Listen to “249. Italy’s Unique Interior Styles and Where to Find Treasures” on Spreaker.
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Italian interiors, like food, are famous across the world but vary across the regions. From the rustic warmth of Tuscan villas to the sleek lines of Milanese modern design, Italian interiors showcase natural materials, meticulous craftsmanship, and an emphasis on comfort and beauty. We explore the kinds of elements that can be found in Italian interiors, across the regions, offering inspiration for bringing a touch of Italian charm into any space.
Summary
We welcome back our friend and Italian real estate expert Nikki Taylor. Nikki, who has called Italy home for the past decade, shares the nuances of Italian interior design from her experiences living in Bolzano and now the sun-drenched region of Puglia and traveling all over Itay, visiting homes for client property searches. She has recently filmed for “House Hunters International” and completed her third book. From the rustic charm of Puglia’s Masseria, the colorful Amalfi Coast and Sicily’s ceramics to Venice’s opulent palazzos. Discover unique finds at Italian flea markets and upcycle Nonna’s furniture to incorporate Italy’s regional styles into your own home!
What you’ll learn in this episode
- Nikki lived in Bolzano, in northern Italy when she first moved to Italy, but has lived in Puglia since falling in love with it in 2017. Nikki runs a consulting company for foreigners buying property in Italy and has created a course and digital magazine on Italian real estate
- There are many challenges in buying property in Italy. It is a complex process with lots of bureaucracy involved. You need a knowledge of local laws and culture
- As she visits so many homes for sale, that perhaps have been in families for years. Many are filled with old furniture and religious paraphernalia
- There is a huge contrast in regional interior style. There is Milan’s Salone del Mobile, celebrating modern style, whilst in Tuscany you have rustic interiors and the old farmhouse style – with beams and fireplaces
- There are a lot of opportunities for vintage and secondhand shopping. From the Mercatino di Usato, to the flea markets that you can find all over Italy – like the spectacular one in Navigli, Milan. Perfect for finding the Nonna style furniture for up-cycling
- Puglia’s has an amazing simplicity and rusticness in its decor, with renovated antiques and a minimalistic style. There is also a community pride, being referred to as the “snob of the south” for the cleanliness and charming appeal of its streets
- Other regional decor styles include the wooden chalet and cozy mountain vibes of Bolzano and the South Tyrol, the heavy, ornate, opulent decor of Venice and the colorful tiles of the Amalfi Coast and Ischia
- A favorite for Katy and Nikki is the style of Sicily with its artisan towns and craftsmanship – with amazing ceramics, as well as Umbria, with its rustic, elegant style. With high-quality linens in particular
- As well as helping people find homes – Nikki also helps many clients decorate their Italian properties
Timeline Overview
- 05:30 Nikki loves her role in helping her clients achieve their dreams of finding homes in Italy. It is incredibly rewarding and gives her the opportunity to see the regional differences in home design
- 09:12 Puglia’s simplicity creates charming, affordable, minimalistic style. Puglia is laid-back, but proud and community-focused
- 18:21 Tuscany interiors are beautiful and rustic but can be cold due to all that open space
- 24:18 There are many towns that specialize in crafts, with generations of artisans – perfect for finding treasures for your home
- 28:09 If Nikki has to pinpoint her favorite places for design – she loves Sicilian ceramics and the Puglia stone-style interiors
About our guest – Nikki Taylor from Italy Property Consulting
Follow Nikki here
- Website
- Instagram and La Dolce Vita Lifestyle Magazine Instagram
- La Dolce Vita Lifestyle Magazine
- Books
Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned
Places
- Bolzano – in the far north of Italy, near the border with Austria. This was Nikki’s first home in Italy and is one of our 35 best cities to visit in Italy
- Monopoli – a coastal town in Puglia, home to the Baroque Monopoli Cathedral
- Martina Franca – a town in Puglia, with a charming old quarter full of winding alleys and white-washed houses
- Casa Olivetta – fashion and interior design Collette Dinnigan’s Puglian home near Cisternino
- Alpe di Siusi – a Dolomite plateau and the largest high-altitude Alpine meadow in Europe. Located in Italy’s South Tyrol province in the Dolomites mountain range, it is a major tourist attraction, notably for skiing and hiking
- Via Garibaldi 12 – impressive interiors shop in Genoa
- Regina Isabella – historic, grand hotel in Ischia
- Cefalu – coastal city in Northern Sicily
- Santo Stefano di Camastra – town known for ceramics in Sicily
- Perugia – a medieval college city in Umbria
- Castiglione del Lago – charming town in Umbria
- Navigli market – famous flea market in Milan
- Lucca – charming hilltop town in Tuscany
- Arezzo – city in Tuscany off the main tourist track
Words / Concepts
- House Hunters International – US TV show, available on many channels across the globe, following house hunters finding properties in foreign countries
- Salone del Mobile Milano – furniture fair for Design Week in Milan
- Franco Cozzo – Italo-Australian furniture seller based in Melbourne
- Pumi – the Puglian, acorn-like charm you will find all over Puglia, usually in ceramic form
- Maiolica – a type of glazed tile found on the Amalfi Coast and Sicily
- Dolce & Gabbana highlighters – range of highlighters made with Dolce and Gabanna and Stabilo
- Dior Lecce show – show in 2021 by the fashion house in Puglia
- Tadelakt – a kind of plaster finish that originated in the buildings of Morocco
Related content on Untold Italy
Podcasts
- Ep 080 – Picturesque towns of Puglia
- Ep 056 – Realizing the dream of buying property in Italy
- Ep 224 – Brilliant Bari – Puglia’s bustling capital
- Ep 216 – 10 Reasons we love Umbria
- Ep 208 – Introducing the amazing artisans of Venice
- Ep 194 – Lovely Lecce – Italy’s southern beauty
- Ep 190 – Vicenza – the elegant Renaissance city
- Ep 065 – Uncovering Umbria’s towns and villages
- Ep 059 – Romantic Amalfi Coast weddings
- Ep 043 – Palermo – the perfect base for excursions
- Ep 014 – Amalfi Coast Highlights
Articles
- Beautiful Italian cities
- Umbria travel guide
- Best Agriturismo in Umbria
- Puglia travel guide
- Things to do in Puglia
- Perfect Puglia towns to discover
- Best agriturismo in Puglia
- Best places to stay in Puglia
- Things to do in Lecce
- Sicily travel guide
- Best places to visit in Sicily
- Best things to do in Sicily
- Best places to stay in Sicily
- Venice travel guide
- Best hotels in Venice
- Beautiful Amalfi Coast towns
- Amalfi Coast Itinerary
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