US $7.95 US $7.95
US US$7.95 $7.95
WRITER Catherine MacGillivray PHOTOGRAPHER Martyn Poynor
infusions of italy
When building a vacation home in the Cayman Islands, the husband-and-wife owners wanted it to be infused with Italian design.
Although living primarily in the United States, Couple lovingly brings vibrant Italian design and lifestyle to Cayman home
Antonio and Clementina Rossano hail from Naples on the Amalfi Coast of Italy, with their heritage integral to their lifestyle and tastes. “The house in Cayman is as if we transferred a typical villa which one would see on the Amalfi Coast, and planted it in the Caribbean setting,” says Antonio. This Italian influence is prevalent throughout the villa, from the fittings to the furnishings. “Most of the items were sourced in Italy because it is where we both come from and it is really the pre-eminent country of design and style,” Antonio adds. The interior design was undertaken by Clementina,
ABOVE LEFT The architecture is Caribbean Colonial style TOP Breezes from the canal cool the dining patio LEFT Baskets woven from silver thatch palm ABOVE The villa exudes elegance at night
who was born into an Italian family that has for generations produced and sold fine textiles.
30
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31
As in m os t Ital ian h o u ses, th e k i tc h en i s th e h ea r t o f th e home,
FAR LEFT As in most Italian houses, the kitchen is the heart of the home LEFT Vintage Berkel prosciutto slicer
t he coupl e be ing p r o u d o f th ei r n ati v e c u li n a ry tr a d i ti o ns
BELOW LEFT Clementina specialises in Italian cuisine BELOW Decorative wine bottles BOTTOM Dishes adorn the outdoor kitchen
32
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“Call [her talent] innate, and learned through a life of
a vongole, which is spaghetti with clams; a classic
experience,” says Antonio.
recipe of the Amalfi Coast, which requires great
As in most Italian houses, the kitchen is the heart
balance and fresh ingredients. Other delights include
of the home, the couple being proud of their native
lasagna with tiny meatballs, and fresh pasta ranging
culinary traditions.
from tagliatelle and gnocchi to ravioli and fusilli.
The house has an indoor kitchen and an outdoor
“As to the pizza oven, it is a wood-fired one, which
kitchen with a barbeque, smoker and a pizza oven.
of course is the original one,” Antonio explains. “That
There is also a kitchen garden, growing fresh herbs
imparts a smoky taste to the pizza which otherwise
such as basil, rosemary and sage to ensure authenticity
one wouldn’t have in electric and gas ovens. Besides
of flavour in their dishes.
that, the oven needs to reach a temperature of
“My wife is a specialist of Italian cuisine, particularly
almost 900 degrees Fahrenheit, thus, cooking a pizza
from Naples and the Amalfi Coast,” says Antonio.
in about two minutes.”
The couple enjoys entertaining, serving dishes that
The influence of Italian design is just as apparent
characterise their native region, such as spaghetti
throughout the rest of the house, from the high-
MACO
33
Many of th e li g h t fi x tu r es a r e I ta li a n , t he m os t e ye - cat ch i n g o f w h i c h i s th e stu n n i n g , FAR LEFT Blue Murano glass
bl ue Barovie r&To so M u r a n o g la ss c h a n d eli er a b o v e th e en tr a n c eway
chandelier above the entranceway LEFT The villa’s main living area BELOW LEFT Armoire is a family piece
from the 1500s
34
end Trani marble floors downstairs to the Italian
vases from Murano, which help give the villa a sense
wood floors upstairs and the Sicis mosaic tiles in the
of history although it was completed only in 2016.
bathrooms and by the pool.
The main four-bedroom villa and two adjoining
Many of the light fixtures are Italian, the most eye-
guest suites are also brought to life by the bright hues
catching of which is the stunning, blue Barovier &
chosen for tiles, textiles and artwork.
Toso Murano glass chandelier above the entranceway.
“The vibrancy is to reflect our Mediterranean
Despite the distance, furniture and furnishings
heritage,” says Antonio. “We do come from the
were designed and produced in Italy to the couple’s
Amalfi Coast where colours are normally very vibrant.”
specifications and then shipped to the Cayman Islands.
The couple also pays homage to Caribbean culture,
“I often had to get up at 4 a.m. to call Italy about
with artwork by prominent Cayman Islands artist
the orders,” says Clementina. This, she explains with
Gordon Solomon on display in many rooms. Traditional
amusement, is not only because of the time difference
basketwork woven from the silver thatch palm is
but because Italians are known for their reluctance to
featured in the house in a further nod to local life.
answer the phone after lunch.
The vision of an Italian-style home in a West Indian
Mixed with the Italian furniture are pieces by
setting came after the owners had been visiting
United States designer BassamFellows as well as Hans
Grand Cayman for more than a decade.
Wagner from the United Kingdom.
In fact, the villa was built in a waterways community
Alongside contemporary pieces, there are also
called Salt Creek, which has a set of design covenants
heirlooms dating back to the 1600s, and many of the
that say homes must be designed with materials and
items in the bedrooms were hand-painted in Italy, in
styles politely called Caribbean Colonial.
keeping with Amalfi Coast tradition.
All roofs are to be metal, all walls in shiplap or
Sentimental family accessories have also been
stone, whilst windows are to emulate the scale and
placed throughout the house, such as vintage Venini
architectural design of the colonial age.
MACO
BELOW The pool room
MACO
35
These guidelines were married with the owners’
His father, also an architect, had studied in Rome
wishes to accentuate their Italian heritage, through
and fallen in love with Italy.
a collaboration of cultures skillfully brought to life
“In my teens we spent summers at San Gimignano
by Cayman Islands architect John Doak and general
in the heart of Tuscany,” says Doak. “I wondered at
contractor Robert Nicholas.
the time if I may have been Italian in a former life. I
Having grown up in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city,
became so immersed in the arts and the culture of
where there was a big Italian population, Doak felt an
that country, so sumptuously rich and yet also so
immediate passion for the project.
respectful of the soil.”
“From an early age, my father would take my
This fondness for Italian life and architecture helped
brother and me to Fazzi Brothers, which was a
Doak to instinctively interpret the owners’ vision for
traditional Italian food supply store in Glasgow,” he
their Salt Creek home.
recalls. “The shop window was filled with hanging
“It speaks to an appreciation I have for the Italian
meats and sausages, cheese of every imaginable
people and their family lifestyle and perhaps why
taste, smell and shape. Italian food excites all of the
the development and production of this house came
senses. To top it off were the wines, which varied
together so effortlessly,” he says.
from region to region.
Clementina, who is enthralled by the villa’s
BELOW RIGHT Blue Sicis mosaic tiles
“Spaghetti and pasta became part of every
combination of Caribbean architecture and Italian
from Italy feature in bathroom
Glaswegian’s appreciation, along with the colourful,
design, agrees. It has turned out just as they wanted it.
BELOW FAR RIGHT Italian wood floors
dramatic and almost operatic way the Italian
“Cayman is so far from our home country that it
language is spoken.”
was very important for us to have a little bit of Italy
BELOW Artwork by Gordon Solomon
complements contemporary furniture RIGHT Vibrant citrus hues reflect the
couple’s Mediterranean heritage FAR RIGHT Armchair provides
pop of colour
provide a warm ambience
“It speaks to an appreciation I have for the Italian people and their family lifestyle an d perhaps why the development and production of this hou se came together so effor tlessly”
here in this house,” she says. “We are very happy.” M
36
MACO
MACO
37
WRITER Catherine MacGillivray PHOTOGRAPHER Martyn Poynor
infusions of italy
When building a vacation home in the Cayman Islands, the husband-and-wife owners wanted it to be infused with Italian design.
Although living primarily in the United States, Couple lovingly brings vibrant Italian design and lifestyle to Cayman home
Antonio and Clementina Rossano hail from Naples on the Amalfi Coast of Italy, with their heritage integral to their lifestyle and tastes. “The house in Cayman is as if we transferred a typical villa which one would see on the Amalfi Coast, and planted it in the Caribbean setting,” says Antonio. This Italian influence is prevalent throughout the villa, from the fittings to the furnishings. “Most of the items were sourced in Italy because it is where we both come from and it is really the pre-eminent country of design and style,” Antonio adds. The interior design was undertaken by Clementina,
ABOVE LEFT The architecture is Caribbean Colonial style TOP Breezes from the canal cool the dining patio LEFT Baskets woven from silver thatch palm ABOVE The villa exudes elegance at night
who was born into an Italian family that has for generations produced and sold fine textiles.
30
MACO
MACO
31
As in m os t Ital ian h o u ses, th e k i tc h en i s th e h ea r t o f th e home,
FAR LEFT As in most Italian houses, the kitchen is the heart of the home LEFT Vintage Berkel prosciutto slicer
t he coupl e be ing p r o u d o f th ei r n ati v e c u li n a ry tr a d i ti o ns
BELOW LEFT Clementina specialises in Italian cuisine BELOW Decorative wine bottles BOTTOM Dishes adorn the outdoor kitchen
32
MACO
“Call [her talent] innate, and learned through a life of
a vongole, which is spaghetti with clams; a classic
experience,” says Antonio.
recipe of the Amalfi Coast, which requires great
As in most Italian houses, the kitchen is the heart
balance and fresh ingredients. Other delights include
of the home, the couple being proud of their native
lasagna with tiny meatballs, and fresh pasta ranging
culinary traditions.
from tagliatelle and gnocchi to ravioli and fusilli.
The house has an indoor kitchen and an outdoor
“As to the pizza oven, it is a wood-fired one, which
kitchen with a barbeque, smoker and a pizza oven.
of course is the original one,” Antonio explains. “That
There is also a kitchen garden, growing fresh herbs
imparts a smoky taste to the pizza which otherwise
such as basil, rosemary and sage to ensure authenticity
one wouldn’t have in electric and gas ovens. Besides
of flavour in their dishes.
that, the oven needs to reach a temperature of
“My wife is a specialist of Italian cuisine, particularly
almost 900 degrees Fahrenheit, thus, cooking a pizza
from Naples and the Amalfi Coast,” says Antonio.
in about two minutes.”
The couple enjoys entertaining, serving dishes that
The influence of Italian design is just as apparent
characterise their native region, such as spaghetti
throughout the rest of the house, from the high-
MACO
33
Many of th e li g h t fi x tu r es a r e I ta li a n , t he m os t e ye - cat ch i n g o f w h i c h i s th e stu n n i n g , FAR LEFT Blue Murano glass
bl ue Barovie r&To so M u r a n o g la ss c h a n d eli er a b o v e th e en tr a n c eway
chandelier above the entranceway LEFT The villa’s main living area BELOW LEFT Armoire is a family piece
from the 1500s
34
end Trani marble floors downstairs to the Italian
vases from Murano, which help give the villa a sense
wood floors upstairs and the Sicis mosaic tiles in the
of history although it was completed only in 2016.
bathrooms and by the pool.
The main four-bedroom villa and two adjoining
Many of the light fixtures are Italian, the most eye-
guest suites are also brought to life by the bright hues
catching of which is the stunning, blue Barovier &
chosen for tiles, textiles and artwork.
Toso Murano glass chandelier above the entranceway.
“The vibrancy is to reflect our Mediterranean
Despite the distance, furniture and furnishings
heritage,” says Antonio. “We do come from the
were designed and produced in Italy to the couple’s
Amalfi Coast where colours are normally very vibrant.”
specifications and then shipped to the Cayman Islands.
The couple also pays homage to Caribbean culture,
“I often had to get up at 4 a.m. to call Italy about
with artwork by prominent Cayman Islands artist
the orders,” says Clementina. This, she explains with
Gordon Solomon on display in many rooms. Traditional
amusement, is not only because of the time difference
basketwork woven from the silver thatch palm is
but because Italians are known for their reluctance to
featured in the house in a further nod to local life.
answer the phone after lunch.
The vision of an Italian-style home in a West Indian
Mixed with the Italian furniture are pieces by
setting came after the owners had been visiting
United States designer BassamFellows as well as Hans
Grand Cayman for more than a decade.
Wagner from the United Kingdom.
In fact, the villa was built in a waterways community
Alongside contemporary pieces, there are also
called Salt Creek, which has a set of design covenants
heirlooms dating back to the 1600s, and many of the
that say homes must be designed with materials and
items in the bedrooms were hand-painted in Italy, in
styles politely called Caribbean Colonial.
keeping with Amalfi Coast tradition.
All roofs are to be metal, all walls in shiplap or
Sentimental family accessories have also been
stone, whilst windows are to emulate the scale and
placed throughout the house, such as vintage Venini
architectural design of the colonial age.
MACO
BELOW The pool room
MACO
35
These guidelines were married with the owners’
His father, also an architect, had studied in Rome
wishes to accentuate their Italian heritage, through
and fallen in love with Italy.
a collaboration of cultures skillfully brought to life
“In my teens we spent summers at San Gimignano
by Cayman Islands architect John Doak and general
in the heart of Tuscany,” says Doak. “I wondered at
contractor Robert Nicholas.
the time if I may have been Italian in a former life. I
Having grown up in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city,
became so immersed in the arts and the culture of
where there was a big Italian population, Doak felt an
that country, so sumptuously rich and yet also so
immediate passion for the project.
respectful of the soil.”
“From an early age, my father would take my
This fondness for Italian life and architecture helped
brother and me to Fazzi Brothers, which was a
Doak to instinctively interpret the owners’ vision for
traditional Italian food supply store in Glasgow,” he
their Salt Creek home.
recalls. “The shop window was filled with hanging
“It speaks to an appreciation I have for the Italian
meats and sausages, cheese of every imaginable
people and their family lifestyle and perhaps why
taste, smell and shape. Italian food excites all of the
the development and production of this house came
senses. To top it off were the wines, which varied
together so effortlessly,” he says.
from region to region.
Clementina, who is enthralled by the villa’s
BELOW RIGHT Blue Sicis mosaic tiles
“Spaghetti and pasta became part of every
combination of Caribbean architecture and Italian
from Italy feature in bathroom
Glaswegian’s appreciation, along with the colourful,
design, agrees. It has turned out just as they wanted it.
BELOW FAR RIGHT Italian wood floors
dramatic and almost operatic way the Italian
“Cayman is so far from our home country that it
language is spoken.”
was very important for us to have a little bit of Italy
BELOW Artwork by Gordon Solomon
complements contemporary furniture RIGHT Vibrant citrus hues reflect the
couple’s Mediterranean heritage FAR RIGHT Armchair provides
pop of colour
provide a warm ambience
“It speaks to an appreciation I have for the Italian people and their family lifestyle an d perhaps why the development and production of this hou se came together so effor tlessly”
here in this house,” she says. “We are very happy.” M
36
MACO
MACO
37
