40 in Italy: A Birthday, a Boat & Everything in Between

I decided there was only one way to celebrate my 40th birthday: board a boat in Italy, champagne in hand, and not looking back. And that's exactly what I did. I spent time soaking up the most beautiful coastline, sipping Aperol spritzes and negronis (my forever favorite), eating pasta and tiramisu. I am still dreaming about, and just being present in one of the most stunning places. It was everything.

The trip wasn't all celebration, though. Our Tailored Designs team also attended EuroCucina, hosted by Salone del Mobile in Milan, Europe's premier kitchen and bath showcase. 

I left with a notebook full of ideas, a pinky ring I spotted on day two, and a deep appreciation for aperitivo culture, all while ringing in my new decade. 

Here’s everything I soaked up on and off the clock on this trip. 

Italy On The Clock

EuroCucina: What the Future of the Kitchen Looks Like

Walking the convention center on that first day, seeing every major kitchen and bath vendor presenting their vision of elevated living is the kind of sensory overload that designers dream about.

Here are the things that stopped me mid-aisle:

• Leather wine storage. Yes, leather. It gave a warm, completely unexpected feel in a kitchen context that felt so unique. 

• Adjustable lighting. Lighting that shifts with the time of day and the task at hand. The kitchen is a living, adaptive space.

• Sparkling water on tap. It's one of those details that just make everyday life better. A built-in sparkling water dispenser isn't just a showpiece. It's the kind of thoughtful, tailored feature that doesn't just look beautiful, but actually elevates the way you use your space every single day. 

• Boiling water on demand. No kettle, no waiting, no counter clutter. Just a sleek tap that produces boiling water in seconds. The best kitchen details are the ones that remove friction from your day. 

• Downdraft ventilation. This isn’t a new concept, but one that got a serious glow-up. While it's not always our first recommendation, there are absolutely kitchens where it's the right call. What stopped me in my tracks was Signature Kitchen Suite's version featuring a glass panel, so even when it's in the up position, your sightlines stay completely open. And then there was the detail I saw across multiple manufacturers: concealing the pop-up downdraft by capping it in the same countertop material. When it's down, it disappears completely. That's the kind of seamless thinking we live for. 

• 120-degree hinges with wire mesh glass. This was a small detail that made a big impression. A cabinet glass with a wire mesh inlay that shimmered in the light in the most sophisticated way. Paired with a 270-degree hinge that folds the door completely back and out of the way, it's the kind of combination that solves a practical problem and looks beautiful while doing it. 

• The sous vide drawer. A dedicated sous vide cooking drawer built directly into the cabinetry? Making cooking a breeze. 

• Face steamer integrated into a sink. Because if we're going to design a bathroom that truly functions as a personal spa, why stop at the tub? Let your products actually do their job by opening up your pores, and make every morning routine feel like a facial. 

Italy Off The Clock

Milan | Milano, Ti Amo

We started our mornings at Princi, the legendary Milanese bakery. Then it was off to the convention center.

The Duomo is always a moment. We climbed all seven flights to the rooftop and stood above the city as the spires reached skyward around us, and it’s truly one of those experiences that reminds you why you travel. If you've never done it, put it on the list.

We wandered the Navigli, Milan's canal district, which has a slow, romantic feel, a world of difference from the fashion-forward buzz of the city center. The kind of neighborhood where every doorway has a story and every corner café has perfectly worn barstools.

Dinners were phenomenal. Le Cotolette for the famous Milanese cutlet. Speciale Osteria for a traditional Italian meal, Maio at La Rinascente for the views, and The Roof Milano for a sunset cocktail that absolutely couldn't be skipped.

Venice | Venezia per un giorno

One day in Venice is never enough, but we made the most of our short time there. We officially were off the clock from all things EuroCucina, and stayed at the St. Regis. It set the tone immediately.

We got the chance to walk the city a bit and take a gondola ride to see even more. One of the most interesting sights was a broken glass art installation we stumbled upon somewhere in the narrow streets, and it was one of those unexpected moments that make travel feel like a gift. 

We ended the day by crossing the Rialto Bridge at golden hour and stopped into Osteria da Bubi for dinner. Gio's Restaurant rounded out the evening with that specific Venetian vibe.

Lake Como | Il mio 40° compleanno sul Lago di Como

For my birthday, we took a boat along Lake Como, stopping in little towns, watching villas emerge from the hillside gardens.

We stayed at the Grand Hotel Victoria in Menaggio — which had the most beautiful pool, a perfect final-day sunshine moment that felt like the trip wrapping itself up in a bow.

Candace's favorite discovery was Varenna, a small lakeside town that turned out to be the exact village from a puzzle she completed at home. Seeing it in person was one of those full-circle moments that you genuinely can't plan.

What I'm Bringing Home to Charlotte, NC

Every trip changes how you see your work. Between this conference, design week in Milan, and taking in the interiors of Italy, I’m coming home inspired and ready to bring pieces of all it back to our clients:

• Downdraft ventilation: For kitchens where the view matters, the architecture shouldn't be interrupted.

• Customized home gyms: We visited Technogym, a high-end gym equipment retailer that’s more customizable than the box-store basics. The quality, the customization, and the intention behind every piece are exactly what we are about at Tailored Designs. A home gym should feel just as luxurious and functional as any space in your home.

• Making tapware an experience: Sparkling water, instant boiling water, integrated filtration – these aren't novelties anymore. They're the next evolution of the considered kitchen, and our clients who invest in them won't look back.

• Integrated appliances: The sous vide drawer, the face steamer, the wine storage. What EuroCucina showed us is that luxury is increasingly about what you can't see.

• The power of high-quality materials: Italy is the perfect showcase of materials that don't just look better, they last. From the marble in a 700-year-old cathedral to the details in the staircase of your new favorite aperitivo spot, everything here ages with intention. 

• Towel warmers in every bathroom: Candace loved this detail in every hotel we stayed in. It is a small luxury with an outsized impact on how a bathroom feels. 

• Lighting is the detail that changes everything: Not just the fixture itself, but the quality, the adjustability, and the integration. The kitchens at EuroCucina that felt most elevated weren't the ones with the most expensive materials, but the ones where the lighting was considered at every level and highlighted all the best details.

Ciao for now!