Chiara Andreatti guides us to discover her artistic and design vision, offering us a passionate and fascinating reading of her creations for cc-tapis . Works imbued with art, tradition and culture, the rugs are a key component in a furnishing project, a decorative element that enriches and makes the interior more characteristic.

Chiara Andreatti for cc-tapis

Chiara Andreatti was born not far from Venice and moved to Milan to study first at the European Institute of Design and then attend a master's degree at the Domus Academy. He has worked with numerous design studios such as Raffaella Mangiarotti, Renato Montagner and Lissoni Associati studio where he has collaborated for more than ten years. He designs for companies such as cc-tapis, Glas Italia, Lema, Potocco, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna, Non Sans Raison, Starbucks, MM chandeliers, Pretziada, PaolaC, Ichendorf, Mingardo and Atipico.

We know that you deal with both interior and product projects, could you explain your creative process and if it changes between the 2 types?

In both cases, the initial design phase remains the same. I always start from a search, usually I start with something that I have seen or found from my photographic archive. I pay close attention to what surrounds me and I do a lot of research on contemporary art, architecture, craftsmanship. Attention to detail always remains the essential key that makes a project special. Certainly the design on different scales requires different interventions, in the product it is essential to look for a good proportion in the forms and a combination of artisan intervention and industrial production. In the interior, it depends on the type of intervention if done from scratch or bound to a shell, it will always be necessary to seek that balance given between furnishings, finishes, lights and details that will make that space characteristic and special.

You recently worked on the NEST project within the Four Seasons Hotel in Milan, where you completely redone the bar in the Sala Camino, could you explain how this project was born?

NEST project Hotel Four Seasons Milano

I was contacted to revisit one of the oldest rooms of the hotel on the occasion of the two most important events for Milan: Fashion Week and the Salone del Mobile. I immediately wanted to recreate an intimate space capable of offering a more intimate dimension compared to the hectic reality of the city, enhancing and integrating my intervention with the historical envelope of the building I had. I have selected each piece designed by my collaborations in recent years studying the best finishes to enhance their beauty and harmony. The use of soft lights, luxuriant plants that divide the spaces in different cocoon areas, to recreate a contemporary and international living room have been essential for this project. A strong impact was also given by the use of the carpet that covered the entire flooring, enhancing the friezes and the historic frame of the room.

Have you had any design limits in creating a contemporary interior inside a historic and prestigious building that has its origins in the 1700s?

Obviously, designing within such a prestigious and historic space has limits related to Fine Arts, every intervention must not be invasive not only from an aesthetic but also a physical point of view. Alternative solutions had to be chosen without intervening on the masonry for wall lighting and thus for the large central chandelier. A real restoration was also done to restore and revive the Pompeian red plaster that was present in the room. I am very satisfied with this project because through finishing interventions (each coating has been studied ad hoc) and furnishings the envelope has been enhanced, enhancing details that often remained hidden.

Do you have any advice for those who are involved in the design of a residential interior and do not know which carpet to insert?

New Japan by Chiara Andreatti for cc-tapis

My idea of interior belongs to an imaginary of tones and natural materials mixed with purely decorative elements such as rugs and any type of object that tells a story. The carpet must be a decorative element that enriches and makes the interior more characteristic. The warmth and harmony in an environment is fundamental, through a good balance of tones and decorations you can get to an interior that transmits character and personality.

You have been collaborating with cc-tapis and your first collection of Primitive Weave  was presented for the first time at the Salone del Mobile 2015, had you already worked with carpets before this collaboration?

Primitive Weave by cc-tapis

The collaboration with cc-tapis started in 2015 and it was my first experience in the world of carpets. I have always wanted to design rugs, I am very passionate, especially of the Iranian, Caucasian ones of the 40s / 50s knotted. I have always had a very strong bond with the world of fabrics and textures, rugs are real pieces of art and are like storytellers because they reveal the history of a tradition. They add a sense of warmth to any home bringing a kind of exotic touch to any home interior.

After 5 years and many projects with cc-tapis, what do you think of their production crafts? Have you learned anything in particular?

cc-tapis sweaping plasterworks

For me, handicraft production is essential, which fully reflects my vision of the project. The details, the materiality, the strong link to the raw materials and traditions of a people make a different and special project. Cc-tapis remains far from the philosophy of mass production and manages to guarantee a high quality tailor-made product. It is very stimulating to start with such natural raw materials and traditional processes that gradually define a project. Often through various research and tests we find that detail that creates a turning point and thus enhances the project.

When you design a carpet, do you have a precise idea of what materials you would like to use?

cc-tapis drying in the sun

Most of the time I don't start from a specific reference, I let myself be carried away by traditions, processes and raw materials. It is essential for me to start from a research, which can be photographic, related to raw materials, to my travels and to the nature that leads me to experiment with new techniques. I find the use of earth-related materials very important and I try to convey this sense of authenticity when I can to every project of mine.

If you had to choose one of your designs for your home, which one would you choose?

Primitive Weave carpet by cc-tapis

I am very attached to all my projects, certainly with Primitive Weave I immersed myself in the world of textiles, but all the collections have stories and related research and traditions and cultures that have influenced me in some way. In short, they tell different moments and journeys that I have undertaken.

Photo credit: Photo by Silvia Rivoltella

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