My Space | Gabriele Salvatori

My Space Gabriele Salvatori

DESIGN Elisa Ossino Studio PHOTOGRAPHY Giorgio Possenti, Germano Borrelli, Matteo Imbirani WORDS Yvette Caprioglio

Casa Salvatori in the centre of Milan’s design district has been home for Gabriele Salvatori, CEO of Salvatori Stone, for just over four years.

Naturally, the home is testament to the artisanal craftsmanship that his family’s name is renowned for and was a priority when collaborating with interior designer Elisa Ossino. The idea of having something that is unique and shaped by human hands in a world of mass production was important to Gabriele. As a third-generation family member, Gabriele spent his school holidays at the Salvatori headquarters in Northern Tuscany, so it was inevitable that stone would inform the materiality of Casa Salvatori.

Colour has also taken precedence in the apartment, creating a striking contrast between a traditional palette of neutral tones, such as classic white, cream, grey and brown that are often used by Salvatori for clients. “A splash of colour also makes a difference to your mood, which is why we’ve gone for quite unusual shades of pinks and greens, in my home,” says Gabriele. “And a mustard-yellow, which on paper shouldn’t work with the old Terazzo floor, absolutely does.”

There’s also a beautiful balance of texture and shape which is at odds with the perception that stone is often associated with coldness, a belief that Gabriele resolutely disagrees with. “It’s actually an incredibly versatile material so you can use it to make bold, geometric patterns which you see in the artwork on the wall, the inlaid tables and kitchen cabinetry, but then it can also be surprisingly soft and smooth from a visual aspect,” says Gabriele. “But, as much as I love stone, I think it’s important to balance it with materials like wood, metal, and soft fabric. That’s how you create a sense of harmony.”

The 200-year-old apartment's original terrazzo floor. DePadova Nota black wall light.

At over 200 years old with incredible original Terazzo floors and fireplace, the apartment really is special to Gabriele. “It has so much soul and an innate sophistication and beauty,” he says. If there is one room though that he had to favour, it’s the living room with its full-length windows where he hosts impromptu parties. “The room looks out on the courtyard, which is surrounded by amazing design studios and showrooms so there’s a kind of fascinating continuous theatre outside. It’s very easy to spend a lot of time at those windows.”

The bathroom features a Salvatori ‘Tratti’ Texture stone wall by Pietra D’Avola and Salvatori ‘Alfeo’ basin drawers by Pietra D’Avola.

For Gabriele, being in the centre of Milan with all the wonderful buzz and hecticness of a major European city on his doorstep, right in the middle of the design district is an innate reflection of who he is. “I love all that. It’s very stimulating. It really represents what I like and who I am, and in particular, I think it represents what Milan is all about, which is understated elegance,“ he says.