The tastemaker
The epitome of elegant seasonal splendour, this Italian apartment inspired its owner to turn her home into an exclusive restaurant
An opulent mix of period features and graffiti art combines in this unique apartment
Camilla Lusuardi’s guests chat animatedly at her dining table as they pass around baskets of bread and fill their glasses with wine. It’s a typical evening at one of her dinner parties, but this is not a gathering of close friends: the guests are savouring the delights of her intimate home restaurant. Camilla had not considered the venture when she first discovered her apartment in Reggio Emilia, northern Italy, five years ago. She already ran a thriving catering business (co-owned with chef Licia Cagnoni), and was in search of breathing space when she snapped up the 95-square-metre residence. It was its subsequent renovation that opened her eyes to its potential.
The apartment resides in an 18th-century building that was once home to the ancient city’s eminent bishop. It is endowed with the kind of architectural details that one would expect of a fine house of its time, including four-metre-high beamed ceilings decorated with hand-painted panels. Camilla and her architect, Maurizio Di Mauro, have added the interior’s more contemporary touches. There is a mural by graffiti artist Psyko in the bedroom ( he also painted the quote along the top of the walls in the hallway) and the oak parquet floors and walls are painted a dark shade of grey to create a sense of theatre. ‘The colour was custom-mixed by local artisans who used natural pigments, as I am allergic to chemicals,’ says Camilla. The intense hue accentuates the plasterwork, which has a rough finish that recreates a sense of history. ‘My home reflects my personality. It is not a coherent collection, but rather a mosaic of things I’ve fallen in love with,’ she says.
The décor creates an intimate setting for Camilla’s restaurant, which serves traditional fare. ‘Travelling is one of my big passions, and is a constant influence, but the food served in my home is rooted in my grandmother’s traditional cooking,’ she explains. ‘It’s about recreating childhood memories.’ Her enthusiasm for seasonal produce is echoed in the table settings, which change throughout the year. The dining room is dressed with crisp linens and fresh colours during spring and summer, and switches to warmer shades, textured fabrics and ceramics in autumn and winter. ‘I also use a lot of fruit and vegetables for my table decorations to reflect the time of year,’ she adds. By opening up her home to guests, Camilla has found the perfect outlet for her creativity. ‘The advantage of meeting new and interesting people always outweighs any inconvenience,’ she says. mauriziodimauroarchitetto.com
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