Art Monday: Alcova at Milan Design Week 2023

Last month I attended Milan Design Week for the first time. I trekked through Salone del Mobile, which is the enormous furniture fair, and scurried from showroom to showroom of established brands in the city. It was important to me to also take in the indie scene. Alcova topped the list.

Alcova 2023 was held in the former Porta Vittoria abattoir on Via Molise. It’s an abandoned, decaying site replete with graffiti. I adored it. I may have taken more photographs of the buildings and grounds than the art and furniture, but it was all truly fabulous.

I was very proud of myself for having found my way via a public bus. (The metro doesn’t really reach that area, which is just east of the city.) I was 40 minutes early and there was a line. I spent the time talking with a two guys, one from Milan involved in the art scene, and his friend, a Belgian from Paris who is a designer. A perk of traveling solo.

Scroll through my favorite photos from Alcova during Milan Design Week 2023.

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week Alcova 2023 Milan Design Week

Just In: 25% off at Serena & Lily Thank You Sale

The best sale of the year is here for a favorite StyleCarrot partner. It’s the Serena & Lily Thank You Event.  If you’ve been eyeing Serena & Lily’s new striped grasscloth wallcovering or furnishings in rust, ochre, and historical blue, now is the time.

  • Everything at Serena  Lily is 25% off with code GRATITUDE through Wednesday, November 30, 2022. Discount excludes items in the Sale section of the website, gift certificates, art, and the C7 Bike. 

You can explore the sale here, or scroll down to see my picks. I think I might need that beaded sconce—just one for a funky, asymmetrical touch. I’m also really loving the lines of the ochre sofa with that pleated detail at the bottom.

Serena & LIly rust and blue furnishings

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Serena & LIly skirted sofa Black Friday Sale

Serena & Lily Black Friday Sale ochre bedroom grasscloth wallpaper

Serena & LIly bedroom decor Black Friday Sale

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Don’t forget to add plants.
Shop The Sill  for 45% OFF this Cyber Week >
The Sill For Live Plants Delivered To Your Door

Just In: Everything Is 20% Off at Serena & Lily (Even New Arrivals)

Coastal California has been rebranded as Coastal Grandmother style. Why now? Nancy Meyers films (Something’s Gotta Give, It’s Complicated, etc.) spawned the term; talk about a delayed reaction. The Coastal Grandmother trend has been ubiquitous for, like, ever.

It’s not just in California; New England is inundated with breezy coastal decor. So is much of the rest of the country; one look at Instagram confirms it. Why so popular? It’s fresh, pretty, and accessible.

Serena & Lily nailed the look years ago and the brand’s social media presence has helped perpetuate the look. Call it Coastal California style or the Coastal Grandma trend, either way, the look lives on.

EVERYTHING at Serena & Lily is 20% off until May 31, 2022, even new arrivals and sale items. (Excludes art.) USE CODE: GOFORIT. There’s now a flat delivery rate making shopping & shipping more efficient.

These pieces from Serena & Lily are easy to integrate into any space:

Serena & Lily Coastal Grandmother Trend Sale Summer 2022

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Some of my favorite Serena & Lily new arrivals (there are over 150!) :

Serena & Lily Summer Sale 20% Off Everything Coastal Grandma

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 Serena & Lily does Grandma Coastal Style to Perfection:

Serena & Lily Daybed Sunroom Style

Gingham Daybed

Breakfast Room Coastal Decor

Open Lantern Pendant Light

Rattan Furniture For Your Deck

Rattan Sofa

Bistro Counter Stool Serena & Lily

Bistro Counter Stool

Beach House Decor Palmetto Wallpaper Blue & White

Scalloped Rattan Side Table

Beach House Bedroom Natural Furnishings

Caned Front Chest

Breakfast Pavilion Beach House Decor

Pinstriped Side Chairs

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Follow @StyleCarrot on Instagram.

Spruce up your decor with plants from The Sill >The Sill For Live Plants Delivered To Your Door

Just In: New England Makers Holiday Gift Guide

Yesterday, Boston Globe Magazine. published my annual holiday gift guide. All the presents in this year’s gift guide hail from New England designers and makers. I also listed local, independent stores where you can buy them, whenever possible.

Shopping local has never been more important, but this year it’s practical too given the shipping delays and shortages on shelves. Many of these holiday gift guide items are crafted  in local studios. You’ll still want to order early, because handmade takes time.

Here are 18 of my 30 recommendations. I hope you will click through to the Boston Globe to see the rest of my  holiday gift guide picks.

If it prompts you to subscribe, please consider doing so. I believe the first six months only costs $1. If you live in New England, think of what it would be like not to have a local newspaper. We need your support. Thank you! And, happy holiday shopping.

Boston Globe Magazine Holiday Gift Guide 2021 Shop Local New England Makers Holiday Gift Guide 2021 Shop Local

1 Wine club subscription, from $50 at The Urban Grape, 303 Columbus Avenue, Boston, 857-250-2509, theurbangrape.com

2 Geometric knit throw, from $369 at Anna.

3 Farmhouse wreath with faux peonies, from $178 at Cranberry Customs on Etsy.

4 Adorable Angel doll, $74.99 at Fusion Dolls, Westgate Mall, Brockton, 617-291-7177, fusiondolls.com

5 French Clay soap by Dear Botanicals, $12 at Wyllo, 65 Thayer Street, Boston, 617-982-2965, shopwyllo.com

6 Weeping Oak earrings by We Dream in Colour, $100 at Gift at the Gardner, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 25 Evans Way, Boston, 617-278-5122, gift.gardnermuseum.org

7 Rover rain cape by Cleverhood, $99 at Dash Bicycle , 230 Broadway, Providence, 401-453-3274, dashbicycle.com

8 Hot sauce by Hillside Harvest, $8.99 at Savenor’s Butcher Shop and Market, 160 Charles Street, Boston, 617-723-6328, and 92 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, 617-576-6328; savenorsmarket.com

9 Bellcate School dog treats, $8.50 at Common Deer, 210 College Street, Burlington, Vermont, 802-497-0100, commondeer.com

10 The Maine House by Maura McEvoy, Basha Burwell, and Kathleen Hackett, $50 at Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard Street, Brookline, 617-566-6660, brooklinebooksmith.com

s11 Victory/Peace CandleHand, $40 at 54celsius.com

12 Cargo truck by Luke’s Toy Factory, $24 at Daytrip Jr., 9 Ocean Avenue, Kennebunkport, Maine, 207-967-8345, daytripsociety.com

13. Game On tennis backpack by Ame & Lulu, $98 at Leather World, 30A Langley Road, Newton Centre, 617-332-6519, shopleatherworld.com

14 Diamond Sunburst Pyrite necklace by Devon Road Jewelry, $400 at Folklorica, 61 Union Street, Newton Centre, 617-630-1815, shopfolklorica.com

15 Color Palette canvas print, $68 at Lunch City Studio, 265 Washington Street, Somerville, lunchcitystudio.com

16 Zesty Morning organic body butter by Organic Bath Co., $29 at Follain, 65 Charles Street, Boston, 857-233-5211, follain.com

17 Somerset Dopp kit, from $120 at 33byhand.com

18 Classic Man beard, head, and body oil by Mavology, $28 at The Holiday Market at Snowport