A Colorful Swan - Marella Agnelli, Part II

One of the most exciting and opulent spaces I found, by far, was "Villar Perosa" which was conveniently featured in Architectural Digest a few months ago. Situated 40 miles to the west of Turin, it is an 18th-century former hunting lodge from architect Filippo Juvarra in the Piedmontese Baroque style.

Even this light-filled hall is a feast for the eyes.

This house has some wonderful private spaces as well.

Marella's own room in a profusion of feminine floral and pink.

I love this perfect shade of green in the Bishop's Room.

Evident from the Children's Wing of the 1920's - you can see this was truly a family home.

This is the facade as well a photo of the family in front of the house. image

Even the family chapel and grounds look like an idyllic place to rest.

Sourced from Architectural Digest, thanks for reading!

A Colorful Swan - Marella Agnelli, Part I

Have you ever read 1st Dibs' Introspective Magazine? It is an online publication that has some great articles and I especially appreciate their book reviews. I was browsing the archives and came across a review for a Rizzoli book on Marella Agnelli. She is described as one of Truman Capote's society swans, born to a whiskey heiress and an Italian Noble. She eventually married Gianni Agnelli of the Fiat empire. (Bart Boehlert did an excellent post on her here)

As you can imagine, their interiors are as grand as their stories. This room from "Il Convento" in Corsica, a 16th-century former convent, really caught my eye with this vibrant green sitting room. Gorgeous!

The other room featured was this solarium from Villa Frescot. Just look at that beautiful light. In reading about Marella's lavish interiors, I found some more treasures which I'll share as soon as I've uploaded them in a day or so!

A few more of her personal spaces which feel very contemporary with their bold accents, shapes and colors. These were featured in the FT.

For more on the book, check out 1st Dibs.

Unpainted Inspiration - A Farm in Tuscany

After a long holiday in snowy Niseko, I've got pure whites on the brain! I saw this Tuscan farm, Villa Stabbia, of Danish born Tine Pedersen recently from The Horse Rider's Journal.

The couple, Tine and her husband Mario, turned their family home (documented to at least the 17th century) into a thriving equestrian business. What a great work-life balance.

photos

Poveglia

In the market for a haunted retreat? This is a unique building with a slightly horrifying past but beautiful all the same.

"Poveglia served as a checkpoint for ships going to Venice. After a pair of ships carrying plague victims arrived in 1793, the island was sealed off and turned into a quarantine zone for people with infectious diseases, a role it served for over a century. It goes without saying that many of these people died on the island during this time, leading to the widespread belief that Poveglia is haunted. It didn't help when the place was converted into a hospital for the mentally ill in 1922. "

More here.