Antique & Vintage Objects, Curated with an Eye for Interiors
I have always been fascinated by interiors and by the way a single object can change the character of a room. I love bringing together pieces from different periods and places — objects chosen not because they belong to one particular style, but because of their beauty, material, form, craftsmanship and presence.
Before creating Mona’s Atelier, my previous career gave me the opportunity to live in several countries. Wherever I lived, one of my greatest pleasures was creating a home: choosing colours and materials, restoring and decorating, selecting tiles and finishes, and bringing together objects and influences that might come from entirely different periods and cultures.
Over the years, this developed into a very personal way of looking at interiors. I am drawn to designers who approach rooms with the same freedom — mixing periods, colour, texture and cultural influences rather than allowing a single style or era to dictate a space.
Mona’s Atelier grew naturally from that passion. Based in Apulia, Italy, I personally source antique and vintage pieces from across Italy and Europe. Natural stone remains a particular love, alongside ceramics, glass, lighting, brass and silver, and European, Arabic and African decorative arts — but ultimately I am guided by the individual object rather than by category.
What interests me most is seeing an object in a new context. An antique lamp may be paired with a contemporary shade; pieces from different decades, countries and traditions can sit beautifully together. I believe a distinctive interior develops through this layering — through objects collected because they speak to us rather than because they conform to a prescribed style.
Sustainability is also an important part of the philosophy behind Mona’s Atelier. There are already so many beautifully made objects in the world, created from natural and enduring materials and capable of being enjoyed for generations. I would much rather rediscover and preserve them than contribute to a culture of disposable decoration. Plastic has very little place in my collection; when it does appear, it is because the material itself belongs to the history and design of an earlier era.
Mona’s Atelier is therefore a continually evolving collection, shaped by my own curatorial eye — objects I find beautiful, unusual and worth preserving, each selected for its individual character and decorative presence.
