Villa Albergoni
Step into 1980s Italy with the aristocratic summer estate that stole our hearts.
Living Rooms is a column on YGL that takes a closer look into the designs, details, and character of spaces. A study of what makes a house a home, even when it’s fictional. Here’s to our humble abodes!
from the much loved film Call Me By Your Name. This 15,000 square foot summer residence might just be the real star of Luca Guadagnino’s award winning motion picture. But I’ll leave that up for debate.
A few months back I shared a personal essay about trespassing onto the property of this well-worn 16th century mansion. I’m excited to finally share the interiors that encouraged my solo venture through rural Italy with you. Located in picturesque Crema, this villa captivated the hearts of its viewers through the authentic details that perfectly embodied the story of the fictional Perlman family. Welcome to the Villa Albergoni!
© All photos by Giulio Ghirardi
The place is a bit of a fixer upper—and that’s exactly what starts to slowly pull you in. Fabrics are faded and the couches have grooves. There’s a real patina and charm to the furnishings, bringing a sense of nostalgia and familiarity you might even mistake as your own. The family cares for the house even though they don’t necessarily prioritize keeping it up all that well. It’s good enough. And we don’t see ‘good enough’ celebrated all that often so we start to fall even more in love with it. The Perlman’s accept the house as it is. And in return, it encourages them to slow down, focus on their studies, and enjoy the pleasures that come with long hot summer days. Luckily for us as the viewer, we get to do the same.
Before we move on, let’s take a moment for Mr. Perlman’s office (pictured above). Isn’t that something? Go ahead, zoom in and really give it a good look.
Moving along through the kitchen—I never thought I could love such a cluttered and dated mess but this space just sings! It’s full of memories, skinned knees, late nights, and out of town guests. It knows how to perfectly poach an egg and roast a chicken. I honestly can’t imagine any of these items being props. They’ve been in this kitchen, used and loved, for generations. Right? I guess that’s the magic of cinema and genius of good design.