Marco Semeghini's house is filled with books, artworks and objects he collects from his travels
Marco Semeghini's Florence home matches his personality - and everything in the house is testament to his love for books and travel
STORY FRANCESCA DAVOLI / LIVING INSIDE
PHOTOGRAPHY FABRIZIO CICCONI / LIVING INSIDE
RESIDENT
Marco Semeghini, former art director of Tom Ford and director of sales for Gucci Men
LOCATION
Florence, Italy
SPECIAL FEATURE
Years ago, Semeghini was staying at a friend’s house in Mumbai, where he fell in love with a beautiful black-and-white picture of a girl from the Russian suburbs. His friend told him about the German photographer who shot the portrait, and Semeghini arranged to meet the artist as soon as he could travel to Berlin. The portrait is now showcased in his living room.
Marco Semeghini is in his element. The former art director of Tom Ford and director of sales for Gucci Men has lived an elegant and sophisticated life, and it shows - not just in his pleasant and refined demeanour, but also in every corner of his beautiful, cultured home. Semeghini, who now teaches at Marangoni University and other fashion institutes, has spent considerable time creating the perfect haven in Florence, Italy.
It took several house changes before he finally settled into this space. The apartment, situated in a former convent of the Sant'Ambrogio district in the heart of Florence, captivated Semeghini with its otherworldly charm. He saw in the home a sort of estrangement, a sense of rapture, the strange feeling of being in an exquisite place that could belong anywhere in Europe - and he realised it matched his personality perfectly.
Semeghini was personally involved with the home's restoration, and the process was at times a difficult one. "I made a few errors," he admits. "But all in all, I'm satisfied, as I got to see my house turn into exactly what I imagined. [For better or worse], it matches me."
While developing the interior design, he took inspiration from two of his primary interests - reading and travelling. "I have a constant craving for books," he explains. "I can't control myself and keep buying too many of them - definitely more than what I can read, though I have a pretty good pace. Then there are art books, the big passion of my life, which I [collect in hopes of] becoming a real expert on the subject] some day, and not just the enthusiastic amateur I am today."
This comes as no surprise to the guests lucky enough to get a peek inside Semeghini's home. Books permeate the beautiful space, lining the shelves in front of the dining table, not to mention from floor to ceiling in the living area and in the open loft area on the second floor. The exquisite sketches and stunning black-and-white photography speak to his love of art, while the unusual collectables and ornaments are testament to his interest in travelling the world.