I was looking for a special little place to create some event and organize some lessons Floral Art dedicated to a female audience who loves their home and good taste.
A few…very few steps from my house I met “ The useful and the pleasant” !
I entered…and it was immediately magic! “Here to create a pleasant, all-female morning, dedicated to home lovers and toart of receiving It's perfect!”
This oasis in the heart of Milan has just that charm; when I entered, among the flowers, containers, fabrics, and decorations, I felt at home! My eyes widened and I said to myself...this place is so much like me...it's too Silviadeifiori!
Enter the showroom Of Enrica Stabile it's like living a weekend "en plein air" in French Riviera or perhaps in a secret garden in the most romantic English countryside.
And here I am in a few minutes talking to Enrica, a special person who fascinates me from the very first words, for what she says and what she tells me: for the contents but not only, also for the coherence that shines through from every object and every detail of her showroom, her image, herself and her philosophy are one and the same.
She tells me a little about her story, prompted by me and my curious questions.
His passion was born with the fashion in the 70s, with her sister Elisabetta, they founded a "fantastic company", as she herself defined it, E+E ergo Enrica and Elisabetta. The clothing line they created was vaguely Victorian, some inspiration Liberty…and therefore floral lightness (I knew we were perfectly aligned!).
Enrica is keen to point out: “We had so much fun!” And I see a beautiful light in her eyes.
It was the years between 70 and 85 E+E built everything from scratch with great success “we did everything, we sold around the world and it all started from our little hole in Via Fiori Chiari!” And there she was, that light in her eyes returned once again!
Then came the minimalist Japanese fashion and the two sisters from two "jeunes filles en fleurs" felt like "two fish out of water".
“Times had changed, but we were not afraid, on the contrary we were good at reinventing ourselves in the H sectorome Decor. It's always been another passion of ours."
There you go, I knew it! Enrica, like me, has embraced the value of resilience!
From that moment on, a large emporium was born in the courtyard of Via della Spiga:”THE'useful and the Pleasant' “!
“25 golden years, with people who came from far away just for us…we were the first in Italy to propose this look English countryside with some French and Provençal influences”
The common thread of this beautiful tale? The tissue which still remains a major protagonist and which takes on new life in Enrica's hands.
Fabrics, furniture, old and antique objects: Enrica gives them new life with the exclusive use of natural materials, including plant pigments which is used to add color to any fabric!
And here is a wonderful array of blues and aquamarines in its linen sheets ideal for giving freshness.
Enrica, like me, doesn't give a name to things: why not use these wonderful ones? sheet Even to set a spring table? At this point I'm seriously thinking of moving here!
His mastery in the use of fabrics It is also evident in the sofa covers and in the imagination in creating cushions: how wonderful!
Enrica travels with her van in search of unique furnishings, and her restoration work is carried out with the support of her son Alessandro, a restorer in his workshop in the Isola district of Milan.
Ultimately, his aim is to create a welcoming atmosphere as only the countryside can be. He does this by mixing poor materials with more precious and refined materials, giving everything a soul.
Before saying goodbye, I ask her for a gift for my audience... a simple idea that you can replicate at home: “Store the wine bottles, line them up and put a single flower in each bottle. She chose white chrysanthemums” (I love them!) “It's a very simple thing but with a great effect!”
There it is, that special light is now in my eyes too, I can already imagine the result and I like it!
Now we both have to run away...but we're determined to organize something special together as soon as possible. Of course, you'll be the first to know!
Thanks to “Only Thursday“The Useful and Pleasant” showroom
