The apartment is situated in a quiet artisan area of Florence, near the Piazza Santo Spirito. The views from the back terrace overlook a monastery garden and the peace and quiet mixed with birdsong is much appreciated after the bustle of the streets below.
Alexander Hamilton started this project with the entrance hall, which he panelled in a light stucco colour with a watery green band running the interior framing.
Above the doors , landscapes were painted in grisaille. The first landscape is a Roman river view with a hay cart in the foreground. The second a Venetian sailing boat stacked with wine barrels.
The pictures and the panels were a good way of heightening a rather long, narrow corridor. The ceiling was optically widened with painted coffers illuminated by glow lights tucked behind the stucco cornice.
A continuous landscape frieze was painted around the top of the walls. The idea being a spring that flows both ways, ending in the sea.
The style for this was inspired by 1920’s children’s illustrations which seemed to suit this rather quirky shaped room.
Here we had three flat panels of wood covering a large wall shelve.
The exotic landscape theme was inspired by the parrot lamp above the dining room table.
Palm trees and tropical foliage open to reveal scenes from Kipling’s jungle book tales, elephants and children play in the river below.
The scenes are similar to the exotic “papier peint” of the 19th century but without the colonial pomp.
The cupboard to the right of the panels is also painted with exotic / Indian patterns to tie in with the mural. French and Italian empire furniture add to the Indian tour atmosphere.
