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.

Hunt Slonem's Lakeside in Louisiana

In researching Mr. Slonem's Louisiana restoration projects, I came across this 2007 NY Times article on his work at an 1832 plantation house called Lakeside. What a beautiful property and I like that this was more of rehabilitation than restoration in some of the details.

I have a distant relative involved in Charleston restoration. A big theme I took away from listening to him was the significance of restoration v. rehabilitation v. preservation. I know it is a contentious debate. But when I come across an interior that has been saved but not entirely finished, it captures the imagination a bit. 

Hotel Okura

A recent article in Town and Country brought Hotel Okura to my attention. Apparently the potential remodel plans of the Minato, Tokyo hotel have upset many fans of mid-century design, rightly so. I have to say I have notced that here in Japan things are either new and modern or old and traditional - there's no in-between. I have to agree that preservation of something representative of Japanese design in the 1960's is worth saving. Especially considering that the head architect was Yoshiro Taniguchi.

The hotel opened in 1962. It is famous for appearing in Cary Grant's final movie,"Walk Don't Run" and a Sean Connery Bond film, "You Only Live Twice". This lobby looks so serene but very stylized for the era. The lanterns are traditional okura-style which is made in a 'kiriko tamagata' (faceted gem shape). The founder of the hotel was so inspired by these lanterns that they are the namesake.

I love the details in the tilework. This natural Tago sandstone accent wall has such a beautiful texture.

Of course there are economic pressures. This is a low-rise building in a very high-rent area. A high-rise would be substantially more profitable. But one can't ignore the magnificent design and details that would be lost. For example, the South Wing was added in the 1973 with this remarkable mosaic painting by Yoshiro Taniguchi based on the print "Saginawate-no-Saku" by Shimo Munakata.

Some more details, I love the textures!

In the Town and Country article they point to the paradox of Japan's lack of architectural conservation unless something is really, very old and survived quite by accident. I see it in talking to friends here. They would not live in a "used" house more than 20-30 years old. My friend Keiko says that, "bad energy from previous owners" would keep her from moving into an older home. Will Hotel Okura go the way of Kenzo Tange's Akasaka Prince Hotel and Frank Lloyd Wright's Imperial Hotel?

Sources: Monocle, Town & Country and Hotel Okura

Hemingway's Key West Estate in Domino

Somehow while living in Florida for five years, I never made it to Key West. Life just gets busy! But I have wanted to go mostly to take a tour of Ernest Hemingway's house. I was really excited to see these beautiful photos of the place in a tour on Domino's website.

images from Domino