Discover the vibrant interior design firm Casa Colori translating to “House of Colours”, which provides personalised and artistically inspired interiors. Every element is meticulously curated to ensure that the space is a true reflection of the client’s vision and lifestyle. Casa Colori approach to interior design is both collaborative and comprehensive. We met Silvia Ciferri in the picturesque town of Gourock to learn more about her processes. 

Can you tell us more about you?

“I’m an Interior Designer, my passions are to decorate houses, colours and art, which I try to integrate in the design of the homes. I tend to decorate houses in a way that creates an environment that is very calming, relaxing.  On Instagram, we can see a lot of photos of interiors with many colours, but they tend to clash, to be very energetic, flamboyant. My style is more calming. I want the houses to be vibrant and welcoming but, I also want people feel they’re relaxing. They’re in their shell. Their home must make them feel comfortable but also sheltered from the frenzies of the world. You know, we live in difficult times, and to me a house is a place that makes people forget about the world’s problems, nothing bad can happen.” 

“I like working with art, colours and space”…

“Also, something I like is the space. I like to decorate big houses, high ceiling because I like the idea of moving in a house freely. The space is important to me for comfortably moving around, but also for the volume. I can also decorate smaller houses but in a way that make them look bigger than they are. 

For a couple of projects I worked as Project Manager only, because the clients knew exactly what they wanted but didn’t know how to achieve it ; where to buy the materials, where to look for reliable traders. So they hired me as their Project Manager. I’ve got my own network of traders and suppliers but can also find new ones. For exemple, for a project I am working on now, the client requested bespoke doors, so I had to look for a company that manufacture doors.”

“Traders and suppliers are welcome to get in touch with us”…

“While I was still working for HP, I got in touch with many property developers and through that network and my experience, I can find reliable traders and suppliers. I get contacted by traders, suppliers quite often because they want to establish collaboration or introduce themselves in an geographic area they’re not yet well known in.”

Can you tell us more about the beginnings of Casa Colori?

“It happened by accident. Although I had been thinking to have my own business for many years, I didn’t know what to do! Anyway, in 2012, I bought my first flat. Everything was magnolia, the carpet was dark brown and looked very dirty. The flat didn’t look that inspiring but I had been watching so many TV shows about how to decorate a house, that I immediately started to think that I could change the carpet, I could change the colour of the curtains and so I started to redecorate it as I wanted. I remember asking the handyman of my former landlady where I could buy some materials and if he wanted to do the job for me. At the end, I thought I had done such a good job, that why not carry on doing something like that. Initially, helping and giving people advice on where to buy or source, but that seemed limited. Working on answering questions like “I want to make my house brighter”, so I can tell them where to buy the paint but you know there are many different ways to make a room brighter and also sometimes, perception of things is personal.”

“Minimalism isn’t quite like functionalism”…

“An example could be, once someone told me I want a design to be minimalist but actually what it want a minimalist design with nothing around, he wanted something functional. Not many decorative objects, but domestic appliances, baskets with fruits, something he could use.” 

“So, I decided to study interior design and in the meantime I started to buy and redecorate rent out flats which was also a way to create a portfolio. I got a degree in Interior Design and carried on buying and redecorating flats to complete my portfolio. Moving to Gourock (from Glasgow) has been ideal because I got a lot of projects. It has been quite a good move! I think Gourock inspired me because of the surrounding nature. I started to see nature in a different way, and also got inspiration from the different colours, because there are so many gardens here and I can see so many flowers. That gives me an idea on how to mix colours.”         

“And also for art, because there are many old houses with specific features that are inspiring. Once, when I was still living in my flat in Glasgow and working for HP, the Beatson Cancer Charity asked me if a consultation with Casa Colori could be one of the prize for their silent auction. The people who won the prize invited me in their flat. And I remember taking inspiration for the colour scheme from the living room, from the tiles of the fire place. Actually this flat was my biggest challenge because I walked in and the flat was already beautiful. I remember walking around thinking "why did you ask for my help?”. They told me the flat had been rented out for many years  and they now wanted to make it more personal.”

“Those people had been living in many different continents. They had objects from Africa, Australia, India. So when I decorated their flat, I blended in  all their styles, all their objects and I took inspiration from their travels abroad for the colour scheme.”

Who would be your ideal customer or what is your dream project?

“I would like to redecorate a castle or a big villa by the sea. My customers seem to be international people, either foreign people that had to move to the UK or British people that lived abroad and are now coming back to live in the UK. For instance, once I was called for a consultation about colours by a Scottish couple who had lived in Switzerland for nearly two decades. They needed a consultation for the colours to use on their walls. They already had their furniture, art works and had a new built house to decorate.”

“Another client of mine was an older lady who was teaching English as a foreign language in Sweden for years. She called me as she wanted to redecorate her bedroom. I am now also dealing with other projects in her own house.” 

“I also work for people who have spent time abroad on business. For instance one client I have in Glasgow, never lived abroad but went there for work. I tend to work for people with international connections and experiences.” 

Would you take on projects for people who don’t have international connections?

“Absolutely, if they like my style I would be more than happy!”

Would you say that you’re style is more continental as you come from Italy?

“I wouldn’t say my style is Italian but one could say there’s is something Mediterranean about it. Once I decorated a flat with red furniture and yellow walls, very warm, very Mediterranean. Now, actually I’m getting a lot of request tending towards blue. I would say my style is colourful ; calming and colourful at the same time. That’s how I would describe my style. I wouldn’t say it’s Italian. I wouldn’t say it’s French either, because well, I lived in France for a few years.” 

Would you take on any projects that are more formal?

“Yes, I worked for a client as a Project Manager. His style was totally different from mine, but it has been an interesting experience because I learned something new. I learned to use different materials to create an atmosphere. He wanted the floor, skirting boards and the doors and shelves to be made in oak, but finished with specific nuances. He created an environment that was more interesting than if it had all been made with the same oak.”

“We used iron to support the shelves, for the banisters. The colours came from his art works. The scheme was quite neutral but still warm, because the colour of oak is quite clear. The different nuances and wood textures have created a very warm environment. The blending of materials has given the room its personality.”

“I would take on the same type of project like someone that’s not looking for a splash of yellow or orange on their walls, but still want their room to look warm.” 

You very much work in collaboration with the client, don’t you?

“Absolutely, no longer are the days when an interior designer would walk in a house and do what they want. Nowadays, clients are much more involved. I make some suggestions, but it’s a discussion about what they like, dislike, the nuance of a colour. Also clients can change their minds during a project. It’s a journey!”

If you would like to learn more about Casa Colori or to contact Silvia for a quote please visit: www.casacolori-design.com

Photos courtesy of Casa Colori.