Tag: modernist

Pick of the Pads: Modernist Mill

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Kitchen and stairs in a modernist mill

We’ve chosen this wonderful Italian modernist mill conversion for this month’s Pick of the Pads feature.

'Modernist Mill' article title page from Elle Decoration

It’s the home of fashion designer, Barbara Garofalo and is featured in the July 2015 edition of Elle Decoration – it even gets on the cover!

Elle Decoration magazine cover

Factory spaces aren’t common in Rome, and this former wool mill provides an amazing structure with which to work.

Minimalist dressing room in a modernist mill featured in Elle Decoration magazine

 It’s airy, clean and uncluttered… and we love it!

Minimalist bedroom in a modernist mill featured in Elle Decoration magazine

The colour scheme is largely white with muted, natural shades – and just the odd flash of strong colour which works superbly well – the red kitchen cupboards or striped textile on this bed for example.

Minimalist lounge area with floor cushions in a modernist mill featured in Elle Decoration magazine

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows let sunlight pour in…

Minimalist workspace area with floor cushions in a modernist mill featured in Elle Decoration magazine

…and there’s a distinct vintage industrial feel to the décor with rough hewn wood, wire racks, baskets, hooks and trolleys.

Tall, white wire cage storage in a modernist mill featured in Elle Decoration magazine

The spaces flow into each other so well and it’s both homely and functional – a difficult balance to achieve. It looks pretty much perfect to us!

Italian glass jars

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row of vintage Italian glass jars

I’m always on the look out for nice kitchen storage jars – well, to be honest, it’s usually Justin who’s keeping an eye out on my behalf at the various auctions & markets he visits.

vintage Italian glass jar

He brought these beauties home last week – very superior in quality to my normal offerings! I know they were quite expensive, but he’s not divulged the exact figure as yet.

vintage Italian glass jar on its side

They’re Italian and date from the first half of the 20th century – 1920s to 1940s kind of era.

vintage Italian glass jar showing its paper label

They’re a fabulous shape – quite modernist. Remember that early black & white Flash Gordon series? They remind us of Zarkov’s rocket ship from that… or something out of the film Metropolis.

gold coloured lid of vintage Italian glass jar

We’re not sure what exactly they were used for, although we’re certain that they were on display in a shop or café. They’re large enough to hold a wide variety of products. Coffee beans maybe – or luxury chocolates. Perhaps even cigars?? They don’t smell of anything, but the lid interiors have a distinct staining – it looks a bit like coffee or tobacco.

gold coloured lids of vintage Italian glass jars

Let us know if you have the definitive answer!

22 Apr 15 | update: We think we’ve got the answer. The paper sticker is a tax certificate indicating that tax has been paid on the products inside – this manufacturing tax on spirits was introduced in 1926. The jars probably contained something preserved in alcohol. This would most likely be fruit such as peaches & cherries.  Thanks to Peter, one of our regular readers, for his information.