Category Archives: Architecture

Architecture, Culture, Interior Design, Travel

Inside Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, A Venetian Palace

July 4, 2024 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

I first caught a glimpse of Ca’ Sagredo on a cold foggy afternoon during Christmas of 2018, while taking a water taxi on the Grand Canal. As I gazed up through the Gothic Byzantine windows, I could see the dimly lit room with beams running across the ceiling. A large Murano glass chandelier hung in the center of the room, and massive murals covered the walls. Visions of the Vampire Lestat from the Ann Rice novel raced though my mind. How many centuries could one live here and go unnoticed… what a dream it would be to go inside.

man with umbrella — Standing outside Ca’ Sagredo, Venice, Italy

While visiting Venice this spring for the opening of the 60th Venice Biennale, I embarked on a spectacular behind the scenes tour of Venice. I was gifted this private tour by Nadia Friend in Venice, who specializes in these tours. It was a belated wedding gift from our 2019 nuptials, also in Venice. As we entered the building, Nadia pointed up to the sign that said ‘Ca Sagredo’ and said, Ca is short for home. Home of the Sagredo family. We entered into the quiet lobby with its red and white checkered floors. She spoke with the front desk for a moment, and then whisked us over to the Grand Staircase. I took a few steps, looked upward, and saw the massive mural Fall of the Giants. It dates back to 1732 and was painted by Venetian artist Pietro Longhi. I was in complete aw.

Staircase Fresco — Grand Staircase Mural, the ‘Fall of the Giants’, by Peitro Longhi, 1734, Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, Venice, Italy

The staircase was designed by architect Andrea Tirali and completed around 1732. At about the same time, the work on the mural began. Gerardo Sagredo spearheaded the renovation, including the halls of the building and restoration of the facade. The two marble cherubs are by Francesco Bertos, a Venetian sculptor who worked in Rome, Venice, Padua, Turin and Florence.

Marble Cherub by Francesco Bertos, Grand Staircase, Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, Venice, Italy

I reached the top of the steep staircase, and took a peak into the Il Portego, the broad salon that connects the entire first first floor to the facade overlooking the Grand Canal. I was speechless. This was the exact room that I’d seen nearly 6 years earlier from the water taxi. The grandeur of the room with its Murano glass chandeliers and massive wall murals was beyond anything I’d ever seen before. And the terrazzo floors reminded me of those at our wedding venue in the Ridotto ballroom. I nearly sprinted to the balcony to catch a glimpse of the Grand Canal below. As I looked up, I could see four quatrefoil windows which look a bit like four leaf clovers.

A quatrefoil is a four sided representation of a flower with four petals or a leaf with four leaflets. It’s also a hallmark of Gothic architecture. You might recognize the shape if you’re a fan of Louis Vuitton, as it’s frequently used in their jewelry and leather motifs.

Portego Hall with Venetian Chandelier — Portego Hall, Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, Venice, Italy

Gothic Window — Portego Hall, Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, Venice, Italy

Seating Area in Portego Hall, Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, Venice, Italy

Next we headed into the Music Ballroom, massive and grand in scale, it sets the tone for a true Venetian Palace. The frescoes covering the walls and ceiling are attributed to Gaspare Diziani. The chandeliers are truly gilded, as they’re covered in pure gold leaf. The terrazzo floor is embellished with the Sagredo family’s coat of arms.

Ceiling Mural — Ceiling Fresco, Music Ballroom, Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, Venice, Italy

The palace itself dates back to the 15th century, and was built by the Morosini family. It’s been modified several times throughout the centuries. It’s hard to imagine such an elegant world having been created, long before the pilgrims ever landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620.

In the 17th century, the palace was purchased by the Sagredos, one of the most prestigious families of the Venetian Nobility. Their family name dates back to the 11th century, with the most notable family member being Doge Nicolo Segrado. He was the 105th Doge of Venice.

Ballroon — Romi Cortier in the elegant Music Ballroom, Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, Venice, Italy

What an absolute pleasure it was to take a seat in a Royal Venetian Palace… a guy could get used to this sort of thing. And check out this amazing gondola cover below. Thank you Nadia for the thrill of a lifetime. If you’re interested in one of her private tours you can find her at: Friend in Venice Tours.

Gondola Cover — A vintage gondola cover in the lobby of Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, Venice, Italy

Learn more about Ca’ Sagredo Hotel here.

Architecture, Interior Design, Travel

Villa Takali, starting 2022 right

March 13, 2022 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Nanuku Resort Entrance, Fiji. Photo: Romi Cortier

Water Feature — Villa Takali, Fiji. Photo Romi Cortier

Villa Takali, the luxurious Fijian Resort where Love Island was filmed, is where we kicked off our new year. Our friend Natalie is friends with the owner, and since the villa hadn’t been rented for the holidays, we were encouraged to pop by at our leisure, and enjoy the property. On New Years day we headed over to the villa, despite the heavy rains. As far as I was concerned, a pool’s a pool, and even if it’s raining, it’s still 80 degrees… so how bad can it be. I had no idea what was in store for us.

To be honest, I’ve never heard of Villa Takali, and I’ve also never watched Love Island. Therefore, this entire experience took me by surprise. As we passed through the gate house, I felt like we were stepping onto a film set. We parked the car, dodged rain drops as we crossed over the tennis courts, and headed into the covered colonnade. We dropped our tote bags by the pool, and Natalie promptly took us on a 15 minute tour of the property. It seemed to go on forever.

Guest Suite, Villa Takali, Fiji. Photo: Romi Cortier

Guest Bathroom, Villa Takali, Fiji. Photo: Romi Cortier

navy blue pool — Villa Takali, Fiji. Photo; Romi Cortier

The villa spans two acres set on Loloma Beach, with 10,000 square feet of living space. Imagine if you will, a private residence with 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, upper and lower guests suites, a master suite separate from the main house, a theater room, access to the private beach in front of the home. And did I mention the pool? It’s one of the largest private pools I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Pool View — Villa Takali, Fiji. Photo: Romi Cortier

Grounds at Villa Takali — Villa Takali, Fiji. Photo: Romi Cortier

The infinity pool is covered in navy blue tiles, which gives it a luxurious dark blue color. It also makes it that much more intriguing as you step into the pool, because you’re not quite sure how deep it is. As you wade in and immerse yourself, all of your cares disappear. It’s you, the pool, the ocean, and the sky.

We spent hours swimming laps, playing games and lounging in the shallow end of the pool. I also spent some time by myself, walking the grounds of the property. There were so many beautiful details to take in. The lushness of the grounds, the multiple covered walkways, the private outdoor gardens, a private 6 person jacuzzi off the master suite… every detail was beautifully thought out. Even in the rain, the villa was completely magical.

The villa can sleep up to 14 people and would be the perfect getaway for either a group of friends, or a large family. And yes, a private chef is available to tend to you and your families every need. This is truly a sanctuary in the heart of the South Pacific with every amenity you can dream of. A huge shout out to Natalie for giving us a taste of the good life… the really good life.

Learn more about Villa Takali HERE

Architecture, Culture, Travel

San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk

November 1, 2020 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk was the perfect backdrop for our wedding photos. After our nuptials in the Ridotto Ballroom, we hopped in a private boat with our crew of photographers, and sped across the famed lagoon.

Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Venice Lagoon, Italy, Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

The 16th-century Benedictine church, a basilica in the classical Renaissance style, can be seen from the gondola lined shores of San Marco. Its gleaming white marble has inspired artists for centuries. Think Claude Monet, Canaletto, and Francesco Guardi. Each of them have created multiple paintings capturing the magical and ever changing light in Venice.

Recio Young and Romi Cortier, San Giorgio Maggiore, Italy, Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

This Palladian landmark was designed by Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. Begun in 1566, it took nearly 50 years to complete. Palladio was inspired by the formal classical temples of the ancient Greeks and Romans, focusing on symmetry. He adhered to the principles of classical Roman architecture, based on mathematical proportions and an absence of rich ornamentation.

The Basilica — Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Italy, Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Steps — Romi Cortier and Recio Young, San Giorgio Maggiore, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

The Rings — Romi Cortier and Recio Young, San Giorgio Maggiore, Italy Photo Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

The first church on this island was built in 790. In 982 the island was given to the Benedictine order by Doge Tribuno Memmo. The Benedictines founded a monastery there, however, all of the buildings were destroyed by an earthquake in 1223. The church and monastery were rebuilt after the earthquake.

Kneeling — Romi Cortier and Recio Young, San Giorgio Maggiore, Italy, Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

In the photo above, you can see the Doges Palace on the shores of San Marco, as seen from the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. The water ways have been an essential part of Venice’s history. The 11th century was Venice’s first golden age of maritime power, reaching its peak in the 17th century with nearly 190,00 citizens. By the 18th Century, all of that had changed. 1797 marked the Fall of the Republic of Venice at the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte and Habsburg Austria.

Holding Hands — Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Grand Canal, Venice, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

It’s difficult to comprehend a civilized island with a 1300 year history… but here we are. We are beyond thrilled and blessed to have experience such a beautiful moment in the long arch of history in Venice.

Yacht — Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Dusk at San Giorgio Maggiore, Italy, Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Until we meet again dear Venice…

Silhouette — Romi Cortier and Recio Young, Venice Lagoon, Italy Photo: Wladimiro Speranzoni #RomiAndReciosVenetianWedding

Architecture, Culture, Interior Design, Travel

Designing my Venetian Wedding

October 4, 2020 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Designing a Venetian Wedding is no small task, especially when you’re doing it from half way around the world. Since there’s no room for error, everything must be thought through as completely as possible.

Begin with a solid floor plan. You’ll need to be clear on how you want to move through the space. Where will you sit? How do you want your guests to see you? What will be behind you? A mirror, a draped window, a baroque water fountain? Think about what will happen when the camera’s flash. Will your photo white out because of the glass window or mirror behind you reflecting the flash? You’ve only got one chance to get it right, so it’s important to minimize the possibility of mistakes. These drawings were my springboard for the event. They helped me decide on things like lighting, fabrics, candelabras and even camera angles.

Wedding Drawings — Design drawings and floor plans

Our wedding took place in a renowned historic space in Venice, Italy, the Ridotto Ballroom. Located in the Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal, it sits on the edge of the famed lagoon and faces the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. Built in 1638 by the Dandolo family, the public gaming room was Europes first casino and was frequented by famed ladies man Casanova. We love this space, and what makes it special to us is the authentic Baroque ceiling fresco. It’s very similar to one that hangs over the shampoo bowl of my hair salon in the Hancock Park neighborhood of LA.

The wedding decor was guided by the two color palettes in the room: The warm tones of the terrazzo floors, peach walls and gold trim, and the cool tones of the ceiling fresco. The ceiling fresco is the focal point of the room, and I wanted to bring that color down to eye level by covering the table tops in an iridescent ice blue fabric. After weeks and weeks of clipping fabric samples from nearly every fabric store in Los Angeles, I created these sample boards of colors.

Blue Color Palette — Venetian Wedding Fabric Samples in Blue

Gold Table Swag — Gold Table swag prototype, designed by Romi Cortier, for his Venetian Wedding

Warm Toned Fabrics — Host table fabrics for Romi’s Venetian Wedding

I wanted a little something ‘extra’ for the guest tables. So I chose one of my original floral paintings and had it printed onto fabric. After finding the right fabric that wouldn’t wrinkle or curl up, it was cut it into a circle and trimmed with gold fringe. I chose tall candelabras for the tables because of the ceiling height. I had the flowers arranged not at the base, but up towards the top by the candles. This allowed the guests to be able to see across the table and again helped add volume higher up in the room.

Table Centerpiece, Designed by Romi Cortier for his Venetian Wedding

I also created accent pillows from my original bird paintings, trimmed them in fringe, and then tossed them around the room for added color. I wanted to capture the feeling of an imaginary Venetian garden with birds, butterflies, and flowers.

Blue Jay Pillow — Blue Jay pillow for Romi Cortier’s Venetian Wedding

Construction of all of these items took far longer to complete than I expected. My seamstress was working at her own pace… perfection takes time. I’m so glad that I gave myself extra time for these bespoke items. Ultimately it was worth the wait.

Tablecloths with Tassels — Bespoke tablecloths designed by Romi Cortier, for his Venetian Wedding

I chose Venetian masks and Chinese fans as party favors. I knew the room might be hot… and it was. The fans were a life saver for this elegant soiree.

The final factor for the wedding was the lighting. As you can see above, the marble columns and inset panels are very grey during the day. Because our event was going to be 8 hours long, we needed to create a continuous mood throughout the event. I wanted it to glow with warm pink tones late into the evening. Thanks to digital lighting effects, we had exceptional mood lighting for the entire evening.

Ridotto Ballroom, Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal — Romi and Recio’s Venetian Wedding, Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal, Venice, Italy

Ridotto Ballroom, Venice, Italy — Romi and Recio’s Venetian Wedding, Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal, Venice, Italy

Architecture, Art, Culture

The Artistry Inside Notre Dame

May 5, 2019 romicortier@yahoo.com Leave a comment

Artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier — The artistry inside Notre Dame, Paris, December 2018, Photo Romi Cortier

The artistry inside of Notre Dame was something that I’d pretty much taken for granted, until the recent fire on April 15, 2019. In fact, I’m sure most of us took it for granted up until that day. To quote my friend Leigh Bardugo, author of Shadow & Bone, Six of Crows, and King of Scars: You leave a place, certain you will return, certain it will outlive you, reassured by the permanence of stone. I didn’t realize this was a friend I would never meet again.

When my sister texted me about the fire on the morning of the 15th, I reassured her that it probably wasn’t that big of deal, because the cathedral was made of stone. I didn’t understand that the roof was made from 800 year old trees, and that the framing supporting the stone was also made from wood.

As I looked back over the photos that I’d taken on December 28th, 2018, I began to notice something telling… red fire extinguishers. They’re so easy to miss when you’re being wowed by stained glass windows and hand painted walls and ceilings. But there they were, hiding in plain sight. As it turns out, it was a well known fact that fire was a huge threat to the structure. No electrical apparatus were allowed near the roof, for fear that any spark could easily set the structure ablaze.

As I’m sure you know, money has poured in for the rebuilding of Notre Dame, totaling over $1 billion within the first week. Now the conversation has begun about how long it will take to rebuild, what the new spire should look like, and of course who should design it. I’ve seen articles online exploring high concept ideas such as repurposing the roof with a greenhouse for growing food and educating students. The previous spire was a 19th century add on, however to the untrained eye, it also appeared to be centuries old like the rest of the cathedral.

I know how progressive the French are when it comes to their architecture, particularly when viewed through the lense of history. The Eiffel Tower, completed in 1889, was built for the 1889 Worlds Fair and was not meant to be a permanent structure. It was intended to be dismantled after 20 years in 1909, when its ownership reverted back to the City of Paris. If I also remember my history correctly, it was also the first ‘undraped metal building’. Prior to this, metal only served as a support system for concrete or brick buildings. Therefore, it was quite controversial in its day, and was boycotted my many prior to its completion.

Another example of French craftsmanship is the Statue of Liberty, designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi in 1886. The original stands on Liberty Island Manhattan, in New York, and its metal framework was also built by Gustave Eiffel. Three years later in 1889, a smaller replica was given to France, by American citizens living in France, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the French Revolution.

Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower, seen from the Seine River, Photo Romi Cortier — Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower, seen from the Seine River, Paris, France, Photo Romi Cortier

I go down this rabbit hole to make a point. These structures all look very old to our modern day eye, but during the time of their construction, they were forward thinking and quite avant garde. Every generation has its construction techniques and tools, as well as its favored building materials. Over the last 20 years or so, our generations biggest design tool is the computer. It will be very interesting to observe how the French choose to move forward with this process of redesign. The modernity of the I.M. Pei Pyramid certainly works in the midst of the Baroque buildings that it marries together. I can only say that I hope I live long enough to see how the story of Notre Dame turns out.

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