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Amid the historic
treasures of the idyllic island that is Venice we found
a secluded boutique hotel with an unusual name: DD 724
Charming House. Leaving the hustle and bustle of the
tourist crowd behind us at the Accademia vaporetto stop
on the Grand Canal, we threaded our way through several
twisting Venetian streets, passing through an iron gate
then down an even narrower alley to abruptly find an
intimate luxury lodging of contemporary design.
Here was a place
worthy of a doge’s visit, set in the midst of
twenty-first century ducal delights. After a
trans-continental journey of four airline flights, we
found welcome relief in the smartly-appointed room. My
wife felt sheer joy opening the dark, wooden chest
containing a treasure trove of deluxe vanity products.
Here were four jars of special formulas, featuring
perfumed bath water, hydrating body cream made with fig
extracts, and a ten-inch long bar of “pure vegetable
soap,” all custom-imprinted with the DD 724 Venezia
label. Certainly much care had gone into the creation
and design of these custom products, an uncommon
investment in personal care items that bore no
commercial market potential. After a luxurious bath in
the tile and marble tub, a fresh, terry-cloth robe and
soft terry-cloth sandals awaited each of us. Our son,
fashioning himself a prince, regaled himself with soft
drinks and snacks after raiding the room’s mini-bar.
 Stepping
out on the balcony we found a tranquil garden situated
below us in Venice’s Dorsoduro quarter, just steps away
from the Peggy Guggenheim Gallery. And though art
treasures were yet to be visited in local museums and
palaces, here in our room abstract oil paintings,
stretched over rectangular and square frames, adorned
our walls. As evening came, yearning to recapture some
of our lost sleep, we sought refuge in our comfortable
beds. But when we turned off the lights, much to our
surprise and unending delight there appeared the stark
image of a mysterious yet benign male face, luminescing
as if by magic from underneath a meter-square wall
hanging of stretched silken fabric. He seemed both to
welcome and invite us into that aristocratic heritage
that has made this tiny isola so magnificent and
historically rich. With that we bid him a cheerful
buona sera and fell asleep.
In the morning we
strolled across the waiting room to a dining area where
several tables had been set for paired guests. We
helped ourselves to a buffet of hearty cereals and
granola, yogurt, juices, rolls, fruit preserves, nut
butters, croissants, pastries, scrambled eggs and
prosciutto. Hot lattes and a hot chocolate were soon
delivered as we feasted on our morning repast. The
day’s weather forecast was posted on a slip of paper at
each table, alerting us to a sunny day ahead. Scanning
more of the hotel now, I saw the compatibility of our
hotel’s emphasis on rectangular shapes with Peggy
Guggenheim’s adjacent art collection featuring European
and American art of t he
first half of the twentieth century that included
masterpieces of Cubism and Futurism. Throughout each
room, right-angled décor was accentuated in each
fixture, lamp shade, chair, floor covering and wall
hanging. Squares, rectangles and cubes were abundant,
from the box-shaped pedestal sink in the bathroom to the
leather-covered cube that served as a short desk chair
in our studio bedroom. The chair upon which I sit
writing is upholstered with a woven fabric design
featuring a symmetrical pattern of black, white and tan
squares. Outside, the bells toll their rhythmic chimes,
reminding me that I am still connected to my European
roots, though distance of space and time has eroded my
appreciation of the sacrifices and investment that had
been made to create such a rich culture.
DD 724’s owner
Chiara Bocchini has taken her experience from working in
her own hotel in Milano Maritima to create a warmly
modern yet tranquil Venetian retreat. Refashioning a
pre-nineteenth century building into a modern design,
architect Milano
Marittima completed the project
that opened in summer 2003. Charming House’s seven
boutique rooms range from 200 to 500 Euros and are part
of the Design Hotels and Alberghi dell’arte chain. Four
additional luxury suites, dubbed the IQs, are also
available at a range of 290 to 780 Euros per night.
Complimentary wi-fi is available throughout. For a
truly luxurious experience in one of the most remarkable
boutique hotels of Venice, DD 724 Charming House is
worthy of any duke or duchess.
Website:
http://www.thecharminghouse.com/
Email: info@dd724.com
Location: Ramo da Mula, Dorsoduro, 724, 30123 Venezia
(Venice), Italy
Telephone: +39 041 2770262
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