Rough Luxe Experience

Some of you and myself are fascinated by "rough luxe" - by the style and the term. And the Wall Street Journal writes "the world of interiors gets a new manifesto".

But where does the term "rough luxe" come from ? How has created it ?

I googled - and found the "Rough Luxe Experience Network", a kind of platform for businesses that "share an understanding of a different definition of luxury".

And there I found this room combining colours and beautiful fabrics with existing distressed original walls :




The photos above and below are all showing interiors of the Rough Luxe Hotel in London, "transformed" by Rabih Hage.



What an interesting bathroom !
 Of course I selected all the bathroom photos as I have to do six for our palazzo.
And I wanted to show the rough part of the rough luxe style - the original walls. For me a bit too much (above).







The "Rough Luxe Network" seems to me like a "Charming Hotel" kind of network that is still new and very trendy. I deem their criteria to become member very interesting. 

Read some interior related criteria here:

ROUGH LUXE NETWORK CRITERIA :

* Unique location of the business in an exclusive site or address (maybe our palazzo's guest appartment should participate !?!) 

* Special or unique architectural and/or historical building where the (Rough-Luxe) business is established or operating from.

* The interior and architectural design are based on the mix of old and new elements; showing original parts of the building, preserving the memory of the site and built environment as well as adding new, useful and original elements to the property.

* The design is based on a mix that looks random but in fact is done with a conscious transmission of social and philosophical messages that put intellectual enrichment prior to the physical well being.

Physical comfort is important. However, it comes second to intellectual exchange of ideas and personal enrichment through the time spent in a Rough-Luxe business.

* Rough-Luxe will only have original art and design pieces (no copies or prints of existing art or design).

* In a Rough-Luxe business: Luxury is original materials with a unique appearance and historical elements not solely rare materials and expensive finishes.

(...) 
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The red section above is exactly what I think is necessary for our renovation of our 200 + years old palazzo !
 
However the grey sectio above means for the Rough Luxe hotel guest that :  "they might share a bathroom or have a small room or a small shower cubicle, but the luxury is in the choice of the wine, the bed linen, the art on the walls and the people looking after you." (o-tone hotel website).
 
Sharing bathrooms is not really what I like to do when travelling...  but I am fine with the rest.

Rough Luxe Style

Today I came across this beautiful living room featured by Remodelista :


Timothy Haynes and Kevin Roberts of New York based interior design firm Haynes-Roberts designed this living room for their summer house on Long Island.

I am not only impressed by the rustic, reclaimed flooring - that we could consider for our guest appartment in the vaulted cellar.



Isn't this an interesting mix of rustic old and contemporary elegance ?

If you want to read more about "rough luxe" style :
Remodelista points to a recent article by WSJ magazine that talkes about this maybe new trend - not only in interior design but also in furniture design and fashion.

Venice Shower Curtain by Izola


Did you see the pictures of my wedding in Venice (nine year ago) ?
Guess what arrived and surprised me on my wedding anniversary (yesterday) ?
A Venice shower curtain by Izola ! Shipped from New York via DHL.



I was amazed by both, the coincidence of the timing and the new look of my "redecorated"  bathroom.


I will give you the before and after photos :






Isn't this a quick change ? A fresh new shower curtain can spice up your bathroom - and save you lots of money.

My bathroom (in Germany, not in Italy) is floor tiled with Brasilian slate and wall tiled with Roman travertine. The sanitation is all in white.




Above, another funny match: the name of our double sink is "Gran Kanal" (we love it because it is the smallest and best looking douple sink available, 1110x505x150 mm, by Rapsel) - and the new Venice shower curtain shows the "Canale Grande" with gondola and part of Rialto Bridge.



(the shower curtain from inside the shower)

Sweet memories of our wedding day !
Grazie Izola !

BTW Izola, a New York based company, offers plenty of fresh and sophisticated designer shower curtains and accessories. The shower curtains present the work of artists or feature subway maps, photography and bold patterns. And they do ship worldwide !



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PS: I hope you don't mind that I am posting sometimes from my main home in Germany, where I am also still renovating (more to come).

(images: SC for Palazzo Pizzo)

My Italian Wedding

Today is our wedding anniversary.

On September 30, 2000, I arrived with a water taxi at the island of Torcello. Torcello is the oldest island in the lagoon of Venice. Unfortunately the weather changed overnight and it rained cats and dogs.

"Acqua alta" urged me to make a big jump with my tight wedding dress on my way to church.

This was the scariest step I did that day… And I remember all Italians saying "matrimonio bagnato, matrimonio fortunato" (wet wedding, happy wedding).

Today is not only my wedding anniversary - but also my father's birthday.

He walked me down the aisle. Happy Birthday Daddy !

Oh, and while the guests were waiting for me in front of the church, one of my German single girlfriends met my future husband's 4th degree Italian cousin - and they are together since that day and happily married with a cute daughter - now a 5th grade (or so) cousin to our son.

And that's it.

Since here I am married !

Restoration progress of the Vaulted Cellar

One of the beauties of our house in the South of Italy is a spectacular vaulted cellar.

Formerly used as warehouse for the storage of olive oil and handmade soap this vault is carved into the cliff below the ground floor of our house. From here, many years ago, the traders sold olive oil and soap to the merchant ships by letting down the cliff roped up baskets with the goods.

A separate entrance leads from the piazza downstairs and opens up to this long gallery with high stone ceilings. We call it our 'seminterrato' (basement).

The former storage area was in two large rooms (on the right). The storage area in the ground is still visible (not in the picture). We still think of recovering it and illuminate it below a glass top.

The gallery and the second room have doors that lead to a small garden. Here we added the two iron doors (older post).
The garden offers breath taking views as everywhere in the house.

Our architect, who is specialised in restoring old stone walls and ceilings, did a great job.






Okay, here the close observer will recognize that we have a humidity problem. This seems to origine from the outside wall that we have not touched so far. It is a stonewall on which a few wild plants grow and their roots might cause the dammage and rain water finds its way through.

I would solve this problem before the wet season starts. But it is a question of money ... to restore properly the outside wall my father-in-law calculates another few thousands of Euro ... the dammage will be minor. The walls are not even painted yet (just plastered).


This is the gallery from the other side. On the far left starts the steps that lead up to the piazza by passing by a small bathroom.


Here we are. This is one of the future bathrooms. Under the vault (on the right) will be the shower ! And the window has seaview !




Opposite the shower will be the toilet and bidet - a must in an Italian home - with a lighting on top.


Let's summarize: the vaulted cellar has a long gallery with space for a small kitchen and dining area. It has two rooms for a living area and a sleeping area. And it will have a pretty bathroom.
And ....

.... it has a small garden with spectacular sea view !

And a 'balcony' with an even more breathtaking view.

Remember the separate entrance - what do you think ?!

Isn't this an ideal guest appartment ?
For family and friends - and maybe to rent as well !?!

The 'balcony' with the renovated iron railway.

Next step:
We think about flooring. What kind of material. I would love to try concrete or Venizian terrazzo. Maybe too much 'stone' on ceiling, walls and floor ? And maybe lack of working skills. Concrete floors often have problems with cracks. What about wooden panels ? Antique oak ? Wood providea a warmer atmosphere. But humidity might be a problem, air must circulate underneath the wood. Terra cotta tiles ? Delicate sometimes. Not warm enough ?

We have time. But your input is welcome !!!