StudioPepe: Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara Di Pinto, the poetic and colorful fragrances of Italian design

Arianna Lelli and Chiara Di Pinto, a colorful female duo, are the founders of the Studiopepe agency. They met in 2006 at Milan's Politecnico. One studied interior architecture, the other industrial design. This blend of disciplines has created fabulous, elegant and warm settings. From scenography to boutique transformations, daring installations and apartment renovations, Studiopepe is on the road to infinite success.

Manifesto: The Visit by Studiopepe (2017)

For Fuorisalone, Studiopepe wanted to present a unique, special project. For this duo of designers, it wasn't just another place but rather a lived experience called "The Visit." Entering the space, living it, unfolding all emotions in a sensory and emotional approach – that was the purpose of The Visit. The designers sought to narrate a story rather than construct a set.

© Andrea Ferrari

Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara di Pinto stated to The Socialite Family: "The result is a simple, yet refined design that could come from the Art Deco era or even the '80s but feels contemporary. Some forms survive all epochs due to their strength and simplicity. That's what makes them timeless."

© Andrea Ferrari

The project was tailor-made for Brera Design Apartment, in an original Milan apartment from the early 1800s. Several spaces were redesigned using curtains between rooms to separate without partitioning. The rooms follow each other smoothly, with a play of chromatic echoes and geometric patterns giving depth to the corridors.

OKKO Hotel by Studiopepe in Paris, Gare de l’Est (2019)

© Giuseppe Dinnella

© Giuseppe Dinnella

For the Okko hotel, Studiopepe undertook a complete renovation, injecting a bit of madness to reinvent hotel norms. Once again, the fluidity of the space is admirable. Only curtains softly separate the rooms, creating an airy atmosphere. The absence of right angles in the rounded seating is an ode to femininity and freedom. The space dedicated to lunches, in a contemporary style, is inspired by train wagon bars, paying homage to Gare de l’Est. The abundance of lights and windows warmly illuminates the hotel and enhances the furniture within.

Residential Project: Milan Apartment by Studiopepe (2020)

© Studiopepe

"We like to use vintage codes to give a contemporary style that is timeless."

© Andrea Ferrari

For the interiors, Studiopepe's latest project involves renovating an apartment in a 1930s building. Situated on the fourth floor of the building where a slender marble statue grandly presides, this interior, inspired by Pierro Portaluppi's Villa Necchi, is conceived as both a physical space and a mental sanctuary. A harmonious blend of contemporary style and the memory of a majestic past takes place. The marble mosaic floor enhances the custom-made furniture signed by Studiopepe. The designers have also paid great attention to materials, play of light, and contrasts between colors, delicately highlighting emotion and beauty.