Intimacy and elegance are the order of the day at Capri’s newest bolthole. Il Capri Hotel, housed in a neo-Gothic Venetian-style palazzo, stays faithful to the traditional codes of the property, first converted into a hotel in 1899.
Graziella Buontempo and Arnaud Lacombe of Parisian Savoir Vivre Group respected the original building in contemporary detailing: ‘[And] in many different ways, both big and small,’ they say. ‘We opted for a colour palette that stayed true to the original, deciding to repaint the withered façade in pink, a more pastel-toned one; restoring our stunning and absolutely grand staircase and its marbled stairs (even though everybody wanted us to re-do it to put in an elevator); but also smaller details like our beds' headboards which recall our Gothic arch windows and keeping the furniture and design soft and not overflowing, but not minimalistic either, so that you can fully take in the history of the place and the views it has to offer. Also, historically, the basement of the hotel was home to the first nightclub ever on the island: when we found out, it felt pretty obvious we should also bring it back to life.’
The nightclub in the basement joins other amenities including a large roof terrace and swimming pool and outdoor terrace overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. ‘It’s timeless Capri meets Italian vacation home,’ the duo add. ‘Most of the design inspiration and aesthetic came from childhood places, like family homes and memories, as we wanted to let people have the instant sensation of being at home, in a beautiful palazzo in which you can make endless memories and you are in a world where time does not exist.
‘Most of the time, when people think of the Mediterranean, they see blue. But Capri is so much more than infinite shades of blue. Since forever Capri has always been pink to me: the flowers, the take-your-breath-away dazzling hues of sunrise and sunset. Capri is pink in nature: she nurtures your soul, but is also never afraid to be sensual.’
-
All-In is the Paris-based label making full-force fashion for main character dressingPart of our monthly Uprising series, Wallpaper* meets Benjamin Barron and Bror August Vestbø of All-In, the LVMH Prize-nominated label which bases its collections on a riotous cast of characters – real and imagined
-
Maserati joins forces with Giorgetti for a turbo-charged relationshipAnnouncing their marriage during Milan Design Week, the brands unveiled a collection, a car and a long term commitment
-
Through an innovative new training program, Poltrona Frau aims to safeguard Italian craftThe heritage furniture manufacturer is training a new generation of leather artisans
-
Sun-soaked European destinations to visit in springDreaming of Florentine palazzos and Greek islands now that the weather is starting to turn? Check into one of these beautiful European hotels and holiday homes
-
Everything you need to know about Italy's Lake Maggiore, according to FormafantasmaFrom baroque gardens to panoramic views, Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin show us around this Italian escape
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Romeo Roma: a new hotel that’s one of Zaha Hadid’s last projectsLocated within Rome’s Tridente, Romeo Roma is a palimpsest of periods in which the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid left her avant-garde mark
-
Five influential women hoteliers reflect on the changing face of hospitalityAs women continue to gain ground in the hotel sector, despite still being underrepresented in senior positions, five female moguls share their experiences of the past and projections for the future
-
Must-visit cinemas with award-worthy designThere’s more magic to the movies at these design-led cinemas, from Busan Cinema Centre’s ‘flying’ roof to The Gem Cinema Jaipur’s art deco allure
-
The best Milan bars for a fashionable aperitivoMilan’s after-dark renaissance is evident in a new wave of design-led cocktail bars, setting the right mood for enticing aperitivos and nightcaps; Milan editor Laura May Todd recommends the best
-
How Four Seasons Hotels became The White Lotus’ unofficial starAs The White Lotus season three whisks us to Thailand, Marc Speichert, chief commercial officer of Four Seasons Hotels, discusses the luxury group’s perfect synergy with the hit HBO series – and where you can live the experience
-
Night at the museum: the best art hotels to book nowSleep amid surrealists at London’s Broadwick Soho, or wake up to contemporary favourites at New Hotel in Athens – indulge in an immersive art hotel experience
