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Interiors

How I Curate My Space: Luisa Beccaria’s Bucolic Italian Townhouse

In this interiors series, we ask designers and tastemakers to open the doors of their favorite rooms, sharing the stories and inspirations behind the style and their most cherished pieces. This week, LUISA BECCARIA, the fashion and lifestyle designer known for ethereal dresses and vibrant glassware, invites us into her Milan townhouse. By KATIE BERRINGTON

Lifestyle
Luisa Beccaria in her Milanese townhouse

When Luisa Beccaria first viewed the townhouse that she has lived in for a decade – in the artistic Brera neighborhood of Milan – she was struck by the size and vibe of the 19th-century building. “The floors were all separate to each other, as the building had previously housed several different offices, so we had to recreate a [homely] atmosphere for the entire house,” the designer recalls. But the distinction between the floors also suited Beccaria’s changing family needs, with children growing up and beginning to leave home. “We liked the idea of having different floors, allowing a lot of independence,” she says. “Little by little, the kids were leaving, but they all continue to come back for lunch or for dinner. It is very interesting to keep the idea of a family together, while allowing everyone a little space.”

The priority, design-wise, was to bring in light, color and airiness to the very dark, heavy, wooden ambience, to “convert it into the garden house that is now full of green and life,” says Beccaria, whose designs reflect her love of flowers and verdancy. “I immediately thought that, with our vision and the colors we love, we could create a more peaceful and bucolic atmosphere.”

Beccaria loves to use relaxing hues that exude light and airiness – such as blue walls, which were inspired by the color of the sky
“
My life is surrounded by nature: beautiful flowers, the sunset, the sunrise – all the colors of nature
”

Beccaria particularly likes the floor that holds her and her husband’s bedroom, closet and bathrooms – complete with a steam room and small gym – but it is the floor above where the building’s location really comes into its own. The third storey has the sitting and dining rooms, meaning much family time is spent there, as well as a connecting terrace, which is one of her favorite spots in the house. “It is very bright and luminous, and from there you can see the church bells and tower of Santa Maria del Carmine, with a wonderful view of the roofs of Milan. It’s really very peaceful.”

“My life is surrounded by nature: beautiful flowers, the sunset, the sunrise – all the colors of nature,” she continues. This is a key source of inspiration for Beccaria, who also spends a great deal of time in Sicily, where her family has other properties and where – while renovating them – her enjoyment of interior design began. The pastel, powdery palette that illuminates her glassware and tableware collections is visible throughout the designer’s Brera home: she is drawn to relaxing hues that exude light and airiness. “I matched the blue walls to the color of the sky. The sofas are a pale blue velvet, complementing the walls, and two tables hold beautiful lilac glass lamps that create an intimate atmosphere,” she says. Roses, some of her favorite flowers, are a recurring theme throughout the décor, from the scatter cushions to those that grow on the terrace.

While admiring them, Beccaria appreciates this perch over the beautiful architecture of Brera, which is also the Milanese quarter where she has her shop, and which is steeped in history and art. “I really value space,” considers Beccaria. “For me, even when I’m alone, having the space around me is important.”

Beccaria’s house is filled with flowers and exquisite pieces that are inspired by nature
“Trying to match the landscape and what is going on outside the window has always been very important to me,” says Beccaria. “I want to expand the house through its windows and views”

Beccaria on her favorite elements…

My glassware and tableware

“I love our glassware in all its colors – they are vibrant and full of life; the colors of flowers and of nature. When laying a table, if you add a bunch of roses and have the same colors repeated in the glasses, plus a tablecloth that looks a bit like a path filled with little spontaneous buds, everything becomes very dreamy and special.”

A table that is hand-painted with rose buds

“This is a very nice story because this piece belonged to the Italian actress Valentina Cortese, who was a great friend of mine. She was crazy about flowers and roses, and she had an amazing house. She passed away a couple of years ago, and this table was given to me because I loved it very much.”

Roses and beautiful florals are a recurring theme throughout Beccaria’s elegant Milan home

The terrace

“I have all my favorite plants on the terrace, which is a very peaceful spot. Trying to match the landscape and what is going on outside the window has always been very important to me. I wanted to expand the house through its windows and views. I believe in the harmony of objects. So, instead of over-decorating the place, I’ve tried to make the view and the outside and what’s going on around me as important as the furniture [and objects] I place inside.”

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