A stroll down the "Via Delle Sorelle"(Street of the Sisters)
or..."Well, Dad, If you won¹t take us all to Italy can we have a little bit
of Italy come here?"
Four, very popular, teenage sisters with dreams of European adventures
charmed their Dad into having their computer room and bedroom hallway
transformed into an Italian street scene. Using multi-layered wall finishes,
decorative painting, hand-lettering, mural art, woodgraining, and a lot of
research, this white walled corridor evolved into a colorful Tuscany
treasure.
Details gleaned from photos of a visit to the hilltop town of Pienza
inspired the design. Architectural elements, wall surfaces, street fixtures,
flora, signage and the distant vistas of the surrounding countryside were
all blended into an authentic replication.
The artistic challenges for designing within a 4' wide hallway required
special considerations. To achieve as natural an appearance as possible, a
"floating perspective" was developed by creating multiple vanishing points
rendered to attain a realistic look from each of the four bedroom doorways
and as you pass through the hall.
The low entry into the "Piazza del Computer" captures the essence of
centuries old crusty brick, mortar and stucco by utilizing three different
"out of the can" latex materials layered to capture the flavor of distressed
masonry. The passageway leads to an open "courtyard" with a soft summer
sky, and old wooden beams wrapped with vines painted on the ceiling. A
hand-lettered street sign framed by an old knurly vine welcomes you to the
"Street of the Sisters"
Turning the corner you pass three trompe l'oeil windows each with its own
character. Complex Italian ceramics, potted plants and sheer draperies
veiling imaginary darkened rooms invite you to peek inside.
Like the tiny dwellings tucked into backstreet Pienza, each of the girls'
bedrooms is identified with a small address plaque to more easily direct the
masses of visiting friends...a much needed convenience for frazzled
parents... "She's in number 3."
Down the hall, you cross the bridge overlooking tile rooftops and the
rolling vineyards below. Ancient villas nestled on surrounding hilltops and
the distant mountains seemingly push the walls back to the horizon. Another
handpainted vine, created to unify the walls and ceiling, awaits you at the
end of the tour.
Like a precious jewel, this bedroom corridor has become the featured area in
the home which beckons visitors to take a leisurely stroll down the "Via
Delle Sorelle".
