This Penthouse Was Inspired By European Hotel Luxury

LOCATION Milan, Italy DESIGN Giampiero Taright PHOTOGRAPHY Billal Baruk Taright WORDS Aleesha Callahan

Inspired by the old-world charm of luxury European hotels, this Milan penthouse is skilfully layered with diverse design influences and eras, perfect for an art-collecting couple.

Embracing the cross-continental lifestyle of its owners, this Milan penthouse by Italian designer Giampiero Tagliaferri is a richly-layered sanctuary that merges art, architecture and personal expression. Designed for a young art-collecting couple who, like Tagliaferri himself, divide their time between Milan and Los Angeles, the apartment reflects a deeply idiosyncratic vision—an elegant blend of play and personality.

While the apartment is small, space has been expertly economised with a mix of built-in pieces and standout design pieces from Minotti and Osvaldo Borsani side tables. A statement fireplace in the corner anchors the entire living area. Artworks (L-R), Alighiero Boetti and Ron Gorchov.

Tagliaferri approaches interiors like curated compositions, folding together eras, textures and design languages into an evocative whole. “The aspect of layering is one of the most important concepts in my work, where I love to mix eras and influences while maintaining aesthetic consistency,” he explains. That ethos is brought to life in this penthouse, where a vintage Stilnovo pendant floats above an Angelo Mangiarotti dining table, surrounded by Gigi Sabadin chairs. A new rosewood and lacquer stair nods to 1970s Milanese elegance, while a folding screen, crafted from rosewood, stainless steel, and fluted glass, artfully conceals the television, turning function into statement.

An attention-grabbing central corkscrew stair with rosewood steps wrapped in a shiny lacquer finish exudes a 70s Milanese modernism. A bust by Vanessa Beecroft sits on a plinth alongside the staircase.

A mirrored stainless cabinet with rosewood interior. Artwork by Enrico Castellani and a pair of vintage Flash wall lights by Joe Colombo for Oluce.

The apartment is structured like “the perfect Suite,” Tagliaferri says, echoing the logic of a luxury hotel. The public zones unfold as an open-plan living space complete with built-in cabinetry, multiple seating zones, and access to a terrace overlooking Milan’s skyline.

Tagliaferri is adept at mixing design styles and eras. In the dining area a vintage Stilnovo pendant light hangs above an Angelo Mangiarotti table and chunky Gigi Sabadin chairs.

Anchoring the apartment is a sculptural fireplace, quietly commanding with avant-garde form and materiality. A Mario Bellini music system adds a soulful note, underscoring the couple’s passion for collecting both design and art.

In the den, an Acerbis Free System sofa by Claudio Salocchi sits against rosewood joinery.

The private wing is conceived as a small wellness sanctuary holding the bedroom, gym and sauna. Here, a custom bed in brushed stainless steel and chrome nods to the glamorous era of 1970s Italian design, while a peek-a-boo shower—made from clear and fluted glass—references the lightbending work of Nanda Vigo. This apartment showcases the potential of integrating design into every corner, detail and material—where each element works together to create the perfect mood.

The powder room, wrapped in rosewood timber, features an illuminated ceiling and custom marble vanity.

The bedroom area is a secluded space away from the open and public living zone. A custom stainless steel and chrome bed echoes the home’s mid-century Italian stairs, with an Eva chair by Giovanni Travasa for Bonacina.

Drawing on luxury hotels as a reference point, the main ensuite is an ode to the late Nanda Vigo, a little-known Italian artist, designer and architect whose experiments in chrome and glass can be seen in the bathing capsule.