topic Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER in Home

COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

Oznell — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 02:37:49 GMT

Have long followed Alessandra Branca, a terrific designer, originally from Rome, now Chicago.

One of her trademarks is her enjoyment of color, and one of her favorite colors is red, especially as a punchy accent.

Her book is an interior design classic. It's been a while since we've seen much of deep red walls, but it all rolls around again....

In her portfolio, she doesn't usually tell you where the houses are from, but groups them according to whether they are in a city, or by a beach, etc. So that's how I'll show them.

City houses:

Love the mix here of more casual, banquette-like seating, with venerable antiques like the two spoon back chairs. The art and the pillows bring life, and yes, I'm a minority who loves the bold branches-- more life, and evidence of the outdoors. And they're not blockiing anyone's sight lines in the conversation area.

Chicago kitchen. Interesting modern steel-and-wood island. The contemporary Italian light fixture, not my favorite. But it's a nice, bright city kitchen with good light, gorgeous finishes, nice crown molding, beautiful chevron floors--

Very dynamic combo of contemporary magenta couch, marble table, and antique, heavy gilt mirror. Cheerful, sophisticated eating spot. Thinking this is in the same house as the kitchen above, due to the same rich chevron flooring--

A polished urban living room, the colors veering toward magenta, with accents of Delft blue--

This living room below has reds that lean a brilliant flame color, toward orange, bright against the yellows and golds.

This palette is so outside my comfort zone! Not for me, but I can admire her skill. The room glows.

Now here below are a few of her rooms for "Beach Houses":

Neutrals, creams, wicker and wood come together in a stunning but calming room.

Harmonious blues, in a bedroom. The sisal rug grounds the almost double height room and gives a sandy warmth.

Khaki bedroom spiked with red/orange:

Casual sand and turquoise living room--

This kitchen has a breezy, island feeling, and some 'glam' with its studded white leather counter stools!

Finally, she has a section of outdoor spaces she's designed, that she calls "Gardens":

And this stunning outdoor space below, has to be in Rome! Is that St. Peter's Basilica in the distance? The whole thing is so timeless, and dreamy...

Even when her colors are very different from mine, love Alessandra's exuberance and charming European sensibility.

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

LTT1 — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:08:39 GMT

@Oznell

She is certainly masterful at design. She must feel very competent at her art.

The outdoor designs really impress me.

The beach rooms! Ah how masterful she is with high ceilings and huge, sunny windows!

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

Oznell — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 13:55:23 GMT

Hey, @LTT1 , those are my sentiments too about her! Her confidence and bold strokes in working in a variety of applications is part of the appeal.

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

Bonkers1 — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 15:04:42 GMT

I could be wrong but most designers seem to lead to the cluttered look.

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

wagirl — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 15:10:51 GMT

I do like her use of color--but let me tell you--that stainless steel island in the kitchen-----is amazing!!! Gimmee!!!!

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

Imaoldhippie — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:26:39 GMT

I like all the color, good for her!

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

shoptilyadropagain — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 20:31:10 GMT

She's very hit or miss for me. I don't mind her use of color, in fact, I really like it but it's just the prints she uses and the furniture styles that don't work for me. My favorite room is the khaki bedroom which is probably one of the least colorful rooms posted but I like it because it has clean lines more so than a lot of the other rooms. I also really like the wood and steel kitchen as it leans very modern for me but when it comes down to it I would never want the steel Island as it seems very impractical and would show every smudge of a fingerprint.

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

SactoSue — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 21:34:58 GMT

I like most everything that has blue in it, but not the rooms with red, like that bedroom.

I don't care for that metal island. I'd never be able to keep it clean or smooth. I prefer a surfacee with more interest. The kitchen layout is OK, but it doesn't do much for me.

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

AuntG — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 21:38:29 GMT

She is very talented.

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

kindred cats — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 21:46:59 GMT

The kitchen and the neutral living room are my favorites. I'm not real big on lots of color.

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

GingerHead — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 03:02:15 GMT

She is very talented.

She's bolder and more colorful than I but I still somehow really like most of what I see and could live in a lot of these spaces with a little tweaking.

I love tall branches in vases too.

That kitchen with the great wood cabinets is gorgeous. Just change out that "interesting" haha, light fixture and I'd love to have it.

That "glowing" room is very pretty. I love the wall color and mural and the archway. I'd have to change out all the red and it could be so pretty...I'm just not a red person.

The first beachy room is really nice.

Also, her outdoor spaces are amazing!

Thanks for the lovelies @Oznell

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

QVCisFun — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 06:16:49 GMT

@Oznell wrote:
Have long followed Alessandra Branca, a terrific designer, originally from Rome, now Chicago.

Love that shallow-bowl pendant light fixture with the marbled/swirled alabaster/frosted glass look with the tan and cream colors, it is beautiful.

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

QVCisFun — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:13:17 GMT

@Oznell wrote:
The contemporary Italian light fixture, not my favorite.

Are we sure that is a light fixture and not the landing gear of an alien space ship?

Love how the green glass vase at the window looks with the light coming through. Really stands out and makes a huge positive difference in that kitchen.

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

Oznell — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:07:29 GMT

@QVCisFun , ha, ha, agreed on the light. You're right, the green vase is great.

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

LTT1 — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:02:26 GMT

@Oznell

Thank you

i enjoy these designer posts so much!

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

DREAMON — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:25:28 GMT

I am not a fan of bright colors or a lot of prints in a home so it is not for me.

I do like the more neutral rooms and the Garden Spaces are gorgeous.

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

Nonametoday — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 17:15:39 GMT

Love, love, love every bit of it except the outside and I just don't like that landscape look. I like the more French garden or British gardens.

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

Sooner — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 17:49:12 GMT

I'm not sure why but none of these rooms are really ones I love. I don't like most of the furniture choices, I am not fond of the colors, curtains and arrangements either.

For big rooms, they still seem cluttered and without breathing space (best way I can think of to describe it) to me.

You never know what works for one and how it works for someone else! Which is a good thing!

Re: COLORFUL INTERIOR DESIGNER

spiderw — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 22:49:54 GMT

There is much appeal in her decorating and design. I also love red and that I found appealing. For the most part I liked the way the rooms were decorated but some of it didn't lure me in. I thought the outside beautiful and restful.