Buongiorno a tutti! Erica Firpo’s Ciao Bella has published my interview with JJ Martin. Yes, it’s true I rave about her and her brand often but I know first hand how difficult it is to be an entrepreneur in Italy. What JJ has created is incredible. It was truly a pleasure to sit down with … Continue reading My Ciao Bella interview with JJ Martin, founder of La Double J
Ciao from a rainy morning in Rome. I know I said I was going to write on this here blog more often but work this year has been very hectic. Perhaps things will slow down during Spring ’22! I’m not complaining as these are good problems to have, especially during these strange pandemic times. I … Continue reading Villa Necchi, A Must See/Do in Milan
Buongiorno from Rome! Things have been quite hectic here even though we’re in the middle of summer. I’m staying put this year. I might go away for a long weekend in late August but it depends on what’s going on with this Delta variant. The tourists are back. Not pre-pandemic number of course but what … Continue reading Dream of Italy: Travel, Transform, and Thrive
Building and designing a new beach house on a tiny island is not the easiest of jobs. This was a personal project and I was working with several people who all have different tastes. I wanted to incorporate everyone’s ideas yet make sure the space was cohesive. This is a cottage so nothing too fancy … Continue reading The Cottage, Meads Bay Beach, Anguilla BWI – Reveal
I know I’m late to the game but I’ve just recorded my first podcast interview. I have mentioned my friend Erica Firpo’s podcast CIAO BELLA on social media before. It’s fantastic and I’m not saying that because she’s a close friend. This description of Ciao Bella sums it up perfectly. “Italy’s 21st-century creators – contemporary … Continue reading Chatting with Ciao Bella!
We’re almost done! I’m getting ready to take the ferry back to St. Martin for a few days and then I’m going home. I do miss pain in the butt (sometimes) Rome but thrilled/relieved I was able to finally make it to the job site in Anguilla. Building a new beach house on a small … Continue reading Work in Progress – Anguilla, BWI
Greetings from a construction site. I’m finally out of my fourteen day quarantine here in Anguilla. The contractor and his crew have returned to the job site. I spent the first week of quarantine at the boutique hotel Frangipani. I was supposed to be there only two nights but there was no way my sister-in-law … Continue reading Grazie, Thank You, Merci!
I can finally talk about it and I’m trying to be zen. As if it’s just another day at the office. However, I have zero chill and I’m completely geeking out. The renovation TV show pilot I’ve been working on will air this Friday on HGTV. Yes, that channel. Seriously, what is my life right now? Our show is … Continue reading Introducing RENO ITALIANO, our HGTV pilot!
Greetings from the Caribbean! There’s still no liming. I clearly remember many of my friends saying that they were glad to see 2019 go and 2020 couldn’t be worse. Well, what can I say? 2020 showed up and showed out. While I’m very fortunate not to have lost any friends or family because of Covid, several people I … Continue reading Arrivederci 2020!
Greetings from my parents’s veranda. Liming is Caribbean slang for hanging out. Spending time with family and friends. A party. There’s no liming going on here. I arrived in St. Martin a day before all Air France flights to and from Italy were canceled. Sheer luck. I had booked my trip after a major … Continue reading Lockdown in the Caribbean – No Liming
Arlene Gibbs Décor 