Vacation Dreaming: Elegant Simplicity on the Italian Island of Pantelleria
by Fan Winston
When Julie showed me images of Tenuta Borgia on the island of Pantelleria, named One of the 10 Best Secret Islands in Europe by Condé Nast Traveler, I felt a spark of recognition. The rustic stone lodging, the white-washed walls, the sparkling pool, the unrelenting sun—I had most definitely never been there before (I wish!), yet it all seemed eerily familiar.
Turns out, the estate, which consists of seven dammusi (one-story houses made of volcanic rock), plays a prominent role in Luca Guadagnino’s A Bigger Splash, starring Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes. The director, who also helmed Call Me By Your Name, another European-set film with shabby-elegant homes, called it “a dream setting.” We can see why.
Join us for a tour of two of Tenuta Borgia‘s dammusi.
Dammuso Grande
Above: Dammuso Grande is the largest of the seven rentals and can accommodate up to eight guests. It has been officially declared a “monument” by the Italian Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and Landscape.
Above: Pantelleria is geographically closer to Tunisia than to Italy, and it shows in the dominant architecture and interior style on the island.
Above: A simple arrangement of olive branches on a marble-topped credenza. Tenuta Borgia also has a working olive orchard and vineyard on the property.
Above: Mixing tile designs works when they’re in the same palette.
Above: An emphasis on wood and white creates a soothing color scheme.
Above: Each dammuso has alcoved windows and shelving.
Above: The beautifully tiled sink in the bathroom.
Above: The sparkling pool (which features prominently in the movie). Several of the dammusi on the property include private pools. Rates start at €3,700 per week for the low season.
Dammuso Vigna
Above: A small, tidy kitchen in Dammuso Vigna, which can accommodate a couple.
Above: The quintessence of simplicity in the bedroom.
Above: Dammuso Vigna is small, but it has a sizeable outdoor space.
Above: An outdoor kitchen is to the left of the dining table.
Above: A thatched roof provides respite from the sun. Dammuso Vigna’s rate starts at €700 per week for the low season.
For more vacation ideas, see:
- A Romantic Monastery-Turned-Vacation Rental on the Amalfi Coast
- Italian Spring: A Villa in the Puglia Countryside, with Rooms for Let
- Edinburgh Bolthole: A Stylish One-Room Vacation Apartment Converted from a Garage
N.B.: This story originally ran on June 21, 2019 and has been updated.
10 Easy Pieces: Our Editors’ Favorite Elegant, Everyday Drinking Glasses
by Alexa Hotz
An essential for any kitchen: well-proportioned all-purpose drinking glasses. Here’s what we’ve got on our shelves.
Above: On the higher end of the pricing spectrum, the R+D Lab Luisa Clear Water Glass is made of lightweight and durable Swiss borosilicate; $96 for a set of two via Heath Ceramics.
Above: Francesca is a fan of the Jasper Morrison for Alessi Glass Family Set. The glasses are available in three sizes from Finnish Design Shop: Red Wine Glass, White Wine Glass, and Water Tumbler; all are the same price: $64 for a set of four.
Above: The micro-thin Marta Barware line from CB2 is well priced and appealing; the clear versions are currently on sale for $2 apiece at CB2.
Above: From iconic French company Duralex, the timeless tempered Duralex Unie Tumblers are $24 for a set of six at Duralex.
Above: Alexa’s favorite is the transparent glassware designed by architect Vincent Van Duysen. The Low Glass Passe-Partout (left) is currently on sale at Design Quarters: $82 for a set of four; the High Glass Passe-Partout is $87 for a set of four.
Above: Justine is a longtime fan of the Spanish wine glass. The Bormioli Rocco Bodega Glasses are made of tempered glass; $74.99 for a set of 18 assorted glasses at Bormioli Rocco.
Above: Simple and affordable, the Hawkins New York Essential Glassware starts at $48 for a set of four small glasses (also available in seven other colorways).
Above: Meredith is the proud owner of a set of Iittala Kartio tumblers, a classic by Finnish designer Kaj Franck. The Kartio Clear Drinking Glass Two-Pack is currently on sale for $23 at Royal Design.
Above: Janet swears by Orskov Glassware from Denmark. Made of heatproof borosilicate, the glasses are available in five sizes; from $34.15 for a set of four small glasses via Nordic Nest.
Above: Julie likes nearly indestructible and always well-priced Oaxacan-style tumblers. Oaxacan Organic Glassware starts at $16 for a small-sized glass from Take Heart Shop (shown). Also available: the Medium Tumbler by Xaquixe, handmade in Oaxaca from recycled glass and using alternative energy; $56 for a set of two from Goodee.
Above: The Williams-Sonoma Pint Glasses Set of Four is $59.95 at Williams-Sonoma.
Above: Annie adores the delicate Cast Japanese Glassware from Kinto, available in four sizes and designed for various beverages. Made of heat-resistant glass, the glasses range from the Cast Green Tea Glass ($21.60 and the Cast Water Glass ($28) to the Cast Iced Tea Glass ($31.25) and the Cast Beer Glass ($36.80); prices are for sets of four.
Above: For glasses en masse, the Ikea 365 15 Ounce Clear Glass is $12.99 for a pack of six.
N.B.: This post was originally published on July 27, 2011. We have updated it with new and additional product selections and current pricing.
For more glassware we love, see:
For daily dispatches and more favorite finds, head to Remodelista.com. For bonus content—like our weekly Quick Takes column—consider joining us as a paid subscriber.
Remodelista participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
