoon, we knew we wanted to relax in the sunshine after having spent a minimal amount of time on a plane. So, after the main event, we gave ourselves one day to spend with the many Australian members of my husband's family, before they all made their way back down under and then, after 3.5 hours on a low-cost, low-comfort airline, we touched down in mediterranean heaven...
We are not the all seeing, all dancing, all experiencing holiday types, so, with the invaluable help of the 'interweb' I booked 2 weeks split between Sardinia and Sicily, staying in 5 very different and interesting hotels (our kind of 'sightseeing'). I like to relax in the sunshine with a magazine, occassionally glancing over at the alarming rate in which the freckles on my deep red haired husband's body multiply and join to create a quite unexpected golden hue. I think growing up in Australia has trained his skin to tan, defying all ginger science...it's quite impressive.
Don't worry I won't bore you with a blow by blow account of our holiday; in fact I'm not sure I even want to share this little gem with the world...or my 2 followers, but I suppose I should spread the love.
This is the Mandranova Olive oil farm and guesthouse. We spent our last three days here, lazing by the tiny but chlorine-free, infinty-edged pool, over looking row upon row of olive trees. We ate fantastic, authentic food at a table with other guests, in the courtyard, at sunset, cooked by, Sylvia the uber-efficient lady of the house. We drank lovely local wine, served by the extremely charming man of the house, Guiseppe, and couldn't get enough of their award winning olive oil. It smells of fresh green tomatoes and sunshine.

Not only does Sylvia run the guesthouse, cook all the meals and give cookery lesson to guests who book them, she also has a very elegant and timeless sense of style. Every guest room is different and the main living areas are decorated and styled beautifully, with a mix of traditional Italian farmhouse decor and the odd piece of Philippe Starck furniture. Unexpected but very well done. We resumed our positions on the bright green, plastic oversized armchairs, in the gardens, for a glass of wine every afternoon...




Here's one from our album; This was our final evening at Mandranova and on honeymoon. Just before dinner was served in the courtyard at sunset.

I booked the Mandranova through Mr. and Mrs. Smith