Friday, August 29, 2008

Gianni Ricci frescos

While flipping through World of Interiors from March 2004, I came across an article about a castle in Monferrato in Piedmont overlooked by the Alps with amazing frescos. The frescos were originally done by Vittorio Accornero (who was famous for his designs for Gucci and Hermes) in the 1930s and were later reworked by architect Gianni Ricci from nearby Turin in the 40s.
The owner 'strove for gaiety in her surroundings, a sophisticated yet informal atmosphere in which American eccentricity merged with European antiquity.'. I think this was achieved, don't you? Although I am not sure I've heard of American eccentricity, but rather British eccentricity; I guess in a British magazine though...........
In the dining room, seen in the picture above, the dumb-waitor is painted to look like a birdpage.
'the blue bedroom' - probably the most perfect shade of blue I've come across for a bedroom! Not too soft, not too bright - bold but not insane.
The master bedroom, above, has wallpaper by Zuber and not frescos. I love the yelow with the blue/gray.
This shows some of the frescos completed in the 40s by Ricci. The owner wanted to replicate painted baroque trompe-l'oeil details similar to other piedmontese palaces. The crumbling of the walls only adds to their charms; I never would have expected these to have been painted in the 20th century!

15 comments:

columnist said...

Wonderful frescos and trompe l'oeil, in that rather decrepit Italian way, which does not demean them at all. I have to say, however that for me it's more fun to "view" rather than live in; I like the interiors I live in to be a bit more spruced up and sharper!

pve design said...

These are insanely stunning. Glad they "strove for this" - Striving to achieve something in life -is what it is all about. That blue bedroom is oh so lovely.

Willow Decor said...

I really enjoyed this post! Great photos.

ArchitectDesign™ said...

I thought you might appreciate this, pve!

ArchitectDesign™ said...

I agree with you, columnist! I love to look at these places like this, but not sure I would want flakes of fresco falling into my cereal in the morning!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Love this! Especially that dumbwaiter!

The Woodshedder said...

Wow, these images are fantastic. I'm not usually much of a blue person, but totally agree about that particular shade in the bedroom - it's very dreamy, literally. The birdcage dumbwaiter may be the best though!

ArchitectDesign™ said...

The birdcage dumbwaiter is probably my favorite thing, PTE!
I'm glad you like the blue too, GD :-)

Natasha said...

I love the formal dining room, it has a sort of whimsical feeling to it. I must say, if given a choice, I will have to pick the Rockefeller house...ummm sadly it looks nothing like my family house :)

Natasha said...

I love the formal dining room, it has a sort of whimsical feeling to it. I must say, if given a choice, I will have to pick the Rockefeller house...ummm sadly it looks nothing like my family house :)

ArchitectDesign™ said...

nor mine either, natasha! But we can always still appreciate them :-)

cotedetexas said...

absolutely gorgeous= the last picture slays me - whoa. Just read a weeks worth of your blog - just beautiful = especially the Versailles post and Rockefeller house. You're doing good!!! Beautiful blog and informative - just what one should be, you know? haha!!

love it.
Joni

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Thanks Joni, they're not as well done and researched as yours but I do my best!

Topsy Turvy said...

Have to agree with Joni - the last image is stunning. And I've never heard of American eccentricity either - always kind of thought the Brits were a little 'out there' as regards design. Wonderful images!

-Lana

ArchitectDesign™ said...

glad you enjoyed it Lana :-)