Velvet & Linen

Palazzo Fortuny

Our final evening at the Design Leadership Summit was truly an experience of a lifetime. What could be more inspirational than a presentation by Axel Vervoordt at the Palazzo Fortuny? 

The Palazzo, where Mariano Fortuny lived, is now the Fortuny Museum filled with Mariano Fortuny's original artwork, fabrics, and inventions. 

 

All of Fortuny's paintings are sensual. The subjects and the colors he used capture the essence of Venice.
  

 

 
  

It is easy to imagine Mariano Fortuny creating this unfinished work at this easel. 
 

A bust of Mariano Fortuny. 

 

The pigments Fortuny used in his paintings and fabrics reflect the colors seen in the city of Venice. The muted red of the bricks, the aqua color of the water, the ochre of the plaster walls...

 
 

 

A Fortuny dress would be perfect for traveling. You could twist it into a small ball, and it would unfold into an elegant dress. 

 

 
 The walls covered in panels of Fortuny designed fabrics are a dramatic back drop for his artwork.

 

Of course, Steve loved this Fortuny designed industrial light!
  
  The highlight of the evening was a talk given by art dealer and collector, Axel Vervoordt! It was like listening to poetry...

"Time is an Artist."

 

"An Accident can be a Present."
 

"Leave Space for Nature."

 
   

"Artists feel things 50 years ahead."
 

Axel Vervoordt has created several art exhibits at the Fortuny Museum. The idea of showing artwork in a space that isn't stark and white seems so obvious now that Axel Vervoordt has done it! He truly is an innovator. 
   

He bought this little street in Antwerp before anyone appreciated its beauty. 
 
 Thank you to the Riad Family for hosting such a wonderful event and to Axel Vervoordt for sharing his passion with us. 

The next day, Steve and I walked through Venice taking in all of the beauty before heading home. 

 

 

For those of you who asked, Steve and I were fortunate to get on a flight out of Paris before they shut down the airport due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland!         

Thank you again to Meg Touborg and Peter Sallick of Design Investors and Keith Granet of Granet and Associates for hosting one of the most memorable experiences of our life! A special thank you to Dana-Christine Colla for all of her hard work in organizing this event. I can't even imagine how complicated it was, but she made it look so easy!

xo

Brooke

design leadership summit venice - highlights and fortuny...

First off, I want to explain a mistake in a post I did a couple of days ago, which I have since deleted. Apparently, it is unwise to do a post at 1:00 in the morning, especially after a 14 hour flight! As several of you noted, I called Peggy Guggenheim, "Patty"! Bloggers are only human, and as much as I try to edit my posts, sometimes I am a bit blurry eyed!  Ok, let's move on.....

Yesterday our schedule started with several incredible speakers, two of which I would like to share with you. 

We were fortunate to have Amy Martin of Digital Royalty talk to us about using social media such as facebook, twitter, blogs, etc... to grow your business. I think most of us haven't quite realized how important it is to take advantage of these new venues.

Amy has used social media campaigns to successfully grow Shaquille O'neil's digital brand. Her other clients include the Chicgo White Sox and the Cleveland Indians. I just started following her on twitter. I definitely have some things to learn about tweeting! Thank you Amy.

During the morning, we were also inspired by short presentations given by several of the talented designers in attendance at the summit. One of my favorite talks was given by Interior Designer Suzanne Tucker. Suzanne spoke about her sources of inspiration. She explained how spending time in the gorgeous gardens of the homes in Santa Barbara where she grew up has influenced her work. She also showed us samples of her exquisite new table top line and the mosaics that inspired their design. I was thrilled that Suzanne's discussion also included stories about her beautiful fabric line as well. Stunning!

 I was also fortunate enough to talk privately with Suzanne about her new fabric line that she just started designing. She is definitely one busy talented woman!  To check out her work click here. To view her new book click here. 

After an amazing day, we were off to the Fortuny Factory for cocktails.

 

Interior Designer Suzanne Kasler, Architect Thomas Kligerman, one our Design Leadership Summit hosts Keith Granet of Granet and Associates, and I taking in all of the beauty of the Fortuny showroom. We were honored to have Barry Dixon give us a tour of the showroom that he designed. The fabric on the walls, the Murano chandelier! Loved it all.

 

A close up of the wall upholstery and a Fortuny  floor lantern.

 Suzanne and I loved the new Fortuny color ways. They're so fresh!

   

 

Every detail throughout the showroom is exquisite!

 

The space actually feels like a gorgeous paneled library.

 

Barry Dixon explained that he didn't want to ruin the beautiful fabrics when he hung them, so he used Fortuny designed leather straps that gently clip onto the fabric.

 
 
   

Behind the factory we discovered the stunning gardens...

 

The raised pool allows the pool to feel more like a significant garden feature. It also adds seating and makes sure people don't fall in! 

 

The whimsical round pool stairs are a wonderful detail.

 

These are the best looking changing rooms I've ever seen! 

 

Several Fortuny lanterns hung from the trees.

 

This beautiful factory is next door to the Fortuny factory.
 

We were serenaded by the gently music of this string ensemble. 
 

After the group photo, it was time to leave...
 

I got to sit next to the talented gorgeous Darryl Carter on the boat ride to the Fortuny Museum. 

   

I'm still working on the post about the dinner. You are going to love it!

Ciao!

xo

Brooke        

design leadership summit - venice

Thank you to Peter Sallick and Meg Touborg of  Design Investors and Keith Granet of Granet and Associates for inviting me and Steve to participate in this year's Design Leadership Summit in Venice. We're having a fantastic time!

Peter Sallick and I got a chance to chat today while waiting to go on one of the wonderful tours.

 

One of the sponsors of the event is the Venetian fabric house Rubelli. They hosted our Sunday night dinner at their beautiful palazzo.

 

The palazzo houses the extensive Rubelli  archive of antique textiles that date as far back as the 15th century. 

The rooms are beautifully decorated in Rubelli fabrics, of course!
 
  

One of the gorgeous ceilings in the palazzo.
 

The view of the Grand Canal is breath taking!
  

It was lovely getting a chance to catch up with Ronda Carman from All the Best. She participated in a fascinating panel discussion this morning about "Innovations in Creative Communications". 
   

The best part of  The Design Leadership Summit is meeting some of my favorite designers, Like Martyn Lawrence Bullard!
  

 Yesterday Steve and I took a taxi ride on the Grand Canal. Just gorgeous!

 



We're off to the Fortuny Museum this evening. I'll share more images tomorrow!

xo

Brooke     

buon giorno from venice

After 14 hours of traveling, Steve and I arrived in Venice this afternoon. We were exhausted and decided to pay the extra euros to hire a water taxi to our hotel. 

I think the bags under my eyes are bigger than my actual luggage!

 

Steve and I were so excited as we saw Venice in the hazy distance.
  

A few images of our trip into Venice...

 
 

Our ride to our hotel took us through several of the Venice canals.
  
 
 

We passed the spectacular Doges Palace on our way.

 

Once we arrived at our hotel, Steve and I had our second lunch (or was it our third breakfast? We were both so jet lagged that it was hard to remember!) at the hotel restaurant. What a view!
 
   

We took a quick shower, and then we were off to find  Angela Rosa Grecco, the lighting store where we purchased our bedroom lamps 3 years ago. 
  

It was great to see Rosa again!
  

Rosa and her sister Rita make all of their shades by hand. 
  

They were nice enough to give us a tour of their small work room. 
  

They are happy to make custom shades. You can choose a simple cream silk or one of these beautiful Fortuny fabrics. 
  

Rita showed us one of the custom shades that she is making. I told her that I loved the ruffle on the top. She thought I was crazy and explained that the ruffle was not part of the design! I'm such a crazy American!

 

Steve and I planned to buy a bunch of lamps for the store, but unfortunately the currency exchange rate isn't very good right now. Even so, we couldn't resist buying a couple!
  

   

Since I don't speak any Italian and the sisters don't speak any English, we were fortunate to have local Venetians Mario and Lynn to help translate for us.
  

We were running late, so Steve and I said a quick good bye, and ran off to meet some of the other designers at a dinner planned by Kathryn Ireland. A friend of hers was gracious enough to open up her home to us. 
  

The Palazzo is on the Grand Canal, and the view is spectacular!
 



  

It's 1:00 am here in Italy, so I'm off to try to get some sleep before the Design Leadership Summit starts tomorrow. 

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Ciao!

xo

Brooke