There's a philosophy at the heart of Atelier Modern that guides everything we choose for our shelves here in Larchmont: beauty isn't reserved for special occasions. It's not something you save for the perfect room or the perfect moment. It's found in the everyday—if you know how to look for it.
We were reminded of this in the best possible way on a recent family trip to Florence and Sorrento.
Beauty in the Streets of Florence
Florence doesn't ease you in. You step off a train or out of a taxi and suddenly you're surrounded by centuries of thoughtful design—the proportions of a doorway, the patina on a leather-bound book in a market stall, the perfect shade of ochre on a building that's stood since the Renaissance.
Walking those streets with kids in tow is its own kind of education. They notice things differently than we do. A cobblestone pattern becomes a game. A gelato cone becomes a color study—pistachio green against a cone the color of warm sand.
Rather than rushing from one landmark to the next, we found ourselves following their curiosity. One side street led to another, a tiny workshop became an unexpected stop, and some of our favorite discoveries—a hand-thrown ceramic bowl and a small brass object whose original purpose remains a mystery—came from those unplanned detours. It was a reminder that the best experiences are often the ones you never planned for.
Sorrento and the Beauty of the Landscape
Sorrento offered a different kind of inspiration. There, beauty wasn't found in architecture as much as it was in the landscape itself—the cliffs, the sea, the scent of citrus carried on the breeze.
We stayed at a beautiful property where we were invited to wander the grounds and pick lemons, olives, and pomegranates straight from the trees. It was such a simple experience, but one that made us feel connected to the place in a way a typical vacation rarely does. The kids loved collecting fruit, and there was something deeply satisfying about enjoying ingredients that had grown just steps from where we were staying.
And yes, there was gelato. Plenty of it. It became a daily ritual, punctuating afternoons after exploring the town. There's something wonderfully honest about a four-year-old declaring, with complete seriousness, that today's lemon gelato was "life-changing." Children have a way of reminding us to fully appreciate small moments of joy without overthinking them.
Bringing It Home
We didn't return with a suitcase full of souvenirs so much as a renewed appreciation for what we're always trying to do at Atelier Modern: curate pieces that embody that same sense of care and intention. Objects that reward a second look. Things made by people who considered the proportions, the texture, and the way light moves across a surface.
Beauty isn't found only in Florentine piazzas or Sorrentine lemon groves—though we certainly won't pretend those don't help. It's in a beautifully made ceramic mug on your own kitchen counter. It's in the way you arrange the objects you love. It's in taking the time to notice.
That's what we brought home from Italy. Not just beautiful objects, but a reminder that beauty is less about where you are than how you choose to see.
The image above was taken in Massa Lubrense, (just outside of Sorrento) at sunset.