La nostra storia
From a Florentine studio to New Zealand homes
ciao! began long before the first parcel left our door — with three years of university in Florence, a master's in design, and a habit of collecting the beautiful, everyday things that make Italian life feel so good.
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Firenze Three years in Florence
It started with a place at university in Florence and a suitcase far too small for what was coming. For three years the city was home — its bell towers, its bakeries, and narrow streets that always seemed to lead back to the Duomo.
the first espresso al banco: hooked
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la vita Living la vita fiorentina
Life slowed to an Italian rhythm: coffee standing at the bar, the morning market, long lunches that drifted into evenings. It was here I learned that everyday objects — a good cup, a well-worn board, a linen napkin — are what make a home feel alive.
€5 Chianti tastes better on the steps
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Venezia Across Italy & Europe
Weekends and holidays were spent on regional trains — through Tuscan hill towns, up and down Italy and across Europe. Every market, kitchen and little shop along the way added something to the notebook.
always the window seat
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lo studio A Master of Design
Back in Florence, a master's in design sharpened everything I'd been noticing — proportion, material, craft, and why the best-made things are so often the simplest. It changed the way I look at every object on a table.
form, function, and a little joy
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Auckland Ciao, Aotearoa
Back home in New Zealand, I missed those things terribly — so I started bringing them here. In 2011 ciao! began importing European wares into New Zealand homes, each one chosen with the eye I'd found in Florence.
a little piece of Italy, packed with care
