There's a certain something in Italian design del giorno that has firmly caught our attention. Exemplified by the work of Milan-based designer Vincenzo De Cotiis, it's what T Magazine calls "monastery meets laboratory": both lavish and spare, rich and raw.
De Cotiis is an interior architect who got his start designing clothing boutiques. His credits include an impressive list of collaborations—with fashion designer Alberta Ferretti and kitchen manufacturer Rossana, among others. His firm, Progetto Domestico, now specializes in residential designs and highest-end furniture and backdrops: "This may sound a bit undemocratic," he told T, "but I don't like designing mass-produced pieces."
What De Cotiis does like is recasting old materials, creating bespoke pieces from worn furniture and fiberglass that he hunts down in shipyards. His obsession with patina led to his design of a patinated brass kitchen for a Milan apartment by Dimore Studio—which promptly landed on the cover of World of Interiors and in our story Ancient Meets Modern in a Milan Apartment.
He planted an equally dramatic kitchen in this remodeled 18th-century house in Salò, in northern Italy, a showcase of the De Cotiis look.
Above: De Cotiis has said that his starting point on any project is "what I find." In this case, he found soaring and intricately detailed ceilings.
Above: A patinated bronze kitchen akin to De Cotiis's DC10 design for Rossana. Though the metallic kitchen is becoming a De Cotiis signature, he prefers not to repeat designs: His M.O. is to create entirely custom work for each space so that it has its own "strong identity."
Above: The bedroom wall is covered with torn gauze encased in glass.
Having started in the fashion world, De Cotiis has an affinity for edgy textiles. Several years ago, he produced a fashion collection called Haute that included torn and washed silk, cashmere, and lace; sometimes he dissolved fabrics in acid and used only what was remaining.
Above: In a bathroom, De Cotiis pairs a stone trough sink and antique rustic cabinetry with Baroque mirrors.
Above: Dramatic arched ceilings meet minimalist rigor in the master bath. For more, visit Vincenzo De Cotiis.
Explore more Italian interiors:
- Remodelista's Guide to Design Travel in Italy
- Luxury Redux at the Grand Hotel in Milan
- Apartment Upgrade: A Tiled Floor in Every Room
- A Whitewashed Italian Farmhouse with Just a Dash of Color
- Garden Visit: An Italian Terrace
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