TL;DR
Get kitchen gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Livingetc published an advice interview in which London-based designer Filippo Calvagno answers readers’ questions about making homes feel cozy. He recommends a simple reading nook, a bright and organized hallway, and warm neutral paint, including Farrow & Ball’s Dimity and Lick’s Pink 02.
Livingetc has published an advice interview with London-based designer Filippo Calvagno, who answers readers’ questions about creating a cozy living room, a welcoming hallway and a warm neutral color scheme. His recommendations focus on practical choices—such as a comfortable chair, softened lighting and hidden shoe storage—rather than adding layers of decorative accessories.
For a reading spot in a small living room, Calvagno says a person does not need to set aside a whole room or even use a corner. An existing favorite armchair can work if it is paired with a side table and a reading lamp. He suggests choosing a chair with enough room to curl up, alongside a low surface for a book or drink. A fabric lampshade can diffuse the light, while an adjustable lamp can help direct it toward the page.
Calvagno also recommends materials that invite regular use rather than feeling too delicate, naming slubby linen, warm leather and bouclé as options. In the interview, he describes placing a Ligne Roset Togo seat beside a fireplace to make a reading area. He says a client found the seat’s low height useful for another household task as well; that detail is an anecdote from the designer, not a general product assessment.
For a busy entryway, Calvagno’s advice combines a place to sit with a plan for footwear. He recommends a bench and a nearby cupboard for shoes. In one styling approach, he places an antique urn or vase under the bench so the space does not read as shoe storage. He also favors lighter colors in hallways and a large mirror, while cautioning against making the entry so comfortable that it encourages bags and shoes to accumulate there.
Small Choices Shape Daily Comfort
The interview translates the broad idea of a cozy home into small, usable design decisions. For readers with limited space, Calvagno’s reading-corner advice suggests adapting furniture already in a living room rather than treating a dedicated nook as a requirement. His hallway suggestions address a familiar practical tension: making an entrance pleasant while keeping it orderly when guests arrive.
His paint recommendations also show how a color’s appearance can change with the light. Calvagno says Farrow & Ball’s Dimity can look white initially and take on an amber or pink cast when sunlight reaches it. That is his description of his experience with the paint, not a promise that it will look the same in every home; lighting and surrounding finishes affect how colors appear.
Products Worth Considering
Weber Spirit E-325 3-Burner Gas Grill with Sear Zone
Instant Pot Pro 6-Quart 10-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot RIO Wide 7.5-Quart 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Calvagno’s Design Approach
Livingetc presents Calvagno as a London-based designer with a Sicilian background, born in Germany and previously resident in the United States. In the interview, he says that this international background has shaped his approach to design. He also points to his background in dance, saying it influences how he thinks about movement, rhythm and people’s experience of space.
The source frames the exchange as answers to reader questions, covering three specific areas: a compact reading place, a hallway that can handle seasonal visitors, and neutral paint choices. Calvagno names Lick’s Pink 02 as another versatile color, saying it pairs well with brown, a shade he uses frequently. The article does not present these suggestions as a formal product review or report on a new collection or project.
““The great thing about a reading corner is that it doesn’t have to be a corner.””
— Filippo Calvagno, as quoted by Livingetc
Publication Details and Color Results
The supplied source material does not state when the interview was published, and it does not identify a new design project or product launch as the reason for the article. The advice is attributed to Calvagno through Livingetc; the source does not include independent testing of the furniture, paint or layout suggestions.
Calvagno’s observations about paint are personal and may not match results in every room. The interview does not specify a particular room orientation, lighting conditions or finish for the named colors. It is also not clear whether the entryway arrangements or reading-corner example shown in the article are available as full project case studies beyond the details provided.
Apply the Ideas Room by Room
Livingetc’s article offers guidance rather than announcing a scheduled follow-up or next event. Readers considering the suggestions can begin with the relevant space: pair an existing chair with a lamp and side table, plan shoe storage near an entry bench, or test paint samples under the room’s own lighting before choosing a color.
No further project announcement or publication milestone is identified in the source material. Any later updates would depend on additional reporting or statements from Calvagno or Livingetc.
Key Questions
What does Filippo Calvagno recommend for a small reading corner?
He suggests using an existing armchair with a side table and a reading lamp, rather than setting aside a separate room. A chair with space to curl up and a shade that softens the light can make the spot more comfortable.
How does he suggest keeping a hallway welcoming but tidy?
Calvagno recommends a bench for guests and a cupboard nearby for shoes. He also favors lighter colors and a large mirror, while using the area beneath the bench in a way that discourages shoes from being left there.
Which neutral paint colors does Calvagno name?
He names Farrow & Ball Dimity as his preferred white and also recommends Lick’s Pink 02, which he says works well with brown. He notes that Dimity can look different when sunlight reaches it.
Does the interview announce a new project or product?
No. The source presents design advice in a reader-question interview. It mentions a Ligne Roset Togo seat as part of an example but does not report a new product launch or a new Calvagno project.
Source: livingetc.com
