My Favorite Bold Italian Furniture Designs

Aster Papposus sofa from EDRA

There is no greater sin in interior design than blandness. Interiors should make solid statements, and they could be far-ranging - comfort, luxury, sensuality, rustic, quaint - but if an interior isn't communicating some kind of distinct message, or if it's too shy and retiring, why bother? (And I'm addressing both homeowners and interior designers here.)

Rift bar stools by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso 

In our school's Complete Course in Interior Design, we talk a lot about making sure furniture is in scale with the rest of the room, and we talk about all of the elements coming together in harmony.

Baku bed with stunning leather headboard and footboard from Promemoria

Yet sometimes it's important to include some strong statement pieces of furniture that help an interior "jump the tracks" and demand attention.

Accurate street and building details in the Baghdad Dining Table (above) and Baghdad Coffee Table (below) designed by Ezri Tarazi for EDRA

I enjoy unusual design, comfort, striking colorways, attention to detail, and a sense of humor when I'm looking at favorite designs.

Outlandish Meryl revolving bookcase features shelving space, LED lighting, amp and hi-fi system, and a wine cellar - from Promemoria

And lately, I've been finding what I'm looking for from several Italian companies who specialize in producing great statement pieces.

Witch chair by Tord Boontje for Moroso

Click on each photo for more product information, and I hope you give extra thought about shaking up an interior with a jolt of freshness. 

Like the "Princess and the Pea," the Principessa daybed from Moroso boasts a pile of colorful "mattresses" 

Are you interested in taking a great interior design course and learning more about how to get started professionally in this creative field? Sheffield School began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

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Jewelry Inspiration: I Am Titanium

Klimt02 is a website that provides an international forum for contemporary jewelry in a creative space that offers knowledge, information, debates, and exchanges - all within the artistic realm of jewelry. Based in Barcelona, Spain, Kilmt02 inspires everyone interested in the selection, quality, art, technology, and creation of art jewelry. Sheffield School has kindly been given permission to share works of global designers here on our website. Today's post focuses on the femine yet very industrial titanium jewelry creations of a jewelry designer in Treviso, Italy, Emma Francesconi. 

Emma Francesconi 

Emma Francesconi
Bracelet: Armor 2010
Titanium screws with Ti Color 65 surface finish

Emma Francesconi
Bracelet: Armor 2010
Titanium screws with Ti Color 65 surface finish
Detail

Emma Francesconi
Ring: Nose Vittorino 2011
Titanium

Emma Francesconi
Bracelet: Butterfly 2012
Titanium

Emma Francesconi
Necklace: Untitled 2012
Titanium screws

Emma Francesconi
Bracelet: Untitled 2012
Titanium screws

Statement

My pieces go from being a hard and unalterable material to becoming a soft and supple mesh like a fabric. I take handfuls of screws and washers and play around with them, attaching them in a multitude of ways, creating new shapes, going back and trying again until I find equilibrium of shape and overall smoothness. I tried to magically change indication of things and give them a new meaning. My objective is that of maintaining the essence of the material and of the shape, to take a handful of screws and make a piece of jewellery, limiting where possible my intervention.  Emma Francesconi On sale at Marijke Studio  Padova, Italy  Alternatives  Rome, Italy Emma Francesconi Piazza Crispi 8 31100 - Treviso Italy mail: francesconiemma@yahoo.it

If you're interested in learning more about jewelry design, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

3 Amazing Light Resources to Brighten Your New Year

Manhattan Remix chandelier by Barovier & Toso

There's no excuse not to embrace contemporary lighting solutions to amp up the wattage in any interior design scheme. Styling has never been more exciting and fashionable, and the number of companies offering startling new designs has never been greater.

Nepher Ceiling Lamp from Barovier & Toso

We've selected three of our favorite lighting resources - each one, new to us - and wanted to showcase some of our favorites from each for you. Click on the links below for more information.

• Barovier & Toso
• Terzani
• Kundalini

 Veronese Table Lamp from Barovier & Toso

Stream Chandelier from Terzani

Mizu Pendant Lights from Terzani

Click to read more ...

Columbus Day Video: Destination Wedding in Italy

Columbus Day in the United States has morphed into a celebration of Italian American heritage, and in that spirit, we thought it would be a fun idea to feature one of the many wedding videos shot of a couple tying the knot in Italy. Our Sheffield Course on Wedding and Event Planning covers destination weddings, and you can click here to find out more information about Getting Married in Italy (all the details you need, from legalities to waiting periods to ceremonies). 

If you're interested in learning more about wedding planning, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

Sheffield Student Success: Italian Francesca Meazza Lives the Beautiful Life

I am Francesca Meazza and I live in Northern Italy, in the West, in a small mountain village, with my husband Denny and our 17-month-old son.

The house we live in was my grandparents’ and it dates back to 1800. We have restored it in a conservative way since we deeply appreciate buildings, furniture, and materials that have a story to tell. The work began in September 2008 and finished (well ... "finished" is a big word since we always have a new project going on!) in March 2010.

I have a big passion for interiors (and exteriors as well!) and I received my certificate in Interior Design from the Sheffield School in May 2008 for personal satisfaction - but who knows, maybe one day it could become a second job! I work in my family company (Cera Novecento, we produce high quality waxes for floors and furniture) and my job is somehow related to interiors so I do not exclude that one day I will be able to put my passion for interiors in the service of my job.

I followed the works in my home step by step, I decided every single thing and, together with my husband, painted the walls, prepared a mix of lime and natural pigments, stripped all the ancient original doors which were covered with thick layers of paint, waxed the floors, and much much more.

This is a 4-floor home including 2 kitchens, 4 bathrooms, 2 wine cellars, 3 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, 1 “atelier” where I paint and restore furniture - in short, a big home and it was really a big job, but the satisfaction we had working with our hands and following it all was the best reward ever!

Of course I took care (and still take care, I love making changes and improvements!) of all the interior decoration. I salvaged ancient furniture that belonged to my family but also found many objects on Ebay, vintage or thrift shops, antiques markets, and in France too. I love searching for the “perfect” decorative object!

My home was featured on a really beautiful Italian magazine called Vivere Country (which means contry living). The staff of the magazine saw the home on my blog and asked if they could report on it - and so I said yes! It was an honour for me since that magazine is really my favourite Italian magazine. (Click on the issue below to see the original Italian magazine spreads.)

 

They came last September and stayed two days, two days of shoots and interviews. It was fun and exciting! We were featured in that magazine because we really lead a country life: we live with one dog, two cats, almost 40 chickens, some ducks, 6 rabbits, 3 guinea-fowl, and 5 geese! We are organic farmers and gardeners and we aim to produce as much as we can in order to become more self sufficient. I love living in the country, I could not think of my life anywhere else, that would just not be me.

Bonus

No doubt, Francesca would love this New York interior design showroom - a little bit of country in the heart of the Big City. Click here to read Rocking the Country Floors. 

Congratulations, Francesca! If you're interested in learning more about the course Francesca used to help her restore and decorate her beautiful country home, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.