How to create your ultimate Southern Italian retreat

​I am so inspired by my recent trip to Puglia, in what is known to most people as the heel of Italy (that is if you consider the shape of Italy to be that of a boot). This region is one of the most fertile and agricultural in Italy and is absolutely full of gorgeous olive groves and scented jasmine. Sunlight is intense here, almost blanching the landscape, allowing the natural colours of things to come through. The Puglian design is humble and simple. Bare stone walls revealing ancient stone, paired with flagstones on the floor. The Trullo is an iconic symbol of this region and is basically a conical roofed stone house. This method allowed the people here to create insulated spaces that protect them from the elements without needing to use cement. That's right! The stones were classically placed on top of each other in ever smaller concentric circles forming the well known cone that stood tall without the need for any binding agents such as concrete, cement or pointing. We were lucky enough to have stayed in one of these Trulli and it was very inspiring. 

​Now I know that I love big bold colours, but there is something very beautiful about the elegant restrained palette in Puglia - it allows the infinite blue of the sky, the deep green of the jasmine leaves and the gorgeous gnarly wood of the olive trees to sing in the landscape. I will reveal my top tips for creating a Puglian inspired escape wherever you are based.

​Colour: A blend of different neutral colours will help balance off the space. Make sure that there are colour variations through the space and that it is not just all "brilliant white". It is important to introduce warmth though the colours by going for softer sandy toned whites. Despite it being a warm climate I would avoid any bluish whites or cool whites as they can seem quite flat and sterile. Carry your neutrals through all the elements of the design including wall colours, lighting and soft furnishings. You can consider adding one or two complimentary accent colours in the space, but remember that these will scream for attention against the neutrals. So be smart, use colours found in nature, deep blues, and greyed greens are excellent starting points. 

​Texture: This cannot be emphasised enough. Go big on texture. Exposed stone,  lightly oiled wood, linen and other woven fabrics are great here. The trulli have oodles of texture in their stone, in fact plastering only part of the wall up can help to highlight the more beautiful features and draw the eye up to the vaulted ceilings. The floors are usually bare stone, each slab with its own natural colouring and texture. 

Lighting: Its all about the mood lighting. The daylight in Italy is so intense that coming into these places is sometimes a refuge from the intense sunshine and heat, therefore creating a calming space with mood lighting is  important to help nourish ones spirit. Consider the amount of natural light you have in your space, and if its in a landscape with a lot of natural light then consider  filtering the light slightly to soften it. If you are based further afield and light is already a scarce resource, such as is the case in the UK, then be aware that you will need to be extra careful when layering your light to create the right mood for different times of year and day. Think of highlighting architectural elements,  low lighting and creating that glow essential for a calming space. 

Art: The Puglian people are very humble and modest. Art is usually found in the form of ceramics (you can use ceramics also for your lighting), so get your hands on some gorgeous bowls, pots and urns. Trulli are quite simple places so that is usually all the decoration you might find in a typical Puglian space. The bigger Masserias (fortified farm buildings) were the properties of wealthier land owners. These were decorated in a more elaborate way and one can also find frescoes. Now, were not used to frescoes in the UK but basically it entails painting directly onto wet plaster, this can sounds like a bit of a faff, but  you can consider possibly adding a simple trompe-l'oeil on a bare wall to create a panelled look if you are that artistically inclined or using some gorgeous wallpaper murals such as those below.

For help and advice on creating your own Puglian space, get in touch!

Foscari Fresco wallpaper by the Desginers Guild

Hand painted ceramics add personality to a neutral scheme.

La Rotonda wallpaper by the Designers Guild

Above all, I suggest you visit Puglia. Its incredible and stunning yet humble and unpretentious. We stayed at the Leonardo Trulli resort, most of my photos in this blog post are from there. The gardens were incredible as were the trulli. I wasn't asked to feature them but the space was so inspiring I couldn't not.