But the places wherePerettifelt truly in her element lay far beyond the Big Apple.

I called him thinking he would never accept, Peretti said of their first project together.

After all, it was only a flat and he was used to very important projects.

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Photo: Estelle Hanania

But he accepted, I guess more because we liked each other instinctively from the very beginning.

Anyhow, I always told him I thought he did that house only to do me a favor.

Not long after the two completed the Roman project did begin yet another, in Porto Ercole.

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Photo: Estelle Hanania

Decorated in sepia hues, the space is warm and inviting with no corner left untouched by Mongiardino.

Walls become murals depicting the kind of garden views that the mostly windowless structure cannot provide.

Unfortunately, most of these murals have not withstood water damage endured by the tower.

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Photo: Estelle Hanania

The Italian Interiors of Elsa Perettiis available now fromApartamento.com.

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