Sunday, July 20, 2008

Ciao J.K. Capri


Have you ever seen a space that made you want to immediately sell off everything you own and completely redecorate?! Well that was the exact reaction I had while touring the J.K. Capri. I woke up at 6AM on my last day in Italy and hopped on a bus headed to the Marina Grande where the J.K. overlooks the water and boats below. I wasn't sure if I'd have the same luck as I'd had in Florence, but was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by the kindest (and hottest) employee who told me to make myself at home and even offered me some coffee. Nothing could have prepared me for the absolute perfection I was about to see...


First stop: the staircase. Built by architect and interior designer Michele Bonan, this Asian inspired staircase literally makes me want to get married right now and buy a house just so I can rip out the existing balustrade and replace it with this one. Priceless. The painting is called Portrait of a Lady by Stanley Grimm, and I love how it's paired with the more modern frames and photography.


The reception area is built with the same concept as that of the J.K. Florence, where the space is designed to look nothing like a standard hotel guest check-in. The walls are covered by a thick woven seagrass and paired with white wood detailing and sconces. The look is simple and sophisticated, and call me crazy but I think it would be the perfect style for a nursery! Imagine seagrass walls, white wood accents and furniture, and splashes of pink here and there. (Ok my friend just found out she's pregnant so I've got nurseries on the brain;)

Another view of the reception area. Loving the wingback chair designed by Bonan.


Next we have the insanely beautiful library, complete with furniture designed by Bonan and vintage accent pillows. Framed photos of Sofia Loren and other famous guests of Capri are sprinkled throughout.


Guests can choose from an array of carefully selected design and lifestyle books to read in one of the many chic lounge areas. I think if I stayed here I would probably never even leave the hotel!

Moving on we have another spectacular room, the lounge, featuring rugs and pillows by Dedar and furniture designed by Bonan.

The lounge also features an early 20th century Chinese console and saturated blue walls, the color of Capri.


A conversation corner with a floor lamp designed by Bonan for Estro.

Next stop, the dining room. The same Asian inspired side chairs as seen in J.K. Florence can be found throughout. Bonan designed them for Chelini. I love the wide wood plank flooring that connects all the rooms so seamlessly.

The dining room features a nineteenth century marble fireplace from France, and chandeliers designed by Bonan for Estro. How cute are the silver starfish hanging from the sconces! The black-and-white photos of shells found throughout the space are by Christopher Draghi.

You know I love gallery walls :) This one is spectacular.

Here's a great shot to see how seamlessly the floor plan flows. If you look closely, you can see all the way into the library at the other end of the hotel. I also wanted to show you the neoclassical touches in the dining room and the late 19th century ceramic busts.


And there you have it. Hopefully you were all as inspired as me :)

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Okay!!!! I've been breathlessly waiting for your post....oh what desserts you have served us. Amazingly thoughtful design.... and bold yet, comfortable. Your pictures are so clear and book worthy. Can you share your camera type?

I need to go there....as some need to kiss the blarney stone. Thank you, Ginny

MABELLE said...

Haha YAY!! I'm so glad to hear you like it just as much as me! You definitely need to go- it's unreal.

As for my camera, it's a Leica D-Lux 3 and I love it. The image quality is due partially to the camera (10 mega pixels!) and partially due to the time of day I was there. I went in the morning so I'd have soft lighting and it worked perfectly :) Anyway thanks for your comment and I'm glad you like the pics! http://en.leica-camera.com/photography/compact_cameras/d-lux_3/

Anonymous said...

How lovely of you to share. Ginny

Unknown said...

I ve never been to Italy, and as I grew up in an Italian family in Argentina is strange but always imagined too passionate people together and that overwhelmed but your photos are making me change my mind.
Should I skip Roma?

Suzy said...

It's stunning! I especially love the panelling in the reception area. Now, I can't decide which one I love more...

Habitually Chic said...

That dining room color is gorgeous! I love it! They sell Christopher Draghi photos at Flair in NYC. I love them too! So glad you had fun and could share it with us!

Mrs. Blandings said...

This is absolutely gorgeous and I love everything about it. A word of caution - scary, unpredictable things can happen in nurseries. They are not a good place for grass cloth - unless you can stomach the vinyl look alikes. Trust me.

Lauren said...

Beautiful! How come everything in Capri is so damn amazing!? We've missed you!

Lauren said...

Beautiful! How come everything in Capri is so damn amazing!? We've missed you!

Anonymous said...

words can't describe how gorgeous this hotel is. i think i've saved most of the pics from j.k. florence for inspiration. thanks for sharing!

Oliveaux said...

Stunning!!!! I want to go and stay!!! xx Amanda

Style Court said...

Michelle -- a huge thanks! Such a treat to see more images, more details. And to get your perspective. You know how much I LOVE this place.

Thrilled you got to visit.

AshleyL. said...

oh i love that yellow room! too stunning!

blah said...

Oh wow! this is inspirational!

Dani @ Weddings Fresh said...

i LOVE those high round "windows" in each of the rooms--and those paint colors are fabulous.

Persian Tea said...

i just found your blog and i love it!

annechovie said...

Hi Michelle,
Love this post! I have seen this place in Euro magazines before, but you gave us some great views I'd never seen before. This is definitely on my list next time I get an opportunity to travel to Italy. It's beyond gorgeous!

Unknown said...

This is such a gorgeous place! Wish I was taking a vacation there! Daisy~

AMM blog said...

Wow! I'm so amazed! So beautiful!!

la la Lovely said...

Yes.... totally inspired... adding this to my wish list to visit. So pretty, I'm going to have to take time to really study these photos, they are so detailed and layered. Thanks for sharing! Love the lady portrait in the staircase and those pink pillows are fabulous!

Trina
la la lovely

cassandra said...

first off, i am INCREDIBLY jealous that you got to experience JK in person! i've been dying to go for years. and i cannot believe how perfect it looks in all your photos!

second, i am in love with the pink/navy pillows

third, a hotel that stocks lifestyle and design books? on capri? i would never leave either!!

Fifi Flowers said...

Love the checkered floor and the houndstooth stools...

Unknown said...

just divine!

Unknown said...

what an amazing place!!! i especially love the stairway railing.
swoon. xox

Unknown said...

Thanks for the pictures of this amazing Hotel. I was in Florence in July and was treated so grandly at the JK Place Hotel there. I think the JK Hotels are the truly the on the top of list for well designed Hotels in Italy.

Alkemie said...

Thank you so much for sharing this GORGEOUS hotel with us! Definitely an insipiration.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous...I hope to see it in person one day...thanks for sharing your wonderful travels and inspiration.

allyb said...

I LOVE the J.K. Thank you, Thank you! I was planning on painting my library (no windows) the dining room color, but I saw the lounge and love that color too! Have you tried to identify either color? I have access to Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams where I live...if anyone can help with finding the color please reply! Also, do you think the capri blue too dark with no windows? You do get light in the room from a couple of bedrooms off the library....Thank you so much for the visual treat!

Brillante Interiors said...

I arrived here via La Dolce Vita Post. Gorgeous pictures (the camera helps, I have a Leica too,a film one, but if you don't have the "eye"...)
Capri is magic, the light, the faraglioni,the scenery, the fish "all'acqua pazza"...can't wait to go back.
Thanks for the tour.

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