an inspired eye
As a designer, I’ve always been intrigued with the nature of inspiration – where it comes from and how we all react in different ways to our physical environments and aesthetic experiences. All my life, I have responded to the visual pleasure surrounding me with the smallest observations bringing renewed energy to my work, helping keep my design eye fresh and alive.
Visual pleasure is as natural to me as breathing - whether that is the wild roses I noticed as I walked on Hampstead Heath this morning, or an extraordinary room or perhaps an interesting detail within it. The smallest observation brings joy and renewed energy. I write this as I look back at the visits that have invigorated me these last few months.
The Villa Necchi Campiglio
I was at the Salone del Mobile in Milan in April. The Salone is one the most important furniture trade shows in the world and it oudoes itself every year with designers, concepts, ideas and more.. This is when I had the chance to visit the early 1930s era Villa Necchi Campiglio, a gem of a building housed in a large private garden with a swimming pool and tennis court, located in the very heart of Milan.
Photo credit: SFM Milan (Italy)
Arriving at Villa Necchi Campiglio is like being transported to another world. As you step inside, you are greeted by an implausibly grand lobby featuring a floor of walnut inlaid with rosewood, a marble staircase framed by a striking gold-detailed balustrade, and the promise of more wonders still to be discovered as you explore.
Photo credit: B. Verduci
Architect Piero Portaluppi designed the house and garden for sisters Nedda and Gigina Necchi, heirs to a successful cast-iron-manufacturing business in Pavia, and Gigina’s husband, Angelo Campiglio. Sparing no expense, the design combined elements of Italian rationalism and art deco to create a building that served as both a family home and a venue for high-society parties.
With its marble-trimmed façade and its jewel-like glass veranda, it was unlike anything I had seen before, so different than many of Milan’s historic palazzos.
Portaluppi’s reputation dipped a little after his death but was revived when the Necchi Campiglio featured extensively in Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci in 2021 with some of his furniture designs being re-released.
Topkapi Palace
I am inspired by architecture of all eras. In Istanbul recently on a family break, I renewed my acquaintance with one of the many Ottoman palaces located throughout the city, the beautiful Topkapi Palace on the banks of the Bosphorus. Known for its finishes, its courtyards and its intricate tiles, it was built in the 1460’s, becoming the royal residence and administrative centre of the Ottoman sultans until 1856. Thereafter it became a museum and a UNESCO world heritage site.
It is their Iznik ceramics that caught my eye, a practice that shone brightly for a century but sadly, on the decline of the Ottoman empire, lost its allure and all but vanished from public view.
Hampton Court Palace
Nearer home, a constant design inspiration has been the Tudor Hampton Court Palace on the banks of the Thames. Originally built for Cardinal Wolsey in the early 16th century, the building was “acquired” by Henry VIII as his own and he lived there with all six of his wives. When William III came to the throne, Sir Christopher Wren lent it his inimitable baroque style. Its magnificent William Kent staircase commissioned by Queen Caroline, the ornate Chapel Royal commissioned by Queen Anne and the 17th century Great Hall with its extensive tapestries where William Shakespeare once performed mix history with exquisite craftsmanship and skill.
Still mulling over the origin of inspiration, I’ve recently been reading Art Historian Thomas Schlesser’s novel “Les Yeux de Mona” about a young girl who is losing her sight and is shown the beauty of art and life in Paris’s key museums of the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and the Centre Pompidou by her grandfather. Every week he takes her to the museum to look at one single painting with a mission to train her eye and her appreciation of beauty before darkness falls upon her. Her world is transformed by the paintings she sees and how art can help us interpret the world around us showing the power of creativity and the trained eye.
About Studio Sidika
Studio Sidika is a full-service interior architecture and design studio led by Sidika Owen d’Hauteville and established in 2015. Sidika has a mixed background being half Turkish and half British, was born in Brazil and brought up in Provence. This diverse heritage has served her well, opening her eyes up to different cultures, architecture, textiles and furnishings from an early age and giving her unique insights into contemporary design. Originally working as an investment banker in the luxury goods sector, her corporate background underpins a rigorous approach when it comes to budgeting, financial planning and project co-ordination. Passionate about sourcing contemporary art and antiques from various artists, galleries and countries, she is driven by an appreciation for the beauty in everyday life. Her studio designs timeless and inspiring spaces that make living easy.
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Our clients are discerning homeowners and residential developers who value the blend of beauty, function and comfort.
To discuss your project with us, however small, book a consultation at www.studiosidika.com or email us hello@studiosidika.com