Hello, there! I'm thrilled to introduce a brilliant interior designer to you today! Michael Del Piero scours the globe in search of the cool and usual for her clients and her eponymous shop in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood. Del Piero is known for her accomplished eye and the uncommon knack for a serene and simple mix that bridges generations of style. Her distinct aesthetic fuses rough with luxurious and ancient with modern. We recently sat down with Michael and asked her to share how she incorporates items from her travels into her interiors.
When it comes to our homes- why be ordinary? When traveling pick up the cool and unusual. Don't be afraid to purchase textiles for rugs and pillows or have a statement piece of furniture shipped. Here are a few things that warrant space in your suitcase.
1- Rugs and Textiles: I love finding handmade rugs and textiles for the home while traveling. I've acquired rugs for my shop in Morocco and textiles in other parts of Africa and India. In my home, I have textile pillows from Africa on my sofa. Textiles are easy to drape over a table or sofa and creating pillows for a splash of texture is a must.
2- Pottery Collections: I scan flea markets looking for shape, size and color. Whatever catches my eye deserves a deeper look.
The ability for a piece to mix well with others is key in my object purchases. At home, pottery is great in a group on top of a fireplace mantle, peppered on bookshelves or on top of an armoire.
3- Statement Piece- Artwork or Furniture: I found cool doors in Spain and shipped them home. I then created a custom armoire with the doors for my client's living room. Think about what you find and try giving it new purpose.
4- Baskets: We have a collection of baskets on 1st dibs They are from the Yemen Saudi border. Baskets can be used as wall sculpture or functionally to house fireplace wood or magazines.
5- Books: Surround yourself with books. Never buy expensive books for looks only. If the value of the book is important this trick doesn't fit the bill. I look for books by color. Worn brown gold tones are my favorite.
I love white and offwhite books as well. Unfortunately, the best in these shades are fakes or the real deal. Meaning hide wrapped books from Germany, Sweden and France are gorgeous and very old and valuable due to the limited availability.
I just purchased a collection of 18 in Munich and the bill -a shocking $5k was worth it for me and my clientele as they are beyond gorgeous and very special.
6- Accessories: For me accessories are all about the story. Where did they come from, what was their previous life? Visually I like large scale items that make a big impact and certainly I like to display items in groupings, grouping like things together.
