We just got back from a week in Rome. What an amazing city. Hard to define. Its ancient roots and modern outlook seem to collide at every charming intersection.
A few weeks before we departed, I attended a seminar to hear interior designer Alessandra Branca speak about her beloved Rome and its influence on her work. Branca has offices in Chicago, New York and Rome, and a family apartment in Rome where she spends several months each year.
Alessandra Branca speaks about her approach to decorating and design in her “New Classic Interiors” book.
The Italian style is in her DNA!
Her book, “New Classic Interiors,” published in 2009, gives great examples of her extravagant and glorious rooms which are both world-class and classically Italian. Since I was traveling to her hometown, I decided to take mental notes about Italian interiors and how to achieve even a hint of the bellissima touch called “the Italian style.”
A corner of the Forum from our hotel room window.
When I heard her speak, Branca filled the room with her passion about decorating, and described how her beautiful Rome was her inspiration at every turn. She challenged us to visit the sites that inspire her every time she returns to this magical city. She even offered to email everyone in the audience a list of her favorite haunts.
