With the title of Piero Fornasetti’s famous wallpaper in mind, I based my idea for the Relais Regina Giovanni project in Capo di Sorrento on the theme of ‘secret keys’.

The Regina Giovanna complex is beautifully nestled in nature, hidden away between green hills and overlooking the sea.

To a visitor’s eye, it all unfolds as a process of constant discovery, starting with a long road leading up to the main building, then the front office, the courtyard, the eight rooms and the four lofts. From there, a line of rosemary bushes marks the path to the secondary building with its four apartments, before revealing a gentle slope amidst the limestone hills which leads to a private beach on the sea.

It was the lasting impression made by those colors that inspired my redesign of the rooms, restaurant and common areas, as well as the development of some brand new attractions: cinema, tea room, massage service, the Lemon Lounge, a fitness area and a private beach with its own bar and restaurant.

To turn them into a reality, I had to establish a direct relationship with nature, both on the inside and the outside. I wanted the blue of the sea and the green of the Mediterranean scrub to pour into the Relais, entering the lobby and spreading to each room, breaking down all barriers. In place of the old pink walls, I opted for a full, luminous white, pairing it with olive tree green and cobalt blue. The same color palette applies to the new furniture and accessories, crafted from wood and other natural materials following the principles of minimalist design. I also wanted to make sure the rooms were as comfortable as they could be, so I decided to start fresh by emptying them out completely. This gave me a chance to radically rethink the spaces in each room and mix and move furniture from one to the next.

I only kept existing furniture when I was sure it would fit my vision. I added custom-made items and accessories, plus elegantly-finished, queen-sized new beds. For the courtyard, where guests gather for breakfast and dinner, I designed large wrought iron tables to replace the old ones – a way to highlight the luxurious pleasure of a beautiful meal at the start and at the end of each day. The resulting Regina Giovanna experience sits at the intersection between seeing and feeling, which in my original vision was the ‘secret key’ to unlocking true pleasure for all guests of the Relais. “Take your pleasures seriously” – Charles Eames