darc MDW highlight: L’Appartamento by Artemest
(Italy) – darc visited the renowned L’Appartamento by Artemest during Milan Design Week.
With so much to see inside Euroluce’s halls this year, it was a welcome break to escape to the city centre and explore some design installations and showrooms along the well-known avenue of lighting, Corso Monforte.
One of the Darc team’s highlights during their trip to Milan was located a short walk from this famous lighting street, L’Appartamento by Artemest.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary at this year’s Milan Design Week, Artemest presented its third edition of L’Appartamento by Artemest. The installation aims to celebrate the world of Italian craftsmanship and design through the lens of globally renowned design studios in an exclusive venue that opened its doors to the public for the first time.
Located at the Palazzo Donizetti, a stunning 19th-century traditional Italian manor house, which was transformed by six interior design studios, using a selection of extraordinary furniture, lighting, home décor and art from Artemest’s finest artisans, brands, and artists.
The designed spaces included The Foyer by Simone Haag, The Reading Room & Studio by Nebras Aljoaib, The Grand Salon by Meyer Davis, The Entertainment Room by 1508 London, The Dining Room by Romanek Design Studio, and The Bedroom by Champalimaud Design.
Delving deeper into the schemes of the team’s favourite spaces in the apartment – the dining area and bedroom – we discover the design concepts and execution.
Firstly, speaking of their design for the bedroom, the team from Champalimaud walk us through the design intentions of their space: “Inspired by the glamour of 1960s Italian film, we sought to create an evocative, sensuous, and playful space where friends meet before a night out and come back to end the evening in magic. In the opulent setting of the L’Appartamento palazzo, we made these spaces into their own kind of party. We envisioned a seductive gathering place to pour drinks before and after the crowds, and an intimate haven for quiet and enchanting moments, all in celebration of La Dolce Vita.
“The vanity room is designed to be fun and effortlessly chic. Anchored by a cylindrical chandelier made of hand-crafted ivory majolica, the space is illuminated above twin rugs with a colour palette blending warm earth tones, with deep terracotta fading into softer hues evoking sunset. The walls are adorned with over-the-top Venetian decorative mirrors and gold- and silver-leaf artworks, to be admired by guests luxuriating on cloudlike sofas accented with surreal painted wood side tables. The spirit is lightened by an ostrich sculpture whose belly opens to reveal a red lacquer bar filled with silver wine glasses and engraved crystal perfume bottles.
“The whimsical, cinematic appeal of the vanity room leads into the elegant and relaxed bedroom where we carry on the palette of reds, creams, and metallic tones. A modernist bed frame is contrasted against a scenic handmade wallcovering of citrus trees in shades of green and yellow. A flowing natural linen bed cover drops to the deep red rug beneath, and friends can lounge around on the sinuous sofa of wrinkled vibrant orange velvet, legs kicked up on a sculptural silver-coated stool. In the corner, a chair painted like Italian marble plays on its light wooden construction, contrasting the monumental with the minimalist. Adding a moment of slow sophistication to the spaces, we turned the bedroom terrace into an elegant study complete with a green lacquer desk and ethereal three-dimensional artworks which evoke a distinctly Italian allure.”
Secondly, Brigette Romanek of Romanek Design Studio discusses their concept for the dining area: “I am in love…in love with the grandeur of the room. The height of the ceiling, the original parquet flooring, and, of course, the light that pours in through the large windows create a breathtaking ambience. It all brings about a feeling of being welcomed into a special sanctuary, a place where time slows down, and life feels a bit more magical.
“In my own way, I wanted to meet this grandeur with a sense of uniqueness and calm, a space where one can finally exhale and truly relax. What I mean by that is to transform a room that initially feels overwhelming into one of serene beauty – a room designed to be enjoyed and lived in, not just admired from a distance.
“The pleasure of sharing a beautiful meal, surrounded by wonderful company in a stunning room, is nothing short of a feast for the senses. It’s an experience that lingers long after the last bite is taken. The eclecticism of the various pieces – different patterns, shapes, and colours – brings such joy! Everywhere your eye lands, there’s something to take in, something to ponder, and elements that expand the mind and ignite the imagination. The colours sing in harmony – creams, pinks, greens, yellows, and golds all dance together, creating an atmosphere that is joyous and inviting.
“The art from different periods and expressions adorns the walls, while mirrors strategically placed reflect the beauty back, adding depth and intrigue to the space. The goal was simple yet profound: to create an environment that expresses happiness, beauty, and joy, where laughter and good times can flourish. This room isn’t just a place; it’s a celebration of life, a canvas for memories waiting to be painted.”
