On Location in Puglia with Joseph Gardner
For the launch of our beautiful new Mojave collection, we worked with Interior Stylist and Design Consultant Joseph Gardner to bring a very special shoot to life in a lovingly restored Casolare (farmhouse) in Puglia. The property belongs to Australian expats Maree and Ian Coleman who were first drawn to it for both its beauty and historical significance; originally built in 1883 and later used as a school, it was abandoned in the 1960s. When the Coleman’s friend and architect Andrew Trotter showed them the site, the prospect of restoring a character-filled Casalore with a long history to its former self seemed like a once in a lifetime opportunity. “We were keen to honor its history and mirror the heritage of the building. We worked with local builders, craftsmen and artisans to restore the Casolare. These craftsmen and artisans used old techniques to maintain a sense of history. Our painter, for example, made his paints by cooking local rock in a wooden oven and mixing it with oils to create a beautiful color and texture that worked back with the building’s age and original look.” says Ian. Now that Mojave is out in the world, we took a moment to catch up with Joseph to talk about putting the shoot together and what he enjoys most about spending time in this sundrenched part of the world.