Cover This Italian farmhouse features an eclectic mix of modern and antique furniture, accompanied by evocative artwork
This Italian farmhouse features an eclectic mix of modern and antique furniture, accompanied by evocative artwork
1 / 1
Maurizio Azzimonti, Moncler’s worldwide window designer director, left Milan for an 18th-century Italian farmhouse on Lake Iseo, which he transformed with 19th-century antiques and a Ralph Lauren-inspired country aesthetic
Three years ago, Maurizio Azzimonti left Milan for a late 18th-century farmhouse in Riva di Solto, Italy, perched between Lake Iseo and the surrounding countryside. His two pet dogs had begun to struggle with apartment living, and the pandemic had crystallised what had been a vague desire: space, quiet, and a connection to the landscape. The 6,458 sq ft main and guest house now accommodate a total of five dogs: two Great Danes, a French bulldog, an Italian pointer, and a toy Maltese.
Above Maurizio Azzimonti, Moncler’s worldwide window designer director, with two of his pet dogs
Maurizio Azzimonti, Moncler’s worldwide window designer director, with two of his pet dogs
1 / 1
Warmer outlook
Above Luigi Caccia Dominioni’s striking P20B Toro sofa for Azucena stands
in front of Francesco Conti’s 18th-century painting of a female figure on an octagonal panel, alongside a 1940s office cabinet, Augusto Colombo’s 1936 painting The Expulsion of Adam and Eve, and Gae Aulenti’s Pipistrello lamp for Martinelli Luce
Luigi Caccia Dominioni’s striking P20B Toro sofa for Azucena stands in front of Francesco Conti’s 18th-century painting of a female figure on an octagonal panel, alongside a 1940s office cabinet, Augusto Colombo’s 1936 painting The Expulsion of Adam and Eve, and Gae Aulenti’s Pipistrello lamp for Martinelli Luce
1 / 1
Above Luigi Caccia Dominioni’s P20B Toro armchair and footstool for Azucena anchor this sitting area, alongside a 1960s fireplace by Mario Vender
Above A neoclassical painted wooden temple circa 1810 stands on the piano
Luigi Caccia Dominioni’s P20B Toro armchair and footstool for Azucena anchor this sitting area, alongside a 1960s fireplace by Mario Vender
1 / 2
Azzimonti, who spent 15 years as a visual manager for Ralph Lauren before joining Moncler in 2004, approached the renovation with a specific vision: to preserve the structure’s architectural character while creating interiors that referenced both his former employer’s country aesthetic and the traditional hunting lodges of Northern Italy.
Te dining table is set with Parisian bronze candlesticks circa 1840, Gae Aulenti’s Geacolor vase for Venini, Ercole Barovier’s Lenti series vase, and a pair of Moor-shaped chambersticks in bronze
1 / 2
“I faced two options,” he explains. “The first was a super minimal, very modern style that would create a stark contrast with the exterior. The second, which I chose, was to create a warmer, more welcoming environment that reflects who I am.”
The property offers contrasting views. The front faces the lake, while the back overlooks the countryside and mountains. Azzimonti installed a swimming pool near an original gazebo, selecting natural materials and colouring the bottom to match the lake water. Two greenhouses dating to the early 1900s, originally lemon groves, remain standing on the grounds.
Don’t miss: Monumental museums: 7 recently opened and forthcoming institutions redefining cultural architecture
Above An early 1900s office cabinet and walnut corner bookcase circa 1830, with a Ralph Lauren plate set
An early 1900s office cabinet and walnut corner bookcase circa 1830, with a Ralph Lauren plate set
1 / 1
Azzimonti designed the renovation himself without an architect, consulting surveyors only for the electrical and plumbing systems. “To a creative person, designing and furnishing one’s own home is one of the most fulfilling and deeply personal experiences one can have,” he declares.
Read more: Indonesian architect Andra Matin and the art of noticing things
The art of furnishing
Above Marco Zanuso’s Senior armchair for Arflex accompanies a late 19th-century neoclassical walnut fireplace, a 1950s Maison Bagues coffee table, a walnut desk from the 1800s and a 1700s carved wooden faun sculpture
Marco Zanuso’s Senior armchair for Arflex accompanies a late 19th-century neoclassical walnut fireplace, a 1950s Maison Bagues coffee table, a walnut desk from the 1800s and a 1700s carved wooden faun sculpture
1 / 1
The selection process for the furnishings favoured antique furniture from the early to late 19th century. Most pieces, including the fireplace and sculptures, came from FineArt by Di Mano in Mano, a Milan-based dealer that began operations over 20 years ago and has now become a reference point for collectors and designers. The company, which launched its FineArt division in 2021, specialises in modern and antique objects, accompanied by comprehensive documentation. Additional furnishings were sourced from flea markets and garage sales.
Several pieces were also given a contemporary treatment: the glossy finish that is typically found on antique furniture was removed and replaced with dark resins instead, lending an urban quality to traditional forms. The result puts different periods in conversation, rather than adhering strictly to historical accuracy.
See also: Home tour: an atmospheric Kuala Lumpur apartment shaped by Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love
Above These shelves display Louis Vuitton suitcases and a vanity case
Above This bathroom is adorned with an ornate framed mirror and Mario Botta’s Shogun lamp for Artemide
These shelves display Louis Vuitton suitcases and a vanity case
1 / 2
Stone construction and a grey colour palette establish continuity between the exterior and interior spaces. This consistency was deliberate, creating a flow from the outdoor to the indoor areas. The approach reflects Azzimonti’s years of working in visual merchandising, where spatial coherence and material relationships form the basis of effective design.
Nothing stays in place for long. “I love moving things around and creating new arrangements, transforming the spaces to match my inspiration in the moment,” Azzimonti says. Furniture moves between rooms, objects find new positions, and arrangements shift with the seasons.
Don’t miss: Inside Soori Penang: George Town’s most exclusive boutique hotel hidden within the Khoo Kongsi compound
Intangible luxury
Above A full view of the master bedroom, which features exposed timber ceiling joists
A full view of the master bedroom, which features exposed timber ceiling joists
1 / 1
Above This bedroom study features Afra and Tobia Scarpa’s Monk chair for Molteni
Above A 1960s Stilnovo floor lamp stands beside a 1960s houndstooth armchair in the master bedroom’s fireplace corner
This bedroom study features Afra and Tobia Scarpa’s Monk chair for Molteni
1 / 2
When in his country home, Azzimonti’s routine begins at 6:30 am with a 90-minute walk through the woods surrounding the lake, followed by breakfast and gardening. The physical work balances his remote responsibilities for Moncler and Poldo Dog Couture, a luxury accessories company for dogs he co-founded eight years ago. His professional schedule allows flexibility: he travels to Milan approximately four times weekly, but works remotely otherwise.
Morning sunrises accompanied by birdsong and days spent working with views of the lake have become routine. The change from urban to rural life required adjustment. “It wasn’t an easy step, but it was absolutely one of the most courageous and satisfying decisions I’ve ever made,” he reflects.
Read more: Hoshinoya Karuizawa: two decades of biophilic design in practice
This bedroom is furnished with tactile bed covers and a pair of map cases by Henry Thomas Peters dating from 1840
1 / 2
He has lived in various homes throughout his life, but none felt quite right. “This is the only one that truly feels like it belongs to me. I consider it almost an extension of myself.”
Milan feels far away now, though the city remains accessible for his professional commitments. The farmhouse’s thick walls and considerable size accommodate both solitary creative work and the presence of five dogs. The surrounding land provides territory for daily walks and gardening projects.
“Every morning, I wake to breathtaking sunrises,” Azzimonti says. “It’s like living in a dream, and every single day, I feel deeply grateful for this incredible gift.”
NOW READ
Home tour: a Muskoka cottage in Ontario, designed to outlast generations
The art of adaptive reuse: 8 Asian hotels with a former life
Credits
Photography: Filippo Bamberghi
Topics
Jennifer Choo is Regional Managing Editor of Tatler Homes, covering architecture, interior design, and art across Asia. Based in Malaysia, she oversees regional content on luxury residential design and contemporary art collections. Legally trained but choosing to pursue her passion for design, she previously led notable design publications and worked as an interior stylist and art consultant for property developers, design firms, and private clients.
