Italy Design Retreats – 2027 Programme
VENICE, 14-17 MARCH 2027
"Venetian Craft & Elegance in Design"
Hosted by Kate Watson-Smyth
FULLY BOOKED - PLEASE EMAIL FOR WAITLIST
Highlights will include:
Afternoon tea at the historic Gritti Palace on the Grand Canal, followed by a private design tour of the world-famous hotel - a favourite with generations of celebrities, from Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton to Angelina Jolie and Tom Cruise, as well as writers (Somerset Maugham, Ernest Hemingway), politicians (Winston Churchill) and socialities (Peggy Guggenheim, Princess Grace of Monaco).
An invitation to to the Fortuny workshop, palazzo and garden. The owners of this storied Venetian textile company have allowed us to see their artisans at work, before viewing their spectacular residence - with aperitivi served in one of the city’s largest private gardens.
An interactive visit to the workshop of a renowned and long-established decorative glassmaker on the island of Murano.
The famous weavers of Bevilacqua in Santa Croce, where exquisite fabrics in velvet, silk and brocade have been produced by the same family-run company for more than 150 years - drawing on centuries-old Venetian designs and techniques.
A private viewing of the Olivetti showroom near St Mark’s Square. Envisioned from top to bottom by Italy’s modernist maestro Gio Ponti, the interiors are genuinely iconic in every detail.
(Accommodation has been secured at at one of Venice’s most acclaimed boutique hotels, right in the heart of the city.)
The cost of this packed weekday design break includes hotel accommodation, all meals and drinks, as well as local transport once you are in Venice. All you have to do is get yourself from the airport or station to the hotel.
---
Price: £3,500 per person (all-inclusive).
Terms: 25% deposit payable on booking, 50% due 90 days before arrival, final 25% due 14th February.
NB: Travel to Venice and hotel transfers are not included.
–––––––––––––––
MILAN & LAKE COMO, 7-11 MAY 2027
"Italy's Capital City of Design"
Hosted by Kate Watson-Smyth
FINAL FEW PLACES AVAILABLE
Highlights will include:
A private tour of Casa Fornasetti – the home of Barnaba (son of the celebrated surrealist designer, Piero) isn’t open to the public, but I have managed to secure access to this incredible house, which is filled with pieces by Piero. There is so much to inspire and delight here.
A guided tour of the Villa Necchi – this 1930s modernist villa will be familiar to many from the films I Am Love, starring Tilda Swinton, and House of Gucci. Designed by Piero Portaluppi, it’s one of the world’s greatest private homes, with dozens of features and details that will definitely inspire your own.
An exclusive trip to Liberty London’s printing factory near Lake Como, where many of their iconic fabrics are created. Again, not normally open to the public, but I have obtained an invitation for us to see it in action and learn more about this influential design house. Followed by lunch and a boat trip on the lake.
A design masterclass and Q&A with me, aperitivi and dinners at some of Milan’s most gorgeous and fashionable spots – plus a free afternoon to explore the city (and its shopping districts) in your own time.
The cost of this packed design weekend includes hotel accommodation, all meals and drinks, as well as local transport once you are in Milan. All you have to do is get yourself from the airport or station to the hotel.
---
Price: £4,200 per person (all-inclusive).
Terms: 25% deposit payable on booking, 50% due 90 days before arrival, final 25% due 7th April.
NB: Travel to Milan and hotel transfers are not included.
–––––––––––––––
TURIN, 10-14 SEPTEMBER 2027
"Finding Your Interior Design Style"
Hosted by Kate Watson-Smyth & guest experts
PLACES NOW AVAILABLE
Friday 10th September
- Arrival and welcome drinks on the hotel roof – a landmark destination in the city, with views of Turin and the Alps (weather permitting).
- Opportunity to visit the private art collection of the Agnelli family (founders of Fiat), including works by Canaletto, Matisse, Picasso & Modigliani.
- Dinner at a spectacular Michelin Guide-listed restaurant.
Saturday 11th September
- Breakfast at your hotel.
- Cars will bring you to my house for the first workshop – a full tour of all 24 rooms, with opportunity to ask all your renovation questions and see a slideshow of the “befores”.
- Working lunch in the garden.
- Afternoon workshop on interiors styling with guest expert.
- Aperitivi in the garden.
- Dinner at a renowned local restaurant - a favourite with diners across the city.
- Cars will take you back to your hotel.
Sunday 12th September
- Breakfast at your hotel.
- Cars will bring you to meet me at the Gran Balon, a huge open-air vintage market winding through the streets of the city. With an incredible selection of lighting, art, furniture, and more, you’re sure to find unique pieces to inspire your projects. (Plus, it’s located next to the Mercato Centrale Torino – the largest open air market in Europe, with 4,500 sqm of food stalls and grocery shops to discover.)
- Lunch on-the-go in one of the bars or restaurants at the Balon.
- Afternoon free time to explore Turin at your own pace. From artisanal shops to architectural wonders, immerse yourself in the city’s beauty and discover plenty of inspiration for your projects at home.
- Aperitivi at one of Turin’s oldest and most elegant cafés.
- Dinner at a cosy city-centre restaurant.
Monday 13th September
- Breakfast at your hotel.
- Visit to the apartment of Carlo Mollino – Turin's most celebrated architect. A "must-see" design-lovers' destination that's famous around the world.
- Cars will bring you to my house for lunch at my local trattoria, with time to explore the village afterwards if you wish.
- Final workshop of the weekend: design masterclass with Kate Watson-Smyth.
- Afternoon tea & pastries
- Informal “Ask Me Anything” session with Kate.
- Aperitivi in the garden, followed by a selection of pizzas made in the wood-fired pizza oven in my house’s original tavernetta, by our local pizza chefs.
- Cars will take you back to the hotel for the last night.
Tuesday 14th September
- Breakfast at your hotel and check-out.
---
Price: £3,850 per person (all-inclusive).
Terms: 25% payable on booking, 50% due 90 days before arrival, 25% due 30 days before arrival.
NB: Travel to Turin and hotel transfers are not included.
–––––––––––––––
TURIN, 8-11 OCTOBER 2027
"The Essential Design Weekender”
Hosted by Kate Watson-Smyth
PLACES NOW AVAILABLE
Friday 8th October
- Arrival and welcome drinks on the hotel roof – a landmark destination in the city, with views of Turin and the Alps (weather permitting).
- Opportunity to visit the private art collection of the Agnelli family (founders of Fiat), including works by Canaletto, Matisse, Picasso & Modigliani.
- Dinner at a spectacular Michelin Guide-rated restaurant.
Saturday 9th October
- Breakfast at your hotel.
- Cars will bring you to my house for the first workshop – a full tour of all 24 rooms, with opportunity to ask all your renovation questions.
- Working lunch in the garden (weather permitting).
- Second workshop – on refining your own interiors style, followed by Design Q&A with Kate.
- Aperitivi in the garden.
- Dinner at a renowned local restaurant - a favourite with diners across the city.
- Cars will take you back to your hotel.
Sunday 10th October
- Breakfast at your hotel.
- Cars will bring you to meet me at the Gran Balon, a huge open-air vintage market winding through the streets of the city. With an incredible selection of lighting, art, furniture, and more, you’re sure to find unique pieces to inspire your projects. (It’s located next to the Mercato Centrale Torino – the largest open air market in Europe, with 4,500 sqm of food stalls and grocery shops to discover.)
- Lunch on-the-go in one of the bars or restaurants at the Balon.
- Visit to the apartment of Carlo Mollino – Turin's most celebrated architect. A "must-see" design-lovers' destination that's famous around the world.
- Aperitivi at one of Turin’s oldest and most elegant cafés.
- Dinner at a cosy city-centre restaurant.
- Cars will take you back to the hotel.
Monday 11th October
- Breakfast at your hotel and check-out.
---
Price: £2,750 per person (all-inclusive).
Terms: 25% payable on booking, 50% due 90 days before arrival, 25% due 30 days before arrival.
NB: Travel to Turin and hotel transfers are not included.
PRICES & PAYMENT
Prices quoted are per person, in GBP (pounds sterling). Some currency conversions do attract bank and transaction fees. Once you reserve a place, you will receive payment instructions. Invoices will be issued for all bookings.
BOOKING & CANCELLATION
Our standard requirement that a deposit of 25% is payable on booking to secure your place. We ask for a second instalment of 50% to be made 90 days before arrival, with the final 25% due 30 days before arrival (depending on precise dates & format of each trip).
In the event that you need to cancel for any reason up to 90 days before the start of your trip, your 25% deposit payment is refundable in full. However, the 2nd and 3rd instalments are non-refundable. Therefore should you need to make a late cancellation, you will need to reclaim these monies under your own travel insurance.
INSURANCE
We require that all guests have adequate travel insurance in place as a condition of booking. You should ensure your policy offers coverage for personal accident, medical treatment, repatriation, cancellation expenses (see above), theft and loss of personal property, etc.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
All travellers will need to have a current passport, valid for up to six months beyond their date of arrival, to enter Italy. EU entry rules can be complex for non-citizens, and two new schemes introduced in 2026 (EES and ETIAS) have imposed additional requirements for those arriving from countries including the UK, US, and Canada. We suggest all prospective guests check the specific requirements for their nationality well before their arrival date.
Mad About The House
Email: kate@madaboutthehouse.com
Substack: katewatsonsmyth.substack.com
Instagram: @mad_about_the_house
Copyright © 2025 Kate Watson-Smyth
All rights reserved