A Postcard From Europe
A Summer of Stillness, Beauty, and Inspiration
There is something about Europe in the summer. The light softens, the pace slows, and everything — from a chipped ceramic plate to a winding cobblestone alley — feels touched by time and intention. It’s a season made for stepping away, for checking out in order to truly check in. I was lucky enough to spend the past few weeks doing just that — with my family, a few favorite dresses, and a deep desire to feel recharged and creatively restored.
Our first stop was Passalacqua, a historic villa perched above the shores of Lake Como. To say it was magical would be an understatement. Passalacqua is not just a hotel — it’s an emotional experience, a reverie in stone and sunlight perched above the mirrored stillness of Lake Como. It’s the kind of place that feels dreamt into existence. A former 18th-century villa turned into a soulful sanctuary. The architecture is grand but never ostentatious and layered in patina. Terracotta and travertine meet velvet and vintage Murano glass. The light dances through centuries-old windows, casting itself onto antique floors.
The gardens are a living sculpture — cypress-lined paths, jasmine climbing up warm stone walls, and secret corners where time stands still. The dreamscape of the citrus trees, rose-covered pergolas, and terracotta paths leaves these gardens a place to truly remember. There’s a hidden pizza oven that feels like a love letter to la dolce vita, and a bar so sensual it feels less like a place and more like a state of mind. It was there that we learned to make their signature basil smash — a refreshingly herbaceous cocktail crafted with their own small-batch Passalacqua gin. It became our evening ritual, the perfect punctuation mark to long, sun-drenched days.
It was Italy at its most intimate, most cinematic, most unforgettable.
One night, we took a boat to Villa D’Este for dinner. Candlelight flickering across linen tablecloths, water lapping gently below us, the elegance of old-world Italy fully alive. You can feel the history here.
The boat rides themselves were something out of a movie — visiting Bellagio, Varenna, and Cernobbio, each town with its own rhythm, palette, and sense of soul. There is nothing quite like watching the sunset from the middle of Lake Como, the sky shifting from peach to lavender as villas light up like jewelry along the shoreline. The type of skies I envision in a Theo Pinto painting.
Our dinner at Dispensa 63 in Bellagio was an unexpected gem — elevated yet unpretentious, with a menu that celebrated the best seasonal Italian ingredients. Tucked just off the charming cobblestone streets, the restaurant blends contemporary design with warm hospitality. Every dish — from the handmade pastas to the perfectly grilled fish — was a quiet revelation, paired beautifully with regional wines and a view of Bellagio’s timeless charm.
From there, we traveled to Cap Ferrat, Bordeaux, and finally Paris — each destination a study in beauty, culture, and ease. But I’ll save those stories for next week’s newsletter. Let’s just say: my camera roll is full, my mind is clear, and my design notebook is brimming with new inspiration.
From there, we traveled to Cap Ferrat, Bordeaux, and finally Paris — each destination a study in beauty, culture, and ease. But I’ll save those stories for next week’s newsletter. Let’s just say: my camera roll is full, my mind is clear, and my design notebook is brimming with new inspiration.
—Michelle Waugh