Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1215366
Alessandra Branca will appear at Moxie, as part of Texas Design Week Houston Thursday, March 26, 6:30 pm, for cocktails, illustrated talk, and book signing. Texas Design Week is a ticketed event. For complete schedule and tickets, go to texasdesignweek.com. A lessandra Branca's Italian roots are showing. The Rome-born designer has lived and worked in Chicago for more than 30 years, forming the basis for a rich blend of classically inspired interiors and an all- American look that's welcoming and fresh. Antiques, custom furnishings, and modern and European art all have a place in Branca's lush world. Revered by those who love design, she's known for her deft use of color, often taking a page from the past with vibrant Pompeian red and mellow ocher hues, which remind her of the ancient and gregarious city of Rome. Why Rome? "Because it's where everything started for me," Branca writes in her book New Classic Interiors (Stewart, Tabori, & Chang). She's currently at work on another book, and her interiors have been featured in Architectural Digest, Town & Country, The New York Times, Veranda, and Elle Decor. Last year, she collaborated with de Gournay on a collection of wallpapers dipped in history, inspired by the imperial court of Catherine the Great. The collection is made in India, with hand-painted flowers embellished with hand- embroidered silk and metallic threads. Her master bedroom design for Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach last month was awash in blue and white, with her Portuguese- inspired wallpaper from de Gournay and fabrics from h e r n e w l i n e , C a s a B r a n c a , which will debut later this spring. T h e c o l l e c t i o n a l s o i n c l u d e s wallpapers, and home accessories. Expect to see lots of Branca-approved color and pattern, such as classical stripes, florals, geometrics, and even camouflage. AWE-INSPIRING ALESSANDRA DESIGNER ALESSANDRA BRANCA TAKES A PAGE FROM HER ROMAN PAST. BY REBECCA SHERMAN Alessandra Branca For Kips Bay Decorator Show House Palm Beach, Branca used her own de Gournay wallpaper and Casa Branca fabrics. The new Casa Branca collection of fabrics, wallpaper and home decor. Embroidered fabric for de Gournay and The Rug Company rug were designed by Alessandra Branca. 89