“I’m a photographer who makes furniture.” Willy Rizzo was keen to point out that he wasn’t a designer. Friend of the jet set and Hollywood’s A-list -including the ineffable Billy Wilder- he was one of the most sought-after photographers of his time. And he loved his job. His successful stint as a designer happened almost by accident: “I needed to furnish my new home in Rome, and I couldn’t find anything that matched my taste. I didn’t like all that psychedelic trend of the time, nor did I want Scandinavian design. So, I decided to do it myself ». What started as a small, rather amateurish venture quickly turned into a successful business. Rizzo designs were soon to be found in the homes of Salvador Dali, Brigitte Bardot, Otto Preminger, and Vincent Minelli, to name but a few. “I never tried to sell my designs; however, the friends who used to come to my home, when seeing my “works”, would want to buy them: And how could I say no? » The great photographer/designer sadly passed away in 2013, but his unique furniture pieces live on, gracing the homes of a new generation of design aficionados.