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Livingetc published an advice interview with designer Filippo Calvagno on making homes feel cozy through lighting, materials, layout and color. He recommends a compact reading setup, a bright and organized hallway, and warm neutral paints including Farrow & Ball’s Dimity and Lick’s Pink 02.
Livingetc has published an advice interview with London-based designer Filippo Calvagno, who offered practical ideas for making a home feel cozy without relying on layers of decorative cushions and throws. His suggestions cover a small reading area, a more orderly and welcoming hallway, and neutral paint colors that can take on warmer tones in sunlight.
For a reading spot in a room with limited space, Calvagno said homeowners do not need to create a separate nook. In the interview, he suggested using an existing favorite armchair and adding three basics: a chair large enough to curl up in, a side table and a reading lamp. The setup can fit into a living room rather than requiring a dedicated corner or additional room.
Calvagno recommended placing a low table within reach for a book or drink, and choosing a lamp that provides enough light to read without straining the eyes. A fabric shade can soften the light, he said. He also advised selecting materials that feel comfortable rather than precious, citing slubby linen, warm leather and bouclé as options. He described placing a Ligne Roset Togo seat beside a fireplace to make a reading area in a client’s home.
For an entryway, Calvagno recommended a bench where guests can sit while removing shoes, with a cupboard nearby for footwear. To discourage shoes from collecting under the bench, he said he sometimes places an antique urn or vase there. He also favors lighter colors and a large mirror in hallways, contrasting with the darker, warmer shades he often uses elsewhere. For paint, his stated favorites include Farrow & Ball’s Dimity and Lick’s Pink 02, which he said works well with brown.
Small Changes Shape Everyday Comfort
The interview focuses on practical design choices that can change how familiar spaces function without requiring a renovation or a dedicated room. A lamp and side table can turn an existing chair into a reading place; a bench and storage can make an entry more usable while giving shoes a home.
Calvagno’s comments also show how the desired feeling of a room can come from more than soft furnishings. His advice brings together light, layout, color and material, with the aim of making spaces feel comfortable while keeping them useful. For readers planning small updates, the examples offer specific options rather than a broad prescription for decorating.
His hallway advice reflects a practical trade-off: an entrance should feel warm and welcoming, but it also needs to handle coats, bags and shoes. Calvagno cautioned against making it so comfortable that guests linger and leave belongings behind. The suggested cupboard, bench and mirror address different parts of that daily routine.
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A Designer’s Approach to Space
Livingetc introduced Calvagno as a London-based designer with a Sicilian background, born in Germany and having lived in the United States. The article says he sees this international experience as an influence on his approach to design. It also reports that his background in dance informs how he thinks about movement, rhythm and people’s experience of space.
The source frames the interview as responses to reader questions about cozy rooms, welcoming hallways and warm neutrals. It describes Calvagno’s interiors as modern and fresh, with comfort created through color, texture and layout rather than simply adding layers of pillows and throws. The article includes project imagery credited to Studio Hahn and design by Calvagno.
In the paint discussion, Calvagno said Dimity can appear white on walls, then develop an amber or pink glow when sunlight reaches it. He said he has used it in his own home and in client projects. These are his descriptions of how the colors look in his experience, not a guarantee that they will appear the same in every room; lighting and surrounding finishes can affect perception.
““It’s nice to walk in and be met by a bit of brightness.””
— Filippo Calvagno, in an interview with Livingetc
Publication Details and Project Scope
The supplied source does not give a publication date, so when the interview first appeared cannot be established from the material provided. It also does not identify a specific new project, product launch or change to Calvagno’s practice; the development is the publication of design advice in an interview.
The recommendations are personal design guidance, not measured findings or claims that a particular layout, paint shade or material will work in every home. The source provides no room dimensions, paint-testing details or cost estimates. Readers would need to assess their own space, lighting and storage needs before applying the suggestions.
Readers Can Adapt the Advice
The source reports no scheduled follow-up announcement or next milestone. Readers can apply the suggestions to their own rooms by starting with the function they want to improve: a place to read, a clearer entryway or a warmer-feeling wall color. For a compact reading setup, Calvagno’s proposed elements are a comfortable chair, a nearby table and suitable lighting; for a hallway, he points to seating, shoe storage and a mirror.
Anyone considering the named paint colors can view samples in the actual room and observe them under different lighting before deciding. The interview provides Calvagno’s preferences and examples, but does not establish a single formula for making every home feel cozy.
Key Questions
What is the news about Filippo Calvagno?
Livingetc published an interview in which the London-based designer answered reader questions about cozy interiors, hallway design and neutral paint colors.
How does Calvagno suggest creating a reading area in a small living room?
He recommends adapting an existing armchair with a side table and a reading lamp. He says a separate room or formal corner is not necessary.
What does Calvagno recommend for a welcoming hallway?
His suggestions include a bench, nearby shoe storage, lighter colors and a large mirror. He also described using a decorative urn or vase beneath a bench to discourage shoe storage there.
Which neutral paints did Calvagno name?
He named Farrow & Ball’s Dimity and Lick’s Pink 02. He said Dimity can look white and take on an amber or pink glow in sunlight, and that Pink 02 pairs well with brown.
Source: livingetc.com
