Discover home décor, luxury Rome and Capri trips and exciting new album releases as well as a fascinating dive into Sicily’s past in our round-up this August…
Alessi is More
This summer sees the launch of new ranges from the always innovative Alessi Design. If you’re looking to update your bathroom, a simple change of accessories can give an instant new look and we think this sleek stainless steel Mediterraneo container by Emma Silvestris is an elegant style statement. Made from super-shiny mirror-polished stainless steel, it won’t tarnish in damp bathroom conditions either.
Priced at around £75, you might just want to ‘splash’ out for this investment piece.
For more designer inspiration, www.alessi.com
Liquid gold
The health-giving properties of extra-virgin olive oil are well known, so make sure you always have it to hand with one of these decorative hand-painted oil cruets from Virginia Casa. It’s a family-owned workshop at Montespertoli in the heart of Tuscany creating beautiful ceramics using traditional methods.
Osteria Classic Olive Oil Cruet in Grass and Virginia Casa Osteria Pyramid Olive Oil Cruet in Honey both cost £22.00.
Other colours are available too. www.kensingtondesign.com
Cool for cats
Zucchero (Adelmo Fornaciari) is the biggest-selling Italian artist of all time, (60m record sales), and among the great interpreters of Italian blues. This summer, he returns with a new rock-blues album, Black Cat and a cast of international collaborators like Bono, Mark Knopfler and Elvis Costello. His album Oro, Incenso e Birra sold more than 8,000,000 copies and was, for a long time, the biggest-selling Italian pop music album worldwide.
Catch him in concert at the Royal Albert Hall on 20th and 21st October or on YouTube www.bit.ly/28WoZgG
The Feelgood Factor
To give your home an instant facelift with some serious Italian chic, take a look at this stunning collection of ceramic vases. Inspired by classic paint pot designs, complete with handles, each bright and breezy colour represents a different uplifting emotion, in rather groovy typography too. Choose from Love (red), Hope (green), Happiness (yellow) and Joy (blue). Arrange a few as a focal point on a favourite table, or hang them from the walls like living sculptures.
Prices vary, more details from www.creativando.nu
Rome with a view… & more
If you have a special occasion to celebrate this summer, why not explore Rome and Capri in style with Michelin-star dining and spa treatments along the way? Book a four-night trip and stay at Palazzo Manfredi in Rome and Punta Tragara on Capri. Manfredi Hotels’ new City & Coast break costs from €3,000 per couple.