A Loft of One's Own
Author: James BannisterPhotographer: Sajin Park
Curated living with Tommaso Spinzi
The idea of creating a space to combine all one’s passions in an inspiring, aesthetically pleasing fashion has probably crossed all of our minds at some point. Chances are that even if we all did, it wouldn’t look quite as considered as designer Tommaso Spinzi’s Milano loft. The interior and product designer channels his lifestyle and interests into everything he does, with all things automotive playing a key role.
A Loft of One's Own
Author: James BannisterPhotographer: Sajin Park
Curated living with Tommaso Spinzi
The idea of creating a space to combine all one’s passions in an inspiring, aesthetically pleasing fashion has probably crossed all of our minds at some point. Chances are that even if we all did, it wouldn’t look quite as considered as designer Tommaso Spinzi’s Milano loft. The interior and product designer channels his lifestyle and interests into everything he does, with all things automotive playing a key role.
“Over the last few years since I moved back to Milan, I decided to work on some new concepts still rooted in interior and product design but infusing more elements from my own life. For my design work this is predominantly in the form of furniture, and I’ve now turned my loft into more of a gallery than anything else.”
“Over the last few years since I moved back to Milan, I decided to work on some new concepts still rooted in interior and product design but infusing more elements from my own life. For my design work this is predominantly in the form of furniture, and I’ve now turned my loft into more of a gallery than anything else.”
Creating a blank canvas with white walls, Tommaso set about crafting something of a container for his life’s interests, placing many items within it initially and seeing what stuck. The loft now boasts vintage collectibles, mid-century furniture, art pieces and one particularly dominating piece of automotive design – his 1983 911 SC. “Throughout the time I was putting the loft together I was designing products and re-designing a grand hotel in Milan, and I had this idea to put my 911 inside. Though I’d seen some people put cars in the home before, it hadn’t come across as very sophisticated to me and I wanted to change that.”
The car is paired with complimentary designs from a variety of eras, such as vintage Minotti furniture with bespoke trimming by Tomasso, and the 911 itself also receiving a few custom touches from its designer owner. “I’ve had the car for five years and had a lot of great times in it, from Lake Como roadtrips to track days, and along the way I’ve added a few personal touches. Whether it’s a car, furniture, interior - whatever - for me design has to be timeless. You have to think about how something will look in ten, twenty years time, not just right now.”
Creating a blank canvas with white walls, Tommaso set about crafting something of a container for his life’s interests, placing many items within it initially and seeing what stuck. The loft now boasts vintage collectibles, mid-century furniture, art pieces and one particularly dominating piece of automotive design – his 1983 911 SC. “Throughout the time I was putting the loft together I was designing products and re-designing a grand hotel in Milan, and I had this idea to put my 911 inside. Though I’d seen some people put cars in the home before, it hadn’t come across as very sophisticated to me and I wanted to change that.”
The car is paired with complimentary designs from a variety of eras, such as vintage Minotti furniture with bespoke trimming by Tomasso, and the 911 itself also receiving a few custom touches from its designer owner. “I’ve had the car for five years and had a lot of great times in it, from Lake Como roadtrips to track days, and along the way I’ve added a few personal touches. Whether it’s a car, furniture, interior - whatever - for me design has to be timeless. You have to think about how something will look in ten, twenty years time, not just right now.”
"You have to think about how something will look in ten, twenty years time, not just right now."
Tommaso's Origini collection utilises pieces from his personal collection that have seen better days to form something fresh. “I kept seeing old items of furniture, classic pieces of design, being thrown out around Milan as they weren’t collectible. As a designer this really did not sit well with me, these pieces were incredibly high quality items that made Italy famous in the 1950s for our design, so I decided to reimagine these pieces and give them new life.”
"You have to think about how something will look in ten, twenty years time, not just right now."
Tommaso's Origini collection utilises pieces from his personal collection that have seen better days to form something fresh. “I kept seeing old items of furniture, classic pieces of design, being thrown out around Milan as they weren’t collectible. As a designer this really did not sit well with me, these pieces were incredibly high quality items that made Italy famous in the 1950s for our design, so I decided to reimagine these pieces and give them new life.”
When Tomasso would ride around Milan on his classic motorcycle, he kept seeing one particular genre of stone prominently featured in the local architecture known as ‘Ceppo’. This material was chosen and paired with the restored bases of the aforementioned unloved classic furniture pieces, creating something new, yet entirely cohesive in appearance.
When Tomasso would ride around Milan on his classic motorcycle, he kept seeing one particular genre of stone prominently featured in the local architecture known as ‘Ceppo’. This material was chosen and paired with the restored bases of the aforementioned unloved classic furniture pieces, creating something new, yet entirely cohesive in appearance.
