Patter Places — Cenerentola, Chianti

Located between Siena and Florence, Cenerentola sits in a much-loved corner of Tuscany. What sets it apart is the care given to its design — a more considered take on the familiar Tuscan villa.

Isabella van Marle is the woman behind the renovation and renting — which began in 2022. It’s now available in its entirety or as two apartments, each sleeping up to six guests.

Rather than sticking to the script, Cenerentola benefits from van Marle’s eye – a creative strategist, she has worked for diverse clients including Louis Vuitton, Nan Goldin and the Stedelijk museum in Amsterdam, and she co-founded Pictures for Purpose, the platform selling photography to raise funds for those living in warzones around the world.

At Cenerentola — which means ‘cinderella’ —  that taste and care is clear in design objects sourced at markets across the region, but also the confidence to enjoy the classic beauty of the rooms, whether that’s through the beams on the ceilings, the terracotta tiles on the floors or the elegant arched windows. The result is warm and personal, as well as aesthetically pleasing.

Modern additions to the nineteenth century building work to evolve the traditional. Kitchens — including an L shaped design on the first floor — are the design Brooklyn-based architecture firm Dean Works, using the reddish tones of okoumé wood, while Pien Studios created custom-made pillows using the soft, almost edible, pastel tones — burro yellow and sage green — seen across the house.

van Marle’s eye means there are treasures to be discovered during downtime. The living room features Bombini by Grace Atkinson, a handcrafted virgin wool work, made using a traditional 14th-century technique developed by highlanders from the Carpathian mountains of Ukraine. Elsewhere, the geometry and materiality of Afra & Tobia Scarpa’s furniture break up more everyday pieces.

Outside space is a treat to indulge in — a garden with terraces and private swimming pool. van Marle suggests numerous activities — from cooking together to playing tennis or, simply, reading a book in the shade of a tree, after taking a dip in the pool. Cenerentola Chianti feels like a place to rest and recharge — albeit one where design enhances that experience.

van Marle, who has been visiting Tuscany since she was a child when her parents bought a house there, says there are advantages to visiting the region any time you choose. Summer provides golden hour light, and bounties of tomatoes and peaches, while May is the greenest after spring rain and autumn means markets of radicchio and wild mushrooms. With Cenerentola Chianti designed to always be a home away from home, adding visits throughout the year to the family iCal is certainly tempting.

Prices start from €360 per night (for up to 6 people), further information and booking enquiries here.