Build-n-Share #40 La Casa dello Splendore

La Casa dello Splendore BUILD-N-SHARE #40

From the Build-n-Share Files Client #40 Eleganza della Pietra

S

OME clients stand out in my mind more than others— sometimes for good reasons, sometimes for bad! Our dealings with the lovely Venetian sculptress, Eleganza della Pietra, can only be described as “sunny” from our intitial meeting to the final walkthrough of her new home.

I had my assistant, Rose, sit in on the consultation. Rose is a people person and asks all the questions I forget to ask or am afraid to ask! In the case of Ms della Pietra, the question of architectural style became paramount.

“I would like Italianate house with three bedrooms,” she told us. Now “Italianate” means something very specific to an architect/designer.

“Do you mean Italian? Perhaps like a Mediterranean villa?” I asked.

“No, no, no!” She laughed. Even with her flawless olive skin, I could see her blush slightly. “I have the espresso at the Painted Lady Café in Newcrest. Yes?” I nodded.

“I ask the owner. He tell me the style of café is ‘Italianate Victorian’. Yes? That is what I want!”

It is my turn to laugh. “Of course! You are correct.”

Rose then asked, “But why Italianate? Do you feel a connection with that style?”

“Yes, a connection. It is fantasia, like my sculpture! It is ispirazione.”

“But three bedrooms is a lot for one person, don’t you think?” Rose interjected. She could see the alarmed look on my face. She continued with a smile, “Are you expecting many visitors?”

“Ah, si!” Ms della Pietra’s face lit up in a broad smile, again with a slight blush. “My boyfriend Paolo, he come from Venice for visit. Yes? He is great chef. He say to me, ‘La mia girasolina, I come cook for you in agosto.’ He bring his son, too.”

“Girasole is sunflower in Italian, isn’t it?” I asked. She nodded with a smile. Now, thanks to Rose’s questions, I had my ispirazione.

Casa dei girasoli

EXTERIOR

EXTERIOR

▲ FRONT DOOR

▼ FOYER

▲ FOYER LOOKING INTO LIVING ROOM

▼ LIVING ROOM

LIVING ROOM

LOOKING INTO KITCHEN FROM LIVING ROOM

KITCHEN

GROUND FLOOR BATHROOM

DINING ROOM

UPPER ▲ DINING LANDING ROOM LOOKING INTO GARDEN ROOM

▼ GARDEN ROOM

GARDEN ROOM

UPPER ▲ LET’SLANDING GO UPSTAIRS!

▼ UPSTAIRS LANDING

▲ LANDING

▼ READING NOOK

UPPER LANDING MASTER BEDROOM

MASTER BEDROOM

UPPER LANDING UPSTAIRS BATHROOM

SECOND BEDROOM

UPPER ▲ THIRD LANDING BEDROOM

▼ ENTERTAINMENT ROOM

▲ ENTERTAINMENT ROOM

▼ LET’S GO BACK DOWNSTAIRS!

UPPER ▲ ENTRANCE LANDING TO SCULPTURE STUDIO

▼ SCULPTURE STUDIO

SCULPTURE STUDIO

UPPER LANDING

HALF BATHROOM

ROOF DOWN

UPSTAIRS FLOOR

MASTER

BATH

SECOND

R BEDROOM

HROOM

D BEDROOM

THIRD BEDROOM TV ROOM

LANDING

K POOL/PATIO

DIN

G R

SCULPTURE STUDIO

HALF BATH

BATHROOM

KITCHEN

NING ROOM

LIVING ROOM

FOYER

GARDEN ROOM PORCH

GROUND LEVEL

It was on a rainy day shortly after Ms della Pietra moved into her new house that she called me to express her thanks.

“Caro! È perfetto!” she exclaimed.

Suddenly the day seemed sunny after all. ❦