UP AT THE VILLA MEETS EAT PRAY LOVE MEETS UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN

Thomas & Nicky in Bodrum

As a barware, lighting and home accessories design company, at Thomas Fuchs Creative we specialize in handmade goods.

Every week, we take you behind the scenes to explore the people, places, and things that inspire us. Follow my blog, you’ll find plenty of posts on the best eats, places to stay, and spots to dance the summer nights away.

As the clocks leapt into winter two weekends ago, I can’t help but reminisce about the endless, sun-soaked days of summer. Sure, global warming is keeping us in shorts for now, but nothing beats those magical summer escapes! Take this past summer, for example, when we found ourselves in Bodrum, Turkey, celebrating my brother-in-law's 60th birthday. And by pure, delightful coincidence, we bumped into my sister's dear friend, Nicolette (Nicky) Purdy!

Moka Pot

For years, we’d planned to visit Nicky’s villa, but somehow, we always ended up heading straight to Puglia and missing her. This time, though, the stars aligned—or, more accurately, Italian construction schedules delayed our renovations—and we had five unexpected days to spare. We were lounging at the impossibly chic Gio Ponti Hotel in Sorrento when I messaged Nicky, who happened to be in Portugal for her son’s 21st birthday bash. “Go home, of course!” she replied. “My sister and family will let you in.”

The Honey Bee

After an amusing detour courtesy of our very Italian GPS (which led us to the neighbor’s place first!), we finally arrived at a modern-meets-boho paradise. Imagine a scene right out of Up at the Villa—a cozy, chic home with a pool and a view so stunning it was, as the Italians say, da morire! One by one, Nicky’s family welcomed us like we were stepping into The Sound of Music. First was her sister D Purdy, then Claya (Clemence) appeared, and finally, Limi (Lissom) sauntered in from the kitchen. And down in his office, the patriarch Andrew Hoskin was deep in corporate calls—just enough to remind us how blissfully on holiday we were.

Sun Flowers Fill The Nearby Fields

Knowing our love for handmade treasures and local artistry, Nicky offered us a whirlwind tour of workshops and festas in every nearby town. But her pièce de résistance? She shared her genius tradition of having each guest paint a tile, which she plans to one day turn into a beautiful mosaic table—a living, breathing canvas of memories! Inspired, I decided I might steal the idea for our home too.

The Beatle

 When it was Thomas’s turn to paint, he asked what he should draw. “The Fiat and her villa, of course!” I said, envisioning a snapshot she could cherish every time she looked at it. And with her talented artist friend, Lucy MacGillis, an Umbrian resident and color-mixing maestro (catch her on my Instagram reel!), the mosaic is destined to be a masterpiece.

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A post shared by Michou Mahtani (@michou.de.brickell)

Thomas painting his Tile Design 

Instead of taking a hostess gift it is always more fun to create something original from scratch. Should you find yourself lacking the know how, best to find a local artist and support your local artist in gifting your host in near or foreign lands a piece of art.

Thomas' Fiat in Front of Nicky's Villa

While everyone painted what did Michou do you ask? "But Of Course" I set the table for lunch using Nicky's fantastic Hermes pattern china set mixed with Thomas Fuchs Skull Drinking Glasses combined with silver candelabras which you can also see in the reel if you look carefully you will notice the multipurpose of it all from using it for Andrew's signature summer cocktail to home made frosty ice cream cup! We need to bring back our Skull Glass Line!

Have a wonderful weekend, and keep dreaming of the summer it will get us back quicker. 

Michou