07.01.2020

Tips & trends

Vintage shines at midnight

On cold winter evenings, the house lights up with shimmering and warming details. From the sumptuous atmospheres inspired by the roaring '20s of The Great Gatsby, to the sophisticated design of the '70s, glamor is the watchword. Green light for gold, silver, brass and colored glass!

After welcoming the new year with toasts and glittering parties, the festive atmosphere does not leave the house: from a romantic chalet immersed in the snow to an intimate country cottage, the domestic scenery is enriched with surprising sparkling details and new decorative elements to add to our favorite objects. Without exaggeration, just rely on a few essential pieces, as long as they are full of taste and personality.

The key to the atmosphere? Lighting: the true romantics will rely on the natural and enveloping effect of candles, essential to create new light spots that diffuse a feeling of warmth. As far as the artificial lighting is concerned, retro lamps are in the lead, especially if they are made of brass, a bright and increasingly fashionable material in contemporary design. Brass has been widely used by the masters of the made in Italy vintage design: from OscarTorlasco and Sergio Mazza, who have conceived elegant industrial-style brass lamps, to the spherical lamps and wall lamps designed by Stilnovo and Lamperti, which evoke the Hollywood glamor of the '20s and '30s. Those who aim for a solid luxury effect will opt for a cascading Murano glass chandelier from the '50s and '60s, whereas the most creative will place colored glass lights at the center of attention.

In the field of furniture, brass and metals are accompanied by other shining materials, such as lacquered wood, typical of Willy Rizzo's and Gabriella Crespi's furnishings and objects. Their pieces are the cornerstones of the '70s sophisticated glamour, and were inspired by the Art Déco geometries of the '30s. Extremely suitable for a festive look, the déco repertoire provides numerous luminous suggestions: originally shaped mirrors (suitable for drawing unexpected light spots), reflective briarwood furniture, liqueurs showcases and colored crystal vases which decorate our winter table. In fact, on the wave of New Year's Eve, a touch of preciousness must be given to the mise en place: colored glasses with golden borders, silver tea sets, jugs and sweet boxes are back in fashion. Among the most photographed vintage objects by food bloggers is the colored glass sweets stand.

Those who aim to recreate a less obvious winter climate can let themselves be carried away by the inspirations of the Space Age, with its enveloping shell-shaped furnishings (almost reminding of a futuristic chalet in a James Bond film), combined with shiny metal lamps that look like asteroids. And if you are going to dinners and parties during Christmas holidays time, choose a witty and bright gift for your hosts! Why not go for a Fornasetti tray or container, decorated with golden motifs on a black background?