Artemest and TED Milano Unveil Stunning Villa in Milan

Artemest cofounder Ippolita Rostagno talks to Galerie about her studio’s stunning collaboration with TED Milano at Salone del Mobile

Colorful outdoor patio with a dining table, chairs, and a lush vertical garden under sunlight.
The estate’s garden. Photo: Courtesy of Artemest and TED Milano

For the second year in a row, design studios Artemest and TED Milano teamed up for an exhibit during Salone del Mobile. The collaboration transformed a 1930s Milanese villa—believed to be designed by famed Italian architect Gio Ponti—with splashy interiors evoking 1960s Italian cinema for the exhibition “Living Objects.”

Spanning the villa’s ground floor and basement, the installation imitates the layout of a small apartment with a formal entryway, large living room, bedroom, office nook, bathroom, sitting room, formal dining room, and terrace. Putting a lighthearted spin on things are a game room and home cinema.

“There is so much hype around Salone as the premiere occasion for newness in design that we thought it would be charming—and a bit controtendenza—to go the other way and go small and intimate instead,” says Artemest cofounder Ippolita Rostagno, who called upon dozens of high-end design purveyors, including Pierre Frey, Adele-C, and Dedar, for the event.

Elegant room with jungle-themed wallpaper, modern furniture, spherical light fixture, and a decorative lamp on a wooden cabinet.
Graphic wallpapers and carpets mix with metallic accents to create a visually stunning effect. Courtesy of Artemest and Ted Milano

“Our deepest relationships are with architects and interior decorators, so this was an opportunity to display the breadth of capabilities of our artisans and designers,” Rostagno tells Galerie. “We were excited to bring together small and large objects as well as more specific applications, such as hand-painted wallpaper, that are difficult to communicate as finished products.”

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The exhibit includes a home cinema with an eclectic array of seating options. The furnishings selected for each space reflect characters within the archetypical Italian family. “The worldly intellectual, the extravagant wife, the proper grandmother, the restless youth,” she says. “All details speak of a combination of these ideas, more than of one singular point of view. Eclecticism is very Italian, the home being the preeminent place where new and old cohabitate.”

See more images of the stunning exhibit below.

Stylish interior with red cabinet, glassware, green chair, curved art piece, round window, orange curtains, and wall light.
A swooping horn sculpture surmounts a glassware cabinet luminescent in scarlet lacquer. Courtesy of Artemest and Ted Milano

Outdoor patio with a modern table, colorful chairs, plants, and a small fountain set against a background of lush greenery.
The charming terrace is anchored by a dining table set with a quirky assortment of artful vessels. Courtesy of Artemest and Ted Milano

Elegant shelving with books, artistic sculptures, vases, and decorative items beside a table with flowers, in a richly patterned room.
A sleek shelf comes to life with carefully curated books, vessels, and objet d’art. Courtesy of Artemest and Ted Milano

Modern desk with lamp, notebooks, and geometric tools, set against a warm, cozy ambiance.
Stationery and measuring tools allude to “the intellectual,” one of the character archetypes that inspired “Living Objects.” Courtesy of Artemest and Ted Milano

Vintage-inspired study with wooden desk, modern chair, desk lamp, and a cozy living area with colorful decor in the background.
The somber office nook stands in contrast to the plush, perky bedroom beyond. Courtesy of Artemest and Ted Milano

Colorful bedroom with pink bed, floral wallpaper, vibrant decor, and various textiles creating a cozy, eclectic atmosphere.
Bursts of bubblegum pink and lemon yellow energize the bedroom. Courtesy of Artemest and Ted Milano

Modern living room with vibrant blue sofa, large potted plant, colorful pendant lights, and a window with sheer curtains.
A cool blue sofa pops against a backdrop of contrasting clay. Courtesy of Artemest and Ted Milano

Elegant dining room with round table set for four under a colorful chandelier, surrounded by decorative wallpaper and plants.
Set for four, a formal dining table basks in the glow of an opulent floral chandelier. Courtesy of Artemest and Ted Milano