The dining room
Courtesy of Chiara Goia"The fake bamboo chairs and table were bought at an auction – the table belonged to a French decorator who was known for her eclectic taste, yet this table is a very classic English style, which meant we bought it cheaply. It’s very well balanced in this room. The piece in between the windows is a tribal textile from Central Asia, while the other to the side is a rug that we hung up – both pieces belonged to my father-in-law. The two photographs you can see on the window ledge are by my husband’s cousin, Marina Sersale, a well-known Italian photographer.
"The ceiling is crooked and the fresco straightens it – when you look at the windows, there is a sense of harmony. Without the fresco, which was designed by friends of ours, the crooked ceiling would be more obvious. It fixes the room."
2The dining area
Courtesy of Chiara Goia"The artwork is by Matthew Lutz-Kinoy, a young contemporary artist from New York. We loved the colour and composition and also that it was the same size as the Suzani on the other side of the room. It just worked. As you can see, we’re obsessed with symmetry. Usually, this table is covered with piles of books, which we remove and put on the stairs when we have guests for dinner."
3The dining area
Courtesy of Chiara Goia"This is another Suzani from Central Asia and sits next to the living room entrance. They’re hand-embroidered and serve the same purpose as a painting. They’re decorative and beautiful."
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4The living area
Courtesy of Chiara Goia"I adore the iron lamp – I’m not sure of the provenance, but I think it’s Islamic. On top of the fireplace are two statues, bronze and a stone figures from the Far East and two Chinese ceramic horses from the Tang Dynasty. The two sculptures - in whitened bronze on the coffee table and the other in white ceramic on a wooden speaker - are by Roman artist and friend Giuseppe Ducrot, who also made our famous Franco’s Bar yellow ceramic fountain in Positano. Another Suzani hides the television above the fireplace."
5The living area
Courtesy of Chiara Goia"This blue textile is embroidered with circles of cowrie white shells and is a Chang Naga Warrior ceremonial textile body cloth. The vase is probably Sicilian and comes from my side of the family."
6The living area
Courtesy"The big sofa was inspired by a style that a friend of mine made in Milan. We modified the arms, and it’s a fantastic sofa to spend an afternoon reading because it’s almost like a bed – you can really relax on it. The cushions are made with intricately embroidered fabric bought from a flea market in Beijing, for around 10 euros each. We custom built the library which adds depth. I love the high ceilings of this room."
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7The guest room
Courtesy of Chiara Goia"Here we have some ordinary side tables, and a series of Sicilian watercolours from the 19th-century, which I just adore. The central piece is a tribal horse blanket, hence the odd shape. The lamps are Chinese, again inherited from my father-in-law."
8The master bedroom
Courtesy"I love this room, it feels calming but warm, probably because of the textiles and the embroidered cushions. The Suzani over the bed is one of my favourites."
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