VILLA GIARA PIEDMONT, ITALY

Villa Giara, a 10-bedroom boutique guesthouse in Italy’s Piedmont region, has opened following a five-year farmhouse restoration project by former Versace Chief Marketing Officer, Stephen Croncota and his partner, designer Ricardo Baptista Fernandes.

Under two hours from the international airports of Milan, Turin and Genoa, Villa Giara is the ideal base for exploring Piedmont’s ‘Golden Triangle’, the area between wine town Asti, truffle town Alba and thermal bath town Acqui Terme.

One of Italy’s best-kept-secrets, Piedmont offers exquisite cuisine, scenery and culture at a fraction of the price of neighboring regions – and with half the tourists.

Perched atop a mountain near the quaint town of Calosso, the bed-and-breakfast property is surrounded by vineyard-lined rolling hills and comprises two former farmhouses, manicured gardens with yoga deck and a large pool with panoramic views of the valley below.

10 bedrooms, each with their own unique charm and personality, are filled with artwork, textiles and antiques handpicked by Stephen and Ricardo on their travels. Italian artisanship is celebrated throughout, with luxurious Italian mattresses and bath products adding a slice of authenticity. All rooms offer sweeping vineyard and mountain views or look out on to the historic hilltop town of Calosso, via French doors, balcony or terrace.

Breakfast is served daily in Villa Giara’s Limonaia room, while daily aperitivos and antipasti are available on the terrace, the perfect spot in which to soak up the sunset before heading out to a local trattoria. Private on-site dining experiences can be arranged on request. https://www.villagiara.com/

Restoration works on a separate outbuilding at the base of the property’s hill are almost complete and will provide further accommodation for up to four adults. The villa, which combines the serenity of a private residence and the convenience of access to Villa Giara’s service and facilities, will be available to hire from June 2023.

WHITE ELEPHANT NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A

White Elephant has been an integral part of Nantucket’s history since the 1920s. Dreamed up by local socialite Elizabeth T. Ludwig, the harborfront landmark has evolved into the island’s most timeless resort, with a collection of chic accommodations showcasing the very best of the beloved destination.

In time with the White Elephant’s 100th anniversary, the resort debuts yet another metamorphosis, with a multi-million-dollar restoration and renovation of its 54-room and -suite Harborside Hotel and 11 Garden Cottages.

Elizabeth Lowrey, Principal at Elkus Manfredi Architects, the design firm who brought the multi-award-winning White Elephant Palm Beach, has conceived a bright, air y, residential-inspired refresh, drawing on the essence of Nantucket—its history, the quality of light, its natural landscapes, the colors, textures, and artistic legacy—to breathe new life into these historic accommodations.

All materials and finishes have been replaced, from the carpets to the fixtures and the furnishings, with an emphasis on design details that are authentic to place and exude effortless sophistication. Designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects and manufactured by Pennsylvania-based carpet mill Bloomsburg, the carpets and textiles draw on the island’s rich history of basket weaving, while exterior ship lights evoke Nantucket’s deep seafaring traditions. A color palette of Labrador blues and seafoam greens are inspired by the coastal surroundings. The brand’s deep heritage is woven throughout, with brass elephant knockers on doors, elephant door and drawer pulls, and elephant needlepoint pillows in rooms. https://www.whiteelephantnantucket.com/

Ranging from 375- to 450-square-feet of living space, guestrooms are individually designed and awash in a coastal color palette, with rattan textiles, white oak desks, scalloped lampshades and headboards, and grass cloth wall coverings that evoke the island’s dune grasses. The White Elephant also debuted a redesigned lobby that has been reimagined with an expanded retail space and more approachable concierge and reception areas.