Bringing Italy to Naples
Patina Team Spotlight – Karen Abell, Owner Curator
Patina Collection was born from my love of bringing a truly authentic European influence into my own home and lifestyle in Naples, Florida. After years of being unable to find what I was searching for, I decided to look to Europe, mainly Italy and France, to start sourcing for my own home. As I am a consummate shopper and decorator, I would often replace items I had purchased, with new even more spectacular finds. This led me to open my own business. The first year’s were at a local consignment shop in Naples, then a part time warehouse, to the current Patina Collection location in the lovely 3rdStreet South Shopping District. At Patina Collection, we all strive to transport our customers to that European “aura”.
Writing this message, I am perched at my computer in my “cucina” at our home in Tuscany. Every day feeling lucky that I am able to have this incredible home in a place that I love and so belong to. I am overlooking my beautiful portico, bathed in sun sneaking in thru our large whisping pine trees. The outdoor stone table, covered with a beautiful Italian linen tablecloth, woven rattan chairs shipped over from Morocco, the table set with my favorite linens from D’Ascoli from India, dishes and glassware from Italy, fuchsia geraniums lazily drooping over old terra cotta olive pots, our antique grandfather clock chiming in the distance…this is what I love about Italy. This hard to describe feeling that I strive to exude when you walk into and visit Patina. The beautiful antiques I ship every year, the Moroccan rattan chairs and accessories I work to create, our Garden Terrace full of flowers, the beautiful linens in our kitchen area, the Italian music from our Patina playlists…our infamous Rose Thursdays. Every detail, some hopefully unnoticed, are what the incredible Patina team works on daily to transport each and every customer, friend, client, vendor off to a place they love if only just for a short amount of time.
A presto! Karen
