For “Giovanna’s house” I have chosen an etno-chic style recalling smells and colours from
distant places, such as India and Morocco, that the owner brings in her heart. This style is
softened by fair and gentle shades, clear and original shapes, sand, clay and powders
bringing along the echo of the desert. Giovanna loves contrasts. She looked at me and
told me “Elisa, here is some furniture; you can alter it as you wish. Chose the right shades
as if each single piece came from far away and they are being put together now for the
first time here in my house.”
Against the living room walls we kept three ceramic vases as a starting reference point
and we then started to arrange all the furniture around them. As a second step, we added
two elegant and flowery original teak wood bookshelves. They had been open air for two
months, hit by the wind and the sand… of the desert, of course. The first coating was
obviously warm and embracing with some evident bright green details recalling typical
Moroccan vases. Then we added an old cupboard between the shelves. It is simply white
but with the fingerprints of children running in the narrow streets of Marrakesh. Technically
speaking, it is the result of a mirror treatment, washing of colour powders and stuccoes
worked in order to give dimension and depth.
A long contemporary picture (courtesy from Galleria Berga, Vicenza) is hanging over a
beautiful table that has been significantly modified. Only the four legs have been saved
while the whole structure has been rebuilt from the beginning and adjusted in its size.
Some perfect extensions have then been added by the edge of the top made of a bronze
brown amber marble which reminds me of lianas and the long leaves of some magical
African landscapes.
The tailored chaise longue we included in this context is definitely more squared and linear
in spite of its soft, bowed edges. It has got four beautiful cylinders that openly refer to the
big cushions of Arabic tea and narghilè rooms.
It is now your turn, dear Giovanna, to surprise me with some red, green and bright
decorations and elements. I will be waiting for a formal tea invitation!
