Designers often create beautiful spaces, but few can truly infuse the essence of time and place in concert with their own personal style. Interior designer and architect Michele Bönan is one of them. The Florentine designer has a sixth sense when it comes to design, seamlessly transmitting the chic Italian lifestyle while keeping the energy of a space on par with its surroundings. His polished taste and use of everlasting materials make him unique in the industry, in Italy and globally.
Bönan's extensive list of projects ranges from Aspen to Dubai to Miami to Munich. As the creative mind behind Cipriani’s interiors, Ritz Carlton hotels, and many private residences, his aesthetic has proven to be one-of-a-kind. That’s why we’re thrilled to sit down with Bönan to discuss work, his passions and his unwavering devotion to timeless design.
What piqued your interest in interior design and architecture?
"All that has always surrounded me, 'the beautiful.' Walking the streets of Florence daily, surrounded by the beauty that has persisted through centuries. Observing what architecture has been able to create in the world, carefully examining the proportions and the deceptive 'disproportions' of the great architects throughout the centuries."
What inspires you today?
"Curiosity has been my most pronounced characteristic, and naturally, a passion for the history of architecture, as only by understanding history can we make a significant contribution to contemporary design."
Where do you go to find inspiration?
"From the daily observation of everything, even the smallest detail can give me inspiration for a new project. And, of course, my travels around the world, especially in Italy, contribute to this as well."
What is your favorite project featured in the book?
"They are all like different movies with different actors... I love them all like my children, each with their own unique personalities."
How does the present reflect your formidable style?
"It is merely the continuity of the first, where each project has its own story, and even though the projects may appear different since they arise from different logics, they must always share good taste and the concept of timelessness."