Galleria MIA: Design treasures only steps away from Piazza di Spagna

I walked past MIA Home Design Gallery at least a handful of times before I finally noticed this beautiful design shop in the heart of Rome’s historical center. Seeing as it doesn’t have any window displays and is hidden behind two enormous wooden doors, you can easily miss it. But once I noticed the illuminated “MIA” sign at the door and decided to take a look, I was pleasantly surprised by the selection of modern design furniture, unique pieces, and charming home accessories.

Mia Home Design Gallery
Via di Ripetta 224 | Rome
06 9784 1892

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Mo – Su | 10.30-14.00 and 15.30-19.30

Mia Home Design Gallery was created by three friends, Marianna Lubrano, Emilia Petruccelli e Maria Rosaria Voccia, who were bound together by their love for the beautiful things in life, unique pieces and an unconventional idea about luxury. Together, they opened this treasure trove of design in the heart of Rome, all from a female perspective. The store, located in an old palazzo, is divided like a house, with several decorated rooms. They offer works of both well-established design brand and smaller, individual designers, creating an original mix of both Italian and foreign pieces.

Magic place

The ladies call their shop an ‘atelier of wonders, a magic place dedicated to design’. The collection is not divided per category but by room, and that philosophy works: as soon as you set foot in the shop, you’ll feel like you’ve been welcomed into someone’s house. You enter in the eating room, will find the sitting area on your right and the bedroom and dining room in front of you.

The beautiful vases on the table in the first room, right in front of the entrance, draw my attention: they were made by Reinaldo Sanguino on the Amalfitan Coast. The artist used those surroundings as inspiration for the colours and shapes of the vases: from the patterns that the sunscreens at the entrances of the houses made to the shades of the landscapes and the sea.

The table on which the vases stand is accompanied by a chair of Dirk van der Kooij, a designer from my own home country who creates enchanting furniture using pressing and heating, craft and 3D printing. Another chair of his collection stands next to the bed in the next space. Its transparent material reflects the lights from the mirror next to the bed beautifully.

Original presents

The thing I like about Mia Home Design Gallery, is that there’s something for every wallet. Although a big part of the collection consists of furniture and home accessories that are suitable for a medium to high budget, you can also find some quirky gadgets and charming accessories for a more modest price. It’s also the perfect place to shop for an original present. For example, the ceramic stones, hand-engraved by the artist Giuseppe Palermo, are cute decorative objects that you can use as a table accessory or paperweight. The collection of plates, cups, bowls and glasses is also very charming: the porcelain ones by Bitossi, for example, will make every dinner table look a bit more colourful.

All images © 2019 Liza Karsemeijer