If you’re a fan of minimalist home décor, you’ll know that selectively placed ceramic pots, vases and accents around your home can elevate your design aesthetic from lacklustre to luxe. Simple, clean design with a distinct coastal vibe is great for our relaxed Singapore lifestyle.
Casa Alessia is a new online store offering Mediterranean-inspired ceramic pots, vases and minimalist home décor. We had a coffee and a chat with founder KATHLEEN HO to hear all about her journey.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background.
I’m the co-founder of Casa Alessia with my husband Andrej. We’re both digital marketers by trade and avid travellers by heart – and we have a passion for art, architecture and beautiful interiors. In 2021, while also managing a growing marketing firm (and a three-year-old toddler), we took the plunge and launched Casa Alessia.
How was Casa Alessia the brand born?
Waking at 6am and going to bed at midnight, I’ve always been a busy bee. Then COVID happened. We’d planned to visit Andrej’s family for two months, but due to lockdown, ended up staying in Europe for 18 months. As cliché as it sounds, that’s when I had some realisations. At first, I hated the slower days and less hurried lifestyle. But, as months passed, I slowly embraced the opportunity to reconnect with myself and what matters most. When restrictions eased in Europe, we met talented artists and designers on our travels.
We finally returned to Singapore mid-2021 with renewed focus and started Casa Alessia. We wanted to offer soulful products with a story. I’ve always been drawn to the relaxed vibe of the coastal design aesthetic, but never liked the kitschy accents like fishing nets, sea shells, glass bottles and anchors that are often associated with beach themes. We identified a gap in the market for high-end, minimalist home décor in Singapore that won’t break the bank – so here we are!
As for the name, we take a lot of inspiration from Italy and our daughter’s name is Italian in origin. Andrej is from the Slovenian coast beside Italy, so the name Casa Alessia is imbued with a lot of meaning.
Casa Alessia has modern minimalist design aesthetic. Why is it so important to create a warm home?
The Casa Alessia brand was conceived for discerning individuals who share our passion for sustainability, traditional craftsmanship and meaningful pursuits. We offer timeless objects painstakingly made by hand out of natural materials. Our ceramic pots, vases and home décor products are thoughtfully designed to age gracefully in your home.
In this fast-paced world it’s essential to have a tranquil space to retreat and recharge. Special memories with family and friends are made in our homes, so it’s nice to complement them with meaningful and exquisite objects. After a long day, I love to curl up on a comfy couch with a book and a cup of tea, and look around and just feel good.
You partner with skilled artisans in a few developing countries for your ceramic pots and home décor. Tell us about them.
As global citizens, we’re fortunate to know designers and skilled craftsmen in both Europe and developing countries like India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines. Our partners proudly pass their skills down from one generation to the next, and their attention to detail and love of their craft infuses each piece with love. We use natural materials such as terracotta, mango wood and soy wax (for our candles); and as all of our pieces are hand made and painted, each piece is slightly different. We knew from the start that we didn’t want to sell standard touristy products, so we collaborate with designers to develop our own design aesthetic. It’s early days, so we’re excited to be growing our network of partners as we go along.
I’m always on the hunt for gift ideas for parties. What would you recommend for these scenarios?
#1 For a dinner party
Depending on the host, I love to bring a flower arrangement in a vase and a box of gourmet cookies or chocolates.
#2 For the green thumb
You can’t go past our pretty planters and woven baskets, perfect to pop a plant into!
#3 For the entertainer
A set of minimalist ceramic bowls with complementary coasters is a great choice. Alternatively, a statement table centrepiece never fails to please.
#4 For the stylist friend
Decorative yet functional mirrors are a great choice, and you can never have enough vases and vessels in your home!
Casa Alessia | casaalessia.com
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