With our Book Club series, we hand over the proverbial mic to our Experts—letting them share their work, thought process, and best tips, all in their own words. The following is an excerpt from Martin Brudnizki’s new book, My Life in Colors, published this month with Rizzoli.

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Perched high on a hill, overlooking one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world in Portofino, sits the Splendido Hotel.

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Now operated by Belmond, it’s a real icon of Italian hospitality. It has been a true honor to work on such a fabled hotel, visited by everyone, including Elizabeth Taylor, who has a tomato pasta dish named after her.

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The hotel was a family home, owned by a baron, so we created a suite to honor him and his wife that was centered around change to evoke a residential feel within a hospitality space. We brought it into the future with a seamless use of technology, but the design had to feel authentic to the history of the building and the area.

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“You can combine pink with browns, rust, and mustard, as these colors are from the earth palette and, like a sunset, naturally blend. The combination can make a room feel warm without being too hot, creating a dusky coziness.”

—Martin Brudnizki

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To ensure that the spirit of the original Splendido shone through, we worked with Italian craftspeople and materials throughout, employing wood carvers in Florence, and using Italian antiques.

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The studio took inspiration from the historic building, local crafts, and artisans of Liguria. This included Albisola ceramics, Genoese painted furniture and terrazzo, local silk weavers, rattan makers, lace workshops, and a selection of local artists.

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“The tactile quality of materials—be it the sumptuousness of a linen wall or sofa, a velvet cushion, a beautiful rug, or the warmth of a stone floor—infuses life into a neutral palette.”

—Martin Brudnizki

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The intention was to design rooms that felt like they had always been there, as though you were staying at a friend’s old family villa on the Italian coast, while simultaneously bringing in subtle hints of contemporary life in the amenities and artwork.

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Order Martin’s new book for more inspiration, or book a consultation with him to get personalized advice for your space.

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