A Home Woven from Journeys, Art and Quiet Beauty

For nearly two decades, Emanuela Nurra has called Asia home – from the serene streets of Japan to the vibrant rhythm of South Korea and now back to the city where her creative journey truly began: Shanghai.

Emanuela founded C'era una volta, an Italian children's fashion brand born in Shanghai in 2016, celebrating elegance, simplicity and authenticity. While "c'era una volta" means "once upon a time" in Italian, her home is a storybook of beauty, memory and meaning, like her brand.

When she returned to Shanghai after eight years in South Korea and Japan, Emanuela knew exactly what she was looking for: light, warmth and a sense of timelessness. The moment she walked into her current apartment on the tree-lined Wuxing Road, she knew she had found it.

"I was captivated by the open spaces, the natural light, and especially the round window in the kitchen," she said. "Framing the green treetops and distant skyscrapers, the window captures the duality of Shanghai: intimate yet expansive, rooted yet ever-changing."

The neighborhood itself is a perfect reflection of her sensibilities: intimate yet full of life. "It has its own rhythm – beautiful tree-lined streets, cafes and boutiques. It feels like a little world within the city."

It's the blend of beauty and familiarity that makes her feel grounded, even while living far from her native Italy.

The apartment was already beautiful, but Emanuela made it her own with art, books and treasured objects collected across Asia and Europe. Long bookshelves stretch through the living room and kitchen, becoming the highlights of the space, meticulously balanced with stories and color. "Each shelf tells a story," she explains. "It's not just about storage – it's about atmosphere."

Her aesthetic is a harmony of modern and antique. Her furniture and decorative pieces form a dialogue between old and new.

Contemporary furniture sits alongside Chinese black lacquer boxes, calligraphy brushes and historic family books.

"Some of the antique books come from both our families – mine and my husband's – and they carry with them the scent of another time," she said.

Her daughter's ceramics, inspired by Korean forms, sit beside a delicate piece made by a friend from Lebanon. And among many collected treasures, the Buddha statues bring calm, quiet reminders of balance.

The living room in the middle of the apartment has a relaxed elegance thanks to a carefully chosen palette of natural colors. A teal velvet sofa anchors the space with understated sophistication, while a mix of pink and golden cushions adds warmth and vibrancy.

A white oval coffee table with a slender metal base introduces balance and a subtle touch of modernity. The neutral rug, complemented by wooden and leather chairs, enhances the sense of harmony and comfort.

Emanuela often draws inspiration from the treasured fashion books displayed on the USM cabinet. "My fashion books are grouped here because they reflect another side of me: my years in design and my enduring love for beauty, texture and stories that clothes can tell."

Art fills every corner, collected over the years from Chinese, Korean, Japanese and French artists.

Above the USM cabinet stand her most beloved pieces: a pair of white abstract paintings by a Korean artist, Kim TaeHyuk, discovered at Seoul's KIAF art fair. "They were like twins," she remembers. "I couldn't imagine buying one and leaving the other behind."

This part of the artwork brings her a sense of infinite calm. "The white feels like the blank pages of a book, while the black marks – suspended on transparent threads – recall embroidery, drawing and writing. The play of shadows adds a gentle movement. Together, they feel like an open book – a story unfolding in silence."

Now, hung together in her living room, they radiate patience and calm.

On the walls hang paintings by Anne-Gabrielle Calf, an artist who became a dear friend. "I have some of her early works, from when she lived in Shanghai. I fell in love instantly with her soft colors and her poetic sense of light – her art feels deeply connected to memory and emotion," Emanuela said.

There is a portrait of a girl created by Japanese artist Mei Watanabe – "I'll never tire of it. There's something protective in her gaze, quiet yet powerful."

"Art brings energy and calm at the same time. It transforms the space into something alive."

The master bedroom is serene and soft; the living and dining areas glow with warmth and inspiration. The kitchen, filled with objects and books from her travels, feels both practical and poetic.

For her, home is not about perfection but about feeling. "My lifestyle is about simplicity, beauty and meaningful details," she reflects. "Every piece here carries a memory. It's not decoration – it's part of our life."

Ultimately, her home is a mirror of her life – creative, balanced and filled with emotion. "Home means warmth, inspiration and belonging," she says. "It's where my family gathers, where my daughters feel like they're on vacation when they swim in the residence pool, and where I'm surrounded by everything I love. Every object has meaning – that's what makes it home."