The Somaa Rug at Casa di Monti

There’s something about Casa di Monti in Puglia, this vision in white set on an arid Mediterranean parcel of gnarled olive groves and bunny-eared cacti. As a minimalist confection of stone, cement, glass, and corten steel—all rather cool ingredients that lend it a terribly chic, magazine-ready aesthetic— it emanates a surprisingly earthy, approachable vibe. This is in no small measure thanks to owner Sylvie’s sensibility towards all-natural materials and artisanal crafts. The walls of the villa are lightly adorned with eclectic finds that promise a charming story.

Beside Sylvie’s dining table hangs a large composition of undyed, handwoven jute; concentric circles that swirl into each other. Created by her friend Laurence Touitou, the piece was originally intended as a floor rug. Sylvie decided to present it on her wall as the art piece that it is.

The Somaa rug, as it is called, is named after a village in the outskirts of Nabeul, a Tunisian city of potters and rug makers. Two women, Djamila (below) and Ichraf, work in a pair weaving wild palm fiber into the interlinked discs that make the rug. Or wall hanging, of course.

What we love about Sylvie’s finds in Casa Di Monti is their straightforward soul and sincerity. Be it the work of a friend or a collector’s piece, they have found their place in Sylvie’s vacation home because they are pieces she clearly enjoys, and that makes all the difference.

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