Family
In Milan, the family apartment of Studiopepe’s co-founder—where poetry meets radicality in a refined eclecticism.
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Arianna Lelli Mami and Sofia, 10 years old
Radical Poetry—that’s the title we might have given Arianna Lelli Mami’s home, if this series had one. In Milan, the family apartment of the co-founder of multidisciplinary agency Studiopepe feels like a manifesto of her vision—one where all the arts, architecture included, transcend their boundaries through dialogue to become a singular expression. The result? A style—evident across the projects she creates with her longtime creative partner Chiara Di Pinto—marked by crisp, precise lines, yet softened by the cascading presence of natural materials, infusing the space with a poetry that is both palpable and ever-present. The resemblance between Arianna Lelli Mami and her daughter Sofia is striking—not just in appearance but in their gestures, and above all, in the quiet serenity they exude. You notice it immediately, like a seasoned observer of family homes: a deep calm emanates from both the space and its occupants. Everything here is tranquil… (we’ll spare you the rest of the quote, but you get the idea). Amidst grand volumes, marble slabs echoing Milan’s prestigious architectural past, and clusters of natural talismans—driftwood, stones carrying silent messages—flanked by modern and contemporary art and design, you’re drawn into a vision that is both precise and deeply personal. “And intimate,” adds the hostess with a smile. “I have a very intense creative private life.” Stepping into Arianna Lelli Mami’s home is like stepping into her mind. Her desires, moods, and inspirations unfold before you. A guided tour awaits.
Location
Milan
Author
Elsa Cau
Photos and videos
Constance Gennari, Elsa David, Maeva Dayras
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TSF
Who are you, Arianna?
Arianna
I’m from Milan, and I live here with Andrea Ferrari, the father of my daughter, Sofia. We’ve been in this apartment for four years—not that long—but we’re very happy to welcome you into our home. This place truly reflects who we are and our passions for art, books, ceramics, and photography, among other things. In my spare time, I’m also a ceramicist. I have a very intense and creative private life! Otherwise, I co-founded Studiopepe with my business partner, Chiara Di Pinto, almost twenty years ago. Our agency is just around the corner, so you’re right in my neighborhood.
TSF
What’s your background?
Arianna
I love Milan—the city where I studied interior architecture and design at Politecnico. I also had a career in journalism. Alongside my work as an interior architect with Studiopepe, I feel a strong need for creation: I do a lot of ceramics and collages, I paint, I write, and I sometimes take photographs. Mixing disciplines is essential for me; it allows me great freedom in my approach to interiors.
TSF
What kind of environment did you grow up in?
Arianna
I grew up near Milan in a family passionate about art, architecture, and interiors. My grandfather was an interior architect and designer, so I was immersed in these disciplines from a very young age. As far back as I can remember, I was always imagining my future and what my life would look like. I was constantly absorbed in books and magazines, already sketching my room and my furniture!
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TSF
How would you define your style?
Arianna
It’s hard to define! It evolves over time, just like me. My style is influenced by great Italian masters like Portaluppi and Gio Ponti—deeply rooted in our Milanese heritage—but also by something I’d call curiosity, in the sense of a cabinet of curiosities. I love collecting eclectic objects and unexpected finds from flea markets and travels. At first, they may seem unrelated, but once placed together, they suddenly make sense! In my home, I also love combining art and photography to enhance the story that interior architecture tells. My style is constantly shifting—everything moves around according to our moods. In fact, I find it very relaxing to change everything up!
TSF
What’s striking about your home is that your style is both eclectic and, paradoxically, incredibly cohesive!
Arianna
Over the years, I’ve learned to refine and curate—I only keep what I truly love. Or at least, I try to (laughs). Even in just four years, my home has evolved so much! The style becomes more precise… You have to adapt to a space. Accept that you might want to try something completely different, but later, somewhere else. The key is to focus on a single, clear message in one place. My taste remains eclectic—I mix eras, styles, and objects, but I try to connect them through a common idea. Here, that idea is material and nature: from the furniture, whether designed by my studio or sourced from vintage markets, to the objects I collect and cherish—pieces of wood, stones—all blending seamlessly with leather, wood, silk, and wool. It’s a very organic approach.
TSF
Can you describe Studiopepe’s work, which you co-founded in Milan in 2006 with Chiara Di Pinto?
Arianna
Studiopepe is, above all, a multidisciplinary approach. We’re an architecture and design agency specializing in luxury retail, residential projects, and hospitality. We also work on installations and ephemeral scenography. The name "Pepe" is a tribute to Guglielmo Pepe, an Italian general who gave his name to the street where we opened our first studio, in the Garibaldi district.
TSF
You mentioned when we arrived that some original elements of the apartment, like the doors, ceilings, and marble inlays, have been preserved.
Arianna
Everything was covered—linoleum floors, low false ceilings, bulky air conditioning units. It was like an archaeological dig, peeling away the layers of modifications added over decades. But it also led to some great discoveries! We kept everything we could from the original structure. In some cases, we completed elements—for instance, we had to create a matching set of doors when we removed a partition. In others, we had to start from scratch—like in the kitchen, where the original flooring was beyond repair, so we chose a particular type of terrazzo that, in my opinion, blends seamlessly with the space. The renovations took four months, but even after moving in, the custom furniture still had to be made. It actually took us two years to finish the kitchen because we wanted to live in the space and assess our needs—especially the proportions—before finalizing it. It turned out to be quite large, which is perfect because we spend so much time there as a family. We didn’t get it wrong—our kitchen is practically a second living room, very Italian!
TSF
What kind of atmosphere did you want to create here?
Arianna
The building itself had a huge influence on our approach to interior design. It has a strong personality, with striking materials—colorful marbles ranging from gray to deep green. I decided to embrace this palette but soften it, making it more fluid and contemporary. This also helped structure the space in a way that feels clear yet gentle. You’ll see grays and greens throughout the apartment, highlighted with touches of acid yellow, pink, terracotta… and, of course, all the colors of nature. Since this is a family home, I wanted something timeless, something we wouldn’t tire of—like the canvas of a painting where we could add little touches over time, but never alter the foundation.
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"It’s because the space was so deeply marked by the Milanese style of Ambrogio Gadola—a friend of Gio Ponti and Piero Portaluppi—that we were very careful to furnish it in a contemporary way. The idea was not to live in a movie set."
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TSF
How do you live here with your daughter? Was the apartment designed with her in mind?
Arianna
She’s very used to being around objects and furniture, whether valuable or not—she interacts with them naturally. It wouldn’t even cross my mind to forbid her from touching anything. A home is meant to be lived in and worn in over time.
TSF
Show us a few pieces you particularly love in your home.
Arianna
In the living room, there’s a little corner that’s mine—a space where I display everything I create in ceramics. It’s my own Wunderkammer (cabinet of curiosities). I also make collages. And I collect a lot of natural elements—stones, driftwood, and plants—from Lanzarote, Liguria, the Aeolian Islands, the Balearics… I have this never-ending process of researching materials, shapes, and colors. Just above, you’ll find photographs by my husband, Andrea Ferrari. In general, I love everything in this apartment—we chose or designed each piece with care. Many of the furniture pieces were imagined by Studiopepe. And because this space has such a strong Milanese identity—marked by the style of Ambrogio Gadola, a friend of Gio Ponti and Piero Portaluppi—we were very mindful about furnishing it in a contemporary way. The goal wasn’t to live in a period film set. We deliberately avoided antique furniture, except for a few classics by Gianfranco Frattini, Tobia Scarpa, and Joe Colombo!
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