Throughout my tenure as Creative Director for luxury retail mecca Stanley Korshak, there were only a couple times a year I wish I had unlimited disposable income. The bi-annual Brunello Cucinelli Trunk Show was definitely one of them.
The clothing is perfection: Timeless and supremely chic. So it wasn’t surprising to see that same Italian style transcend to the brand’s lifestyle line. Brunello’s daughter, Carolina, recently teamed up with mega-cool Berlin-based food stylist/photographer duo Nora Eisermann and Laura Muthesius to showcase the line’s spring/summer 2021 home collection.
With a million followers on Instagram, the Our Food Stories aesthetic typifies Cucinelli’s luxe, laid-back vibe. “Next to our love for food we have a huge passion for good design and interior,” according to Nora and Laura’s website bio.
The light in the pair’s photographs comes across as particularly moving.
Carolina also appreciated the tendency not to overly-stylize the tablescapes. Different sets were created to showcase Cucinelli’s four lifestyle segments: Dining, Comfort & Relaxation, Home & Studio, and Travel & Leisure.
The first category, Dining, features a swoon-worthy spring table topped with exquisite dishware, refined linens, mouth-blown glass tumblers, and fabulous fresh florals. The goal was to convey the greenery of the Umbrian hills, Carolina told Architectural Digest.
According to the Our Food Stories blog, the handmade ceramics were a favorite. Each piece is made in Umbria, using old traditional working techniques. Uniquely-toned glazes, color accents, and artistic irregularities guarantee no two are exactly alike.
To complete the feast for all senses: Classic paccheri with fresh tomato and basil.
“I prefer to really cook something that is prepared properly—maybe something my mother produces in her vegetable garden, that is filling for your stomach and your eyes,” Carolina says.
Staying with the multi-sensory theme, beautiful scented candles and diffusers are inspired by different hours of the day. The Comfort & Relax assortment also includes cozy bathrobes and towels made of plush terry and sparkling linen.
All-natural materials carry over to the Home & Studio collection—think silk, linen, cotton, and cashmere cushions and throws. Interesting and artisanal accessories round out the assortment, from classic board games to pen cases and globes.
Leisure & Travel takes its inspiration from the brand’s effortlessly elegant ready-to-wear.
Case in point: Coated linen and canvas unisex shoppers and bags. A special waxed coating turns the water-repellent surface into a functional and fashionable detail.
“What I like to have in my home are pieces that inspire me,” says Carolina. When it comes to her personal sense of décor, it’s clear she cares about the unique meaning behind a piece as opposed to how expensive it may or not be. “Every time you buy a piece of our collection, you buy a piece of our little hamlet.”
