Italy Summer 2020 * Italia Estate 2020

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Sun-downer and dinner by the sea at La Rada in Vibo Marina

Sun-downer and dinner by the sea at La Rada in Vibo Marina

Buongiorno !

2020, what a year! I hope you and your family and friends are all doing fine and have so far managed to live around Covid19 or survived the virus and whatever lockdown measurements your government had decided on. In Europe, Italy was hit first and hard. Although the worst hit regions were in Northern Italy, the strict lockdown was all over Italy for about 7 weeks (from March 9 to May 3rd, 2020). Calabria was one of the lucky South Italian regions that had very few Covid cases, so far. The virus traveled in little doses to the South with those escaping the North and returning home to their families in Calabria.

Although Italy has allowed travel within Italy - for all Italians and foreigners across all regions - starting June 3rd, it has been very quiet in June. Just when the first European countries like France, Germany and Austria opened their borders mid June (after the Pentecost holiday), Britain decided to send everyone coming to Britain in a 14 days’ quarantine. So most Brits decided to cancel their holidays in order to avoid quarantine when returning home.

Airlines were struggling and cashing in billions of support from their government - like Lufthansa -, then announcing and advertising they would fly again to Italy in July. And when people booked flights, they would contact them a few days before and say: oh sorry, we are not flying. Travelers from outside Italy had little chances to make it to the South of Italy. Almost no direct flights in July. Flights with layovers longer than the usual direct flight and changing departure times and departure airports (!). Also some of the smaller Italian airports were closed and offer now fewer flights than before. No airline wants to fly half full these days.

Visiting Calabria this summer is a challenge. You need to be patient when flying, or take your car and drive!

In January, we had as usual 50% of the bookings for the year. In February we had our first - and for long last - guests. In March when the lockdowns were in sight, cancellations started and continued throughout April and May. End of May the first new bookings came in - by Italians only - for July and August so far - re-discovering Calabria, returning to their roots or even for their first time as they are looking for a ‘virus safe’ region for a relaxed summer holiday by the sea.

Since mid-July we are welcoming guests again in Pizzo Calabro, at our Studio Bellavista, at the Dependance delle Grazie and at Palazzo Pizzo Residence.

Restaurants and bars are filling up, every night and day with more and more guests, mainly from Italy but among them also some brave foreigners who somehow made it to the South, often by car.

Most Calabrese are still very cautious with the virus by keeping distance, by elbow greeting, using disinfection a lot, having a mask around the neck ready to wear when too close or entering a shop.

There is no shortage of toilet paper in case someone wonders. Other things are missing, annoying, breaking down, going wrong or slow, but hey, this is Calabria, paradise with defects …

BTW there is this hashtag trending on social media #nonveniteinCalabria = do not come to Calabria … which started with the low cost airline Easyjet describing on their website their flight destination Calabria (Lamezia Terme SUF) as a territory unfortunately ‘suffering from mafia and earthquakes’. So the most lovely dreamy photos can be found on Instagram with this hashtag. Even some Pizzitani became quiet creative and made a fun little video clip saying #nonveniteaPizzo, no no. Well, regarding one of the above mentioned problems, we are happy to see our (now ex) mayor of Pizzo after seven months in jail, finally free and back home with his young family. All allegations dropped. But long before that, Easy Jet had already apologised and changed their advertisement for Calabria.

It looks like this summer 2020 has finally started! In a pleasant different pace.

Enjoy the sun and the sea if you are around!

Contact us directly if you are interested in booking an entire holiday home / vacation apartment for you and your partner or family. We still have availability in September and some in August.

Saluti cordiali

Susan

PS: The tartufo ice cream is the best ever this year!

Beach House Ideas via Coastal Living

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Slow blogging seems to be accepted nowadays, even praised, and - luckily - it does not change much of a blog's google ranking.

But now, it is time for a new post.

The summer is approaching and I browsed online the magazine Coastal Living for inspiration:

Red, blue and white are the classic colours for fishermen boats. Ideal for the interior of a beach house. Here the blue color comes from the sky and the sea. So you do not need to repeat it in the interior. Just use red and white for a fresh contrast. Photo by Deborah Withlaw.

The diner style bar stools, above in red, here in white, invite you to sit down - even with wet beach wear. Photo by Richard Leo Johnson.

We think of using oak panels for the flooring in the living and dining area, instead of cotton or Vietri tiles. Just natural warm wood, great to walk barfoot. Photo by Colleen Duffley.

Hung in series, everyday objects create a focal point on white walls. For beach houses use objects found on the beach or bought in boat supply shops. Photo by Paul Wicheloe.

I like this bathroom. The antique chest is perfect for storage and matches the age of the house. The modern sleek sinks on top are a good contrast. I also like the simple white rectangular tiles. Often seen in French country houses's bathrooms. And of course I like the Chinese stool. Always good to place towels or clothes. Photo by Paul Wicheloe.

Our son gets a very tiny (old style overhanging bathroom). We plan to squeeze a tiny shower in (max. 70 x 70 cm). This kind of shower curtain rail would be great. Also like the color of the shower curtain. Photo by Richard Leo Johnsonn

"Beach Style"

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Can a palazzo wear "beach style"?

Y e s !

Look at the JK Place in Capri
- wow - what an elegant example.

The JK Place in Capri and its terrace

One of the bedrooms of the hotel in Capri

Grey painted walls and eye catching cushions (right after the giant vase)

White painted wooden ceiling - and I love the elegant blue walls

Terry cloth upholstery! (zoom in!)


Thanks to the comments made about my last post I was not only remembered of the stylish hotel in Capri but also of the famous beach house in the Hamptons that was the set for the movie "Something’s Gotta Give" (with Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson and handsome Keanu Reeves).

The living room with the famous white sofa.

Blue and white striped cushions



And thanks to your comments I am more focused:
- it will not be a too relaxed beach style (no fishermen net), but I want to feel Southern seaside (sea shells, local pottery)
- I love an eclectic mix of old and new (antique and modern) as well as East and West (moving back and forward between Asia and Europe is part of our life) for the interior
- I love blue and white (plain or striped) for cushions and upholstery
- I love terracotta, local ceramic tiles, wooden panels (even white, or brushed white) for the flooring

For more beach style inspiration visit interior designer Anna Spiro's blog Absolutely Beautiful Things (ABT) in Brisbane, Australia (beach, beach, beach). One of her projects reminds me of JK Place indeed (fabric for cushions).

And today last but not least on the beach style list: The locations agency The Beach Studios, that provides hip "beach style" shoot spaces for the film and photography industry.

Links:
JK Place, Capri
Architectural Digest about the set design of "Something's gotta give"
ABT label "Blue"
ABT label Beach Style
The Beach Studios

Interior Design Ideas for Beach Houses

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It is quiet easy to decorate a beach house, if you want the outside nature be reflected inside your home.

Think of white beaches, turquoise sea, blue sky, green beach grass and palm trees, pinkish sunsets, beige sand, colourful parasols, blue and red stripes on boats and flags, shells, corals and fishes, pastel ice cream, sailing gear, anchors and marine wear... continue the brainstorm, and you will find lots of colors, textures, forms and objects that create an immediate sea side feeling.
For a beach house, even if it is used only during the summer months, keep in mind to use durable fabrics and material that can stand the humidity - the sandy feet and sometimes oily skins. Floor plan and furniture should be practical and functional as a beach house usually hosts many guests and often lots of kids.

COLORS
Choose you favorite colours that reflect the sky, sea, sand, boats and sunlight found at the shore. Bright sunny yellow and all shades of white will bring light into your rooms. All shades of blues and greens mirror the changing hues of the water. Grey, ecru, and shades of beige from sand, stones and pepples complement these colors. Beach house design should be light and airy, creating a relaxing oasis away from city life. Colours can be arranged in geometrical forms, as often to be found in nautical flags. Stripes are probably most common, blue and white is the well known marine look. Think about colours and stripes not only for fabrics - maybe you want to try it out on a large white wall?

TEXTURES
Usually, beach getaways are more casual than their city counterparts.  Rough and sturdy textured fabrics and carpets help to add the natural touch - that is also country style.

FURNISHINGS
Furniture in a beach home should be durable and functional. Often, too, the furnishings must play dual roles, such as a coffee table with storage underneath or a sofa that becomes a bed for overnight guests.

ACCESSORIES
Nautical items, such as lighthouses, fishing nets, boat robes, anchors and ships' wheels are all well suited for a beach home. Seashells and corals, too, can be introduced in jars, under glass, or in bathrooms on sinks and shelves.

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For more beach house feeling watch this video from last spring:
Hither Hill Studio by Ralph Lauren Home