Bubbles with Fanny Castro

The apartment is in Moneglia, Liguria, and our family have had it since 2011. After visiting Moneglia every summer since 1997, mum and her partner decided to get a place of their own for our family to use. One of their best decisions ever. 

If I wake up early my partner and I usually take a morning hike to the neighbouring village Lemeglio. There you have the best view over the Mediterranean and you can see the village Moneglia from above. An absolutely stunning walk! After that we walk back to the village and order a morning cappuccino. You know that you’re not drinking a cappu after breakfast in Italy, right? 

I want to create summer when I’m decorating with Byon’s products here in Italy. I want you to feel that it’s summer by the Mediterranean when drinking your morning coffee in the lemon cups on the balcony. Or when you see the reflections of the sun in the lamp Oceana. I have also chosen to add green nuances with the help of the Pathi pillows and the blanket Edien.

Here in Italy it’s the living room, because it must fit a dining table, a couch and bookshelves. I think we have managed pretty well though. I also have to remind myself that everything doesn’t have to be perfect all the time, and that it’s part of the interior decorating process.

Playfulness means to me that you dare to look inside yourself and listen to what you like and not to what other people would like to see in your home. Dare to mix colours, patterns and eras. I do it every day by using colours and different shapes, soft tones and lots of textiles.

The most playful person I know is my best friend Sofia. She’s an illustrator @sofiawall illustration and she makes the nicest illustrations I know. Her home mirrors her playfulness and there is no other person who can make me laugh as much as she does.

Italian 60/70s. I love dark or red marble and showy lamps which find their place in an otherwise fairly clean home. Love to have a few carefully selected statement pieces. 

A lovely stone floor, as we have everywhere in the apartment. It does so much for a room. I love to see the sun shine through the balcony and light up the fine pattern on the floors.

I really don’t understand people’s obsession about applying stuccos in their apartments that shouldn’t have any. I have seen it in so many places that people renovate a 50s apartment and put up stuccos. Sorry, but why?

The living room. Because it’s here you can gather the whole family and spend time together. Especially down in Italy. Someone sits on the balcony reading, another one works by the dining table and mum definitely sits on the couch and checks out one of her thousands of series.

I am not that attached to things for too long as I like to exchange or sell stuff I’m tired of. But all my hundreds of shoes I refuse to get rid of are special in various ways. For example, a pair of Gucci shoes I got when I turned 30 and celebrated in Paris. It was really great to pick out a pair together with my sister and best friends. The most important gift I have received is my Gubi lamp 9602, I got it from my partner when I turned 35. I had wanted it for so long and was extremely surprised when I got it. I will always have it in every home we live in. 

I think Riccardo Barsottelli, who owns the hotel Locanda all Colle in Toscana, has a magical decorating style. We were there for the second time last Easter and I get inspired every time I’m there. It’s a mix of the 50s to the 70s blended with modern elements. One thing I love is that he uses red marble in the kitchen, which is really magical. So, I’m obsessed now by the thought of having red marble in my kitchen.

Take it easy, let it take time to decorate. Get to know your new place and don’t be afraid to change things you thought would be perfect but actually don’t fit in. And clear out things before you move in, get rid of everything you don’t use. That’s something I regret we didn’t do before moving into our current home.

I love the Opacity drinking glasses, plate Grape which is magical and beautiful to use for aperitivos. And last but not least the Oceana lamp which fits in extremely well with the Mediterranean.

Gosh, I have lots of tips! But three places you cannot miss are Moneglia, Ciampini in Rome and to take the boat to San Fruttuoso in Liguria