Italian gentlemanly interiors - “Michele Bönan: The Gentleman of Style” (2015)
- May 27
- 3 min read
Dear readers, since we were in a bit of an Italian mood, it has reminded me of something I have wanted to write about for a long time. In my previous blog, I explored how a dashing Italian baron was closely tied to his perfume creations. This time, I have been thinking about another stylish Italian gentleman whose work continues to inspire a love of beautiful living: the Florentine interior designer, Michele Bönan. I first came across his work through the interiors he created for the luxurious J.K. Place Firenze almost a decade ago; its sumptuous, elegant atmosphere immediately caught my eye, and I later began following his work for the group’s other properties, including J.K. Place Paris, which I have blogged about before. Although I have not yet had the chance to visit the Florence hotel in person, I have long wanted to step into Michele’s world and experience his refined Italian chic firsthand. When his first coffee table book titled “Michele Bönan: The Gentleman of Style” was published in 2015, it offered exactly that kind of visual journey through his hospitality projects. Today, we revisit this exquisite volume and reflect on how beautifully interior design can express the life of a style-savvy gentleman.
Published by Assouline in November 2015, this luxurious book brings together a selection of hotel interiors designed by the Florentine architect and interior designer. It includes some of his best-known works for J.K. Place hotels in Florence, Rome, and Capri, as well as Hôtel Marquis Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, Hotel Jagdgut Wachtelhof in Austria, and Palazzo Tornabuoni in Florence. This sumptuous copy also features the designer’s own home, offering a more intimate glimpse into his creative world and the aesthetic sensibility that shapes his work. It reveals how taste, heritage, and artistic instinct come together so naturally in his interiors, each one reflecting not only a sense of luxury, but also the designer’s Florentine roots and cultural refinement.
Although there are now more than one publication devoted to Michele Bönan’s work, this was the first one I owned, and it remains the most memorable. I was drawn not only to the dark chocolate-brown cover and its subtle, elegant presentation, but also to the way the interiors allowed me to revisit some of his most distinctive spaces. From upholstery and textiles selection to furniture, art objects, and the careful handling of color, everything feels considered yet never overworked. His style speaks to those who value quality, atmosphere, and restraint — people who prefer to be distinctive without being showy, and who understand that true elegance is often expressed through proportion, texture, and harmony. The result is a world that feels sophisticated, cultured, and genuinely luxurious, with a distinctly Italian sense of nobility and modern artistry. Alongside the photographs, the book also includes a Q&A section that offers further insight into his design philosophy, making it especially enjoyable for readers interested in interior design, decorative objects, collectibles, and luxury hospitality.
If one were looking for a compelling example of how gentlemanly style can be translated into interior design, this book would undoubtedly rank among the finest. Even without the designer’s physical presence, his work speaks with remarkable grace. It suggests a world in which design is not just about display, but about sensibility, quality, and the quiet art of living well.
