Home decor, furniture, pewter and dinnerware handmade in Italy by the finest Italian artisans - ArteItalicaHome.com

Benvenuti!

This week, I’d like to share with you a bit about the “Green Heart of Italy.” Umbria. Still truly an unspoiled region, Umbria is one of the only landlocked regions in Italy and is 40% magnificent woodlands and sits in the center of the country.

Umbria is comprised of two provinces, Perugia and Terni and has the fourth smallest population within all of Italy. Her residents vehemently preserve the history and it is here you can find many artisan studios featuring ceramics and pottery. Arte Italica Home offers many pottery based items. The Capri Cream Footed Bowl, for example is a timeless example of the level of quality and craftsmanship expected from Umbrian artists. The neutral white offers the opportunity to utilize this piece in many different settings while its size proves to be multi-functional. The artist’s impeccable attention to detail makes the Capri pieces worthy of being front and center. Perhaps fill the Capri Pitcher full with deep red peonies for a classic holiday centerpiece.

I would be remiss if I did not pay homage to Umbria’s agricultural bragging rights. Umbria is the top producing region of a delicacy known as the truffle. This fungi is cousin to the mushroom and is highly sought after making it a relatively expensive ingredient. It is, however, quite worth it! Below is a very simple salad recipe which highlights the pure organic flavor of an Umbrian beloved. Enjoy!

Celery and Black Truffle Salad

Pinch of salt
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 Cup extra virgin olive oil
Freshly cracked pepper
2 Black truffles (about golf-ball size), shaved to 1/16 inches thick
1/2 Celery stalk, cut into 1/8- inch thick diagonal slices
1/4 Cup coarsely shaved Parmesan cheese
In a medium bowl, whisk the salt and lemon juice together until the salt dissolves. Whisk in the olive oil and pepper. Add the truffles and celery. Toss very gently so as to not to damage the truffles. Divide the salad among 4 plates and place a few Parmesan shavings on each serving. Serves 4.

Benvenuti!

When you think of the colors blue and white together, what comes to mind? Perhaps you vision fluffy white clouds rolling against a crisp blue summer sky. Or maybe you see the ocean surf with its white capped waves against the deep blue power. I happen to think of my favorite blue linen suit. When worn, it makes everything about my day feel better. The color blue and all its varying hues have been associated with having an overall calming effect.

In décor, blue and white is no different. Blue and white together creates a calmly crisp environment, which is very pleasing to the eye. Robin’s egg blue walls against a white chair rail provide the perfect canvas for accent pieces such as Arte Italica Home Home’s Vecchio Amphora with Lid. Vecchio literally translates to mean “old”. The Vecchio collection has been brilliantly distressed to create an Old World feel. Hand painted details in hues of blue make this piece of art a stunning topic of discussion.

The Vecchio line would look amazing in many other settings as well. The Vecchio Pitcher, for example would showcase nicely amongst some cookbooks in a yellow kitchen or on the bureau of a coral bedroom. And imagine the Vecchio Footed Bowl on your dining room table with an arrangement of billowing blue and white hydrangea; fresh, clean and simply elegant!

Ciao!
EB

Benvenuti!

The Ancient Roman baths were more than a place for bathing. Like today’s day spas, they were a gathering place where adults could focus on relaxation, healthy living, exercise and socialization.
Attendants were there to serve snacks and drinks while guests enjoyed the steamy air created by the under floor heating system, known as the Hypocaust system. This was a structure where hot air heated from basement fires flowed between the concrete columns which supported the ground floor. These basement fires were manned by slaves. And it is said that wooden sandals had to be worn to prevent the bathers’ feet from burning!

After steaming, bathers might enjoy a dip in the hot bath or calidarium, followed by a dip in the cold bath or frigidarium, whose waters were said to have healing powers. Massage with perfumed oils might have been another service of choice or perhaps a leisurely walk through one of the many beautiful gardens, which featured colossal sculptures and mosaic artwork. In larger bath houses such as the Diocletian of Rome, bathers could even choose to view athletic events in the bath theater. Upon completion in 305 A.D., the Diocletian was in excess of 130,000 square feet.

To add Roman flair to a bath décor, I love Arte Italica Home’s Vanity Trays collection in gold or silver! The Large Vanity Tray would be a gorgeous accent to any bureau or powder room. The tray and other items provide that ’special touch’ to give the essence being in a fine Roman spa. I would recommend keeping only a few items of display on the pieces such as a small framed photograph and a few collectible compacts or atomizers. Too much clutter would detract from its elegance!

Ciao!
EB