Reflections on My 40 Years in Umbria

Restoring an 1880s farmhouse, turning it into Genius Loci Country Inn http://www.geniuslociumbria.com, was an arduous and long process. Naturally, to offset the enormous expenditures of the building project, we raced to finish and, above all, to open. While we finished a good 95% of all the exterior, interior, the extensive grounds and the pool, there were a few "spots" where I envisioned a certain, undefined something that I felt would be an enhancement, that would create color in a drab corner or add texture where needed. They were, as we raced to open, "extras" which were not absolutely necessary, which did NOT detract from the whole in any significant way.

Those "spots" were noticed, thought about...but not addressed in any creative way for an obvious reason: we needed a break, even from merely thinking about what had been our steady, daily, diet for well-over three years. We were exhausted and needed to move on to the phase of running-the-business - to welcoming guests in a royal way and dedicating ourselves fully to them.

As we are about to reopen for our fourth season, we have distanced ourselves enough from the building phase to allow the creative energy to flow once again. While Maurizio and Michael have addressed a few very minor structural improvements, I have focused on one of those "spots" - on designing a tapestry which has long had little more than a vague definition in my head.

Luckily, I am adamant about saving every remnant, whether mere scraps or considerable "scampoli" of fabrics. I had put them all neatly and safely away at the end of the building project. My vague idea was to incorporate most, if not all, of the decorative fabrics used throughout the inn into a patchwork-style tapestry. I also wanted to incorporate a few "squares" of Brozzetti's hand-woven textiles into the whole. The large tapestry is to be placed on a beautiful, but barren and somewhat overly austere, antique stone wall. It will not cover too much of these gorgeous stones: reciprocally, the tapestry should add interest to the stones - the stones should frame the tapestry effectively.

The challenge has been to use only what I had on hand, to establish a workable theme and variations...and to juxtapose, place and replace... and invert and reinvert the 15 pieces, attempting to find the best possible balance, contrast, coordination and appeal.

We'll soon see if I succeed.

to be continued when the tapestry is finished and in place on its beckoning wall.