La Casa di Hubert de Givenchy

La Casa di Hubert de Givenchy was, not all that long ago, quite literally what its name implies: a lavish three-bedroom apartment in Venice’s Dorsoduro quarter, belonging to the French designer and fashion icon Hubert de Givenchy. Given this pedigree, it’s no surprise that its interiors are a unique departure from the Baroque fantasy that is more or less synonymous with Venetian style.

What you’ll find inside feels roughly as Parisian as it does Venetian; there’s Murano glass, to be sure, but French wallpapers as well — one of which, by the way, was selected by Givenchy’s lifelong friend Audrey Hepburn.

This is a completely self-contained residence, and the word “full” doesn’t quite do justice to its kitchen — this is a unique space, set under a distinctive peaked ceiling, with professional-quality equipment and a dining table running the length of the room. (A cooking class or a chef-catered event isn’t out of the question.) There’s a rooftop terrace as well, and the views are a reminder that, however improbable it may seem, you’re right in the heart of Venice, close to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, among many, many other sights.