Inside Donatella Versace's Pink Lakeside Home
The 50-room villa features a fireplace that's been signed by celebrities including Walt Disney and Ernest Hemingway...
Donatella Versace recently bought herself a pink-stucco holiday home on the edge of Northern Italy's Lake Maggiore.
The historic estate had been advertised on theEngel & Völkers website before the fashion designer snapped it up.
The expansive50-room property has a rich history, as it was a popular gathering place for cultural icons like Walt Disney, Ernest Hemingway, George Simenon, and Thomas Mann - all of whom have stayed at the villa and signed a fireplace that still bears their signatures today.
Read Also:Gianni Versace's maximalist home everyone is talking about
Aside from its pink exterior and interiors, a key design aspect is the large fireplace in the main living room, which is covered in the signatures of famous writers and poets, authors and intellectuals.
Spread over four floors, the former Bed and Breakfast offers20 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms, each with lakeside views, as well as a library, billiard room and a study.
The lavish estate, known as Villa Mondadori, spans 15,000 square feet, and comes witha pool, garage and football pitch.
Be The First To Know
The Livingetc newsletter is your shortcut to the now and the next in home design. Subscribe today to receive a stunning free 200-page book of the best homes from around the world.
There’s also a beautiful lush garden, a greenhouse, several balconies, a pond, and private access to the lake (with private docks for boats), which sits on the border of Italy and Switzerland.
Read Also:Inside The Obama's Stunning New Home
The property also comes with a separate caretaker house and a large guest house.
According to the listing, the property is one of the most renowned and famous properties on Lago Maggiore.
No strangers to luxurious lakeside living, the Versace family previously owned a property called Villa Fontanelle on nearby Lake Como, which was thought to be one of Gianni Versace's favourite holiday homes.
While Lake Como is known for attracting A-listers like George and Amal Clooney, Lake Maggiore is apparently more private but just as glamorous.
Read Also:See Inside Karl Lagerfeld's Fabulous Hamburg Home
Along with Lago di Como and Lago di Garda, the Italian lakes have always been an internationally sought-after destination and are becoming increasingly popular.
In 2018, around 75 percent of property buyers came from international buyers. “We expect the real estate market on Lago Maggiore to see ongoing positive growth in the coming years. International buyers will continue to show a keen interest”, commented Alessandro Lotito, Office Manager at Engel & Völkers.
The villa was sold to Donatella Versace by previous owner publishing magnate Arnoldo Mondadori for approximately €5 million. The house has been in theMondadori family since the 1920s.
Read Also:Peek inside Kate Moss’s bathroom
The Versace family is of course renowned for their colourful style – and not just when it comes to clothing. The late Gianni Versace's maximalist South Beach mansion was designed by Gianni himself, and is now a hotel.
Donatella Versace's renovation plans have yet to be determined, but we've got a feeling the new design will be just as eccentric.
Image source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore
Lotte is the Digital Editor for Livingetc, and has been with the website since its launch. She has a background in online journalism and writing for SEO, with previous editor roles at Good Living, Good Housekeeping, Country & Townhouse, and BBC Good Food among others, as well as her own successful interiors blog. When she's not busy writing or tracking analytics, she's doing up houses, two of which have features in interior design magazines. She's just finished doing up her house in Wimbledon, and is eyeing up Bath for her next project.
-
This Jeremiah Brent-Designed Door Showroom Is Every 70s Furniture Lover's Dreamland
Inspired by a love of craftsmanship and lasting, personalized décor, the designer's latest project for PINKYS Iron Doors invites you to make yourself at home
By Gilda Bruno Published
-
Living Room Lighting Ideas — 15 Ways to Create a Cozy Space for Lounging
Use these living room lighting ideas to give this most-used room a fresh, new lease of life
By Aditi Sharma Maheshwari Published
-
The simple way to a more sustainable and stylish life with Fisher & Paykel
This incredible new tech saves time, energy and has become the washing machine you need to know about
By Sponsored Published
-
Forget Cottagecore - Flora Fantasia by House of Hackney is Cottage hardcore
House of Hackney's Flora Fantasia collection blends the romanticised rural aesthetic with riotous punk elements
By Jacky Parker Published
-
Bert & May's new hexagon tiles collection is tapping into one of this year's biggest micro trends
Tap into the microtrend for hexagon tiles and make myriad patterns with this new collection from Bert & May
By Jacky Parker Published
-
Matthew Williamson’s tip for renovating a house on a budget is so simple, but incredibly effective
Renovating a house on a budget? See the savvy ways to control costs when managing an interior redesign
By Jacky Parker Published
-
The fabulous new Matthew Williamson furniture collection is a cocktail of color and print
This decorative Matthew Williamson furniture is the beautiful result of collaboration with Roome London
By Jacky Parker Published
-
Out & Out's new furniture collection is full of stylish storage solutions
This stylish storage will have your home organised in a jiffy - whatever its size
By Jacky Parker Published
-
Explore Sandra Bullock’s former coastal chic home in Georgia
Sandra Bullock has just sold her beautiful island beach house, giving us a glimpse at her coastal-inspired interior style.
By Lotte Brouwer Published
-
Stylish flat pack furniture - how this home design staple has suddenly got cool
Thought flat pack furniture was cheap and cheerful? FUZL Studio is proving otherwise with its new collection
By Jacky Parker Published