A Fashionable Home
by habituallychic
03 . 29 . 08
The press team at Gucci must be working over time since creative director Frida Giannini’s Italian Villa has just been featured in March InStyle magazine and April Harper’s Bazaar. But I don’t mind since it looks beautiful. I love sneaking a peak into European homes. They never fail to be sophisticated and elegant. Maybe it’s due to the fact that they are filled with family heirlooms and antiques instead of stuff from Pottery Barn and West Elm. Whatever the reason, I think Giannini’s home is a wonderfully decorated space and who else could incorporate over 7,000 albums inherited from an uncle looks like art in the sitting room above.
Forgive the terrible scan from InStyle but I couldn’t resist including the fabulous 19th-century marble fireplace and the custom bookshelves in the living room.
A 1930’s cabinet holds chic art books, blackamoor candle holders and even a Barbie. Nice to see she has a sense of humor.
“This 1968 Arne Jacobsen Egg chair in original leather took five years to track down. The sideboard is 1930s Italian art deco.”
A 1940s black Murano-glass chandelier pops against the white walls in the dining room that includes a French art deco dining table and chairs.
What would a fashion designer home spread in a magazine be without the requisite product placement, hence the Gucci bag on the fur bedspread in the bedroom with mirrored bed and nightstand.
“In some ways, the master bathroom is the most important room in the house,” say Giannini. And with marble walls and a custom Boffi tub, I’d say so too.
You may not be able to afford a $2,000 Gucci handbag but you can certainly take some free decorating advice from the Gucci designer. “There is really no point in having wonderful things if you don’t surround yourself with them all the time. That’s what makes a house feel warm and safe. And when you feel comfortable in your home, you feel like you can do anything you want to there.” Now that’s luxury.
Photos by Anders Overgaard for and Oberto Gili
15 Comments
This is divine.Thanks for pointing out the West Elm disease that’s pushing cheap rip offs of EVERYTHING onto everyone.I have a shop full of originals and they just come in buy them and then have 10,000 of them made by under age slaves in China!
I’m in love with this home…the wood, the white, the semi-cluttered art work, and that two-toned cabinet is so refreshing.
– Jessie –
Wow, I love, love, love this home. Everything is fantastic! Although I’m not a big fan of Art Deco for my own home, I appreciate her use of select pieces here – pulling it all together into one, unique living space for a truly modern girl.
No West Elm or Pottery Barn indeed! (Although I have succumbed to the latter in a pinch…I do shamefully admit!)
great record collection!
and
i JUST posted a question about product placement in magazines because of this last domino. i went on a little road trip the other day and took my stack of unopened domino from the last 6 or 7 months. out of all of those issues and great things to look at, what stood out the most was drew barrymore’s vintage gucci scissors! i gut stuck on how strange it was to put great value on and call to attention in the photo description, this pair of vintage gucci scissors. it would have made more sense if she were a seamstress maybe… i don’t remember seeing any pencils in the cup, only a few pair of scissors, one of which was the vintage gucci scissor. anyway, i then noticed all the gucci desk set and what looked like a gucci dress. then i noticed what might be a coach logo bracelet on the desk and then on the next page, what looks like a coach bag in a chair. so i wondered out loud if magazines and designers get paid for product placement like the entertainment industry. i bet you know the answer!
and yes, i realize this fashionable lady who has placed product works for gucci. the gucci thing is just a coincidence.
So Chic Darling, I wish Americans would start to realize that they can find very nice vintage and antique pieces for about the same price as the Pottery Barn and sometimes West Elm. It does take some hunting and work since you can’t always go to a flea market and find exactly what you want in your price range but isn’t that the fun part?!
Jessie, I think freshing is a lovely word to describe the interiors. It has just enough blank space to breathe!
Cultivated Chic, I’m not a huge fan of Deco either but if you mix in a piece here and there, it doesn’t end up looking like an 1930’s Ocean Liner.
I do admit that I sometimes shop at Pottery Barn, not so much West Elm, but I’m really trying to buy vintage pieces. They are so much more interesting looking.
Design DNA, you bring up an interesting topic. First, everyone must realize that interiors are styled for shoots so they may include pieces that do not belong to the owner but are added to spruce up the place. But in Drew’s case, she is the face of Gucci’s fine jewelry collection and the first celebrity to star in their ad campaigns. So that is the reason for the Gucci dress, desk set and bracelet. Definite product placement. But it is understandable. You can’t have the spokeperson for Coke drinking Pepsi or the spokesperson for Gucci wearing Versace, although, they were allowed to wear Jimmy Choo shoes and other jewelry later in the article.
Remember the bit in The Devil Wears Prada about featuring more clothing from advertisers? Happens all the time. Nothing is accidental in magazines which is why I love blogs. Although, I get sent free items and constant emails to post about certain products, I only post what I personally love and would buy or wear. It’s a shame not everyone works the same way.
aha! drew is the face of gucci – now that makes sense and takes the weird out. they have to get the gucci in there wherever they can, right down to the scissors. i knew you would know the answer. you always know the back story. i never know what’s going on! continued success to you.
and good for you on the integrity.
can i post your answer as an update on my post?
I love seeing a home that shows one’s personal passions. very nice and lovely post.
Sara L.
Design DNA, Glad I could help! I am so curious that I love figuring out the back stories. Drew is also a face for Covergirl so that’s why they used Covergirl Cosmetics on the cover too! Definitely feel free to post my response.
Sara, Glad you appreciated it as much as I did!
oh my, that 1930s cabinet is absolutely positively gorgeous. and that bathroom. i simply would never leave the tub. beautiful post…
I’m in love with all the records.
Keep the bag, I’ll take the furnishings…. and location. I also have a working turntable, so… As a fan of deco mixed in with just about everything else I really appreciated this great glimpse, thanks! (And it’s taking my mind off of my server being down, grrr.)