Pillows splashed with Japanese influenced designs of ornate birds sit atop both beds. Designed by Bignami, the pillows use a soft yellow striped fabric made in Prato (and originally used for military uniforms) and reflect her love of Pratesi fabrics and Japanese design. Several of the rooms boast beautiful chandeliers, adding sophistication and elegance to rooms already adorned with charm. In the kitchen, quirky sculptures of hands rest on the counter. Bignami reveals these are actually glove stretchers she found at a flea market. They sit (sans gloves) alongside vintage coffee tins and a fascinating design element: rather than installing a backsplash for the kitchen stove (which would have damaged the kitchen frescoes, and probably would not have passed government fresco preservation codes), she placed a large mirror behind the stove.
When asked about the inspiration for this project, Bignami reveals that restoring an Italian building was something she had always wanted to do. As an architect, she clearly understood the potential and the limitations of this project, and admits that this was an undertaking she had to do for herself and not a client. As for the décor, she jokes that her style is “chic and cheap,” pointing to the many items she carted home from flea markets over the years. Looking at a vintage sign she purchased from an old insurance store that reads Grandine (hail... one of the natural disasters the insurance company covered) she adds, “You don’t have to spend a lot to do something special. You just have to pay attention to detail.” We couldn’t agree more. ✈ b-arch.it