When his life partner, Luisa Vanzo, and their two children are away, Luca Vitali will often put on some music, wander the halls of their home in Milan and look at the many treasured pieces he has collected over the years. Unlike some antiques dealers, he has trouble letting certain pieces go. “It’s like being with all my friends,” he admits, noting they remind him of his past and prompt him to contemplate the future. “I’m a dreamer.”
Enchanted by its location in a particularly verdant part of the city – and its private garden – Vitali and Vanzo purchased the two-unit building in the late 2000s. Once housing a dance studio, it had large, distinct rooms that flowed into one another, an ideal setting for a mix of furnishings and artwork from different eras. Indeed, Vanzo describes Vitali as “an eclectic maximalist.” “Mixing things gives the space soul,” he adds. “All these things have their own beauty, their own strengths.”
In the living room, bold red walls create a powerful backdrop for antique oil paintings and a curvaceous blue Art Deco sofa and chair set designed by William Ulrich. On the other side of the room, a vintage chandelier illuminates a ’40s-era French dining table surrounded by a mix of chairs dating from the 16th century to the ’50s.
The lively medley of pieces flows into the adjacent studio, which can be closed off from the living area by sliding glass doors with prominent brass handles designed by Vitali. While the walls are neutral, a vibrant area rug, colorful throw pillows and a ’50s wingback armchair covered in emerald fabric energize the space. “Strong colors give me a nice feeling,” he explains. “It’s very cozy and nice to stay in.”
Indeed, dark blue walls enliven the entry foyer. And the spacious kitchen’s lime green walls foster a cheerful backdrop for Moroccan ceramics and a mix of artwork that includes a still-life painting from Belgium.
Deferring to Vanzo’s more minimalist, modern aesthetic, Vitali let her take the lead on the lower level, which they recently transformed into a family room and bedrooms for the children. Made with light birch and accented by a bold red metal railing, the stairway leading downstairs includes storage and a bed niche.
Inspired by Malevič, the wardrobe wall in between the children’s bedrooms includes white, red and blue panels defined by an iron reveal. Wooden portals allow the children to interact while maintaining a sense of privacy, adding a touch of whimsy that the entire family appreciates. “Luisa is a little more practical and drawn to more modern works,” Vitali explains. “This place is a mix of both of us.”
While Vitali can’t imagine living without his treasured possessions, he sometimes feels overwhelmed by the sheer number of pieces, and he’s contemplating the idea of moving some of them to a new home he’s considering buying on a canal in Venice. Until then, he loves the atmosphere he and Vanzo have created here. “God is in the details,” he notes. “Every time people come here, there’s more to see.”
Photography by Helenio Barbetta.
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