At
Bruno Laurenzano, l’Italiano Vero
The origins of The Socialite Family lie in encounters, and the one with Bruno Laurenzano was no exception. We met this creative director who works in the fashion industry through word of mouth. Following him, as he leads us into his interior, it becomes obvious. We and this Italian were meant to get to know each other sooner or later. The same sensitivity towards art, the same obsession with the work of great masters such as Osvaldo Borsani, Piero Portaluppi and so on. And this fantasy of hunting tirelessly across the four corners of the world, without really thinking about a defined place for a particular object or a particular global style. That’s what makes our spines tingle. Moving things around, the mobility of a piece of furniture, a lamp. The very thing we wanted to transmit to our own brand. Those things which, in our eyes, epitomise decoration. Vibrant. Here, the colours dance, depending on the cushions and the designs on which they are placed, when they are not on the various antique rugs laid on the floor of the apartment. Chinese art, glassware and lush plants complete the theatrical setting for a succession of pieces, each more surprising than the last. A collection that will undoubtedly take time to reveal itself: it is bursting with so many details, signature designer pieces and beautifully bound books that we can imagine it eating up entire afternoons.
Discover Bruno Laurenzano''s unique world in our self-published book,
. An anthology of the most impressive interior glimpses throughout the history of our medium, available in our shop and on our e-shop.
Location
Milan
Author
Caroline Balvay
Photos and videos
Constance Gennari
TSF
Bruno, could you present yourself? What do you do for a living?
Bruno
My name is Bruno Laurenzano. I am a Capricorn ascendant Acquarius and I am a creative director in the fashion sector. I studied art and started working in fashion immediately after. I am currently working on a clothing and accessories collection for a big Italian brand.
TSF
How would you describe the style of your Milanese house?
Bruno
The style of my Milanese house reflects very much my personality. It is a house full of objects of curiosity and creativity. Every object has a special meaning and reminds me of a trip, a person, or a specific moment in my life. There are also a lot of colours, which I find reassuring. I like to mix contrasted forms and profound colours. I do not follow a particular style, I mix things naturally without overthinking it. My home has some very strong French influences with touches of chinoiserie but is also very Italian bourgeois.
TSF
Do you have a favourite era? A movement or architecture that you have long been passionate about?
Bruno
There is not a particular movement that inspires my way of living or my interior. Nevertheless, I really like the outcomes of the avant-garde mouvement and underground movements that can be found in big cities. When searching for objects or furniture, I always try to look for similarities with the works of Piero Portaluppi or Osvaldo Borsani, either if it is a young artist piece or one found on a flea market. Those two are a real reference for me, as the 60s interior designer Tony Duquette. He inspires me a lot and I look up to him for the way he mixes up and assemble colours.
I am inspired by my work, it influences my taste and consequently, the space I live in too.
TSF
What type of connection is there between your job and your home?
Bruno
My interior reflects my passion for antiquing and research. Right now, I am working on a lot of drawings and print archives that inspires me. I am inspired by my work, it influences my taste and consequently, the space I live in too. There are times when I need to be surrounded by a lot of things to support my creativity, and sometimes inspiration will just come from a dress, a bag, a porcelain or a tablecloth.
TSF
Which piece of furniture do you like the most at home?
Bruno
The piece of furniture that I love most in my house is a tiny glass vase that my grandmother had on her bedside table. Every morning, there was a new fresh flower in it. It has become a real lucky charm for me. I also love very much the portraits I bought in a sales garage while I was in New York.
My home has some very strong French influences with touches of chinoiserie but is also very Italian bourgeois.
TSF
How do you choose your furniture?
Bruno
All the furniture that is in my house have been found in antique markets around Europe and particularly pay attention to textures, colours and materials while choosing it. I love to collect porcelain dishes and tablecloths… The most absurd thing I bought is an antique Chinese furniture that I found in a beautiful market in Beijing. The shipping to Italy was more expensive than the furniture itself, but I was so happy and full of joy when I received it, that it was worth it! Otherwise, a lot of pieces here come from my parent’s place. I also really like to go trough auctions websites or love when I end up buying stuff thanks to word of mouth.
TSF
What are your plans for the future, work-wise or other?
Bruno
My plans for the future are always changing. I work in a creative environment, and what you do one day might be completely different from what you do the next one. I’m very happy about the future because I am currently working on a very exciting niche project with people who manage to understand how important it is to let creativity express itself. I am also very focused on my porcelain and Murano glass work, but my dream, and I hope it will be realized soon, would be to buy a small house on a Greek island that I love and cherish.