Archetypes Ippolita Rostagno (left. photo courtesy of Artemest) and Caroline Lizarraga (right. photo by Christopher Stark), share their fave trays for summer.
Once relegated to the dusty back corners of a cabinet, today’s trays are having a moment. With an emphasis on bold new shapes, colors and textures, new styles run the gamut from folk art-inspired to classical themes. Whether used to corral barware, house keys or personal essentials, they provide an artistic backdrop for life’s necessities. Keeping things organized is another reason to love this freshly curated collection chosen by Founder and Creative Director of Artemest and jewelry designer Ippolita Rostagno and decorative artist Caroline Lizarraga.
Ippolita Rostagno:
KIMANO ECLITTICA SAHARA NOIR ROUND TRAY
“The pure elegance of the marble used to craft this piece is what struck me the most. Inspired by stars and nocturnal skies, I find this tray a timeless, multipurpose object: it can be used to serve drinks or as a decorative element in a bedroom.”
CERASARDA LE FENICI OVAL BLUE AND RED TRAY
“Cerasarda perfectly represents the colorful spirit of the Sardinian Emerald Coast with its creations. I picked this Le Fenici phoenix tray, fully hand-engraved and hand-painted, for its vibrant decorations, which are ideal for a beach house.”
GIOBAGNARA SAN MARCO ROUND MEDIUM TRAY #2
“I love how Giobagnara was inspired by the suggestive decorations on the floors of the historical palaces in Venice for the creation of this collection of trays. It’s an interesting way to celebrate one of the most beloved cities of the world.”
SLOW DESIGN 44 CERCHI-AMO MARBLE BEDROOM SET
“I believe that the beauty of natural stone is expressed in this tray by Slow Design 44, a young brand that works with Italian artisans to create contemporary and sustainable home decor pieces. The tray can be divided into two different pieces or used as a single element, depending on your needs.”
Caroline Lizarraga:
GIOBAGNARA SQUARE BELLINI LEATHER TRAYS
“Found By Maja is my favorite store in San Francisco, owned by a dear friend and client we work with, Maja Lithander Smith. She sources mainly from France and Italy. I love the elegance and lines of these leather pieces. You can imagine having your favorite aperitivo served on these, hopefully somewhere in Italy.”
L’OBJET CROCODILE RECTANGULAR TRAY
“Simple, sleek and sexy. It literally works with everything. I use this tray to hold different treasures around my house. Of course, since one of our specialty finishes is crocodile plaster walls, this tray sings to my heart.”
FORNASETTI TRAY SERPENTE
“A Serpent and Fornasetti! Yes, please. I use Fornasetti pieces in the kitchen as a focal art wall. Fornasetti is the only designer I would adorn my walls with as a decorative artist! Effortlessly whimsical, quintessentially Italian, and endlessly chic. The perfect combination of art and function.”
ASTIER DE VILLATTE AND JOHN DERIAN
Sue Fisher King is another stunning, unique store in San Francisco, where there are so many treasures. The collaboration between Astier de Villatte and John Derian has produced one of the most exquisite collections. This piece reminds me of Florentine marble.”
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