For Bertrando Di Renzo, a home is never simply a collection of furniture and objects. It is an expression of the places we have visited, the people we have encountered and the memories we choose to keep. This philosophy lies at the heart of Les Ottomans, the Italian lifestyle brand whose exuberant patterns, rich colours and eclectic collections reflect its founder’s fascination with travel, craftsmanship and the decorative arts.

Having lived between Milan, Barcelona and Istanbul, Di Renzo has developed an aesthetic that resists the conventions of minimalism, favouring instead the unexpected dialogue between cultures, materials and periods. His particular affection for Istanbul, with its layered history and extraordinary decorative traditions, continues to inform a world in which every object has a story to tell.

As Les Ottomans brings its distinctive visual language to Dubai through a collaboration with Bungalo34, Marie Claire Maison Arabia speaks to Di Renzo about the art of collecting, the importance of preserving craftsmanship and why the most interesting interiors are often those that refuse to follow the rules.

Les Ottomans feels less like a conventional design brand and more like a world assembled through travel, memory and collecting. How has your personal way of living shaped the aesthetic of the brand?

My way of living has definitely shaped my choices for the brand. I studied in Milan, lived in Barcelona and Istanbul, and now I’m back in Italy. I’ve spent a huge part of my life travelling, exploring and really trying to dive deeper into the things I love, such as art, music and local traditions.

But I also love thinking of Les Ottomans as a world built on colours, patterns and craftsmanship, a place where everyone can find their own spot, bring back memories, share ideas and create their own personal universe.

You have described Istanbul as your second home and one of your greatest sources of inspiration. What has the city taught you about colour, decoration and the way different cultures can coexist within an interior?

The name Les Ottomans is a huge tribute to Turkey and Istanbul. When I first started the brand, working entirely with ikat, Istanbul and its Ottoman heritage were a massive source of inspiration for me. The tile patterns, the shape of the domes, the colours of the city, they all really helped me bring the brand to life.

I mean, historically, Istanbul has always been this amazing place where different cultures have lived together side by side for centuries. Living there, as I did, makes you understand that we can take the good from every place we visit, the people we meet and the cultures we explore.

You have championed colour, pattern and maximalism through years when much of contemporary design was moving towards restraint and minimalism. What gives an eclectic interior coherence rather than simply making it feel busy?

Honestly, I struggled a bit in my first few years because not everyone loved my super colourful, maximalist style. To me, a maximalist interior is all about mastering the art of mix and match and colour layering, mixing the old with the new, plain fabrics with bold patterns. There are no rules because a home should be totally personal and unique. Everyone should be able to put their own stamp on it, and honestly, sometimes a little bit of busy is just really cool.

For you, what makes an object worth collecting? Is it craftsmanship, provenance, beauty, imperfection or something more instinctive?

Collecting is such a personal thing, and I completely love hunting for rare and unusual objects. For me, craftsmanship is definitely the key. It’s one of the main reasons I buy anything. A handmade piece just has so much more soul and added value compared to something mass-produced. Provenance matters, too; just like expert craftsmanship, it brings a sense of rarity, scarcity and real savoir-faire. Beauty, on the other hand, is totally subjective.

Craftsmanship is central to Les Ottomans, and you work with specialist artisans and ateliers in Italy and beyond. Are there particular techniques or traditions you feel especially passionate about preserving today?

I absolutely love it when my brand is linked to true craftsmanship because that’s a battle I’ve been fighting since day one. We really need to preserve our heritage and savoir-faire and protect our local ateliers and artisans. Being Italian, I’m drawn to anything handmade, though I have to admit I totally have a soft spot for ceramics. I love how clay can be shaped in a million different ways, how a plate acts like a blank canvas and how everything can be moulded into something completely unique. That’s why it breaks my heart to hear that hundreds of Italian ceramics ateliers are closing down every single year.

For the Bungalo34 collaboration, Les Ottomans enters an existing Mediterranean environment rather than a blank space. How did you approach bringing your visual language into the restaurant without making it feel like a conventional installation?

The collaboration with Bungalo34 was smooth, and I felt like it was meant to be. They have been using my plates in the restaurant for years, so this takeover feels like we are strengthening our bond a little more. Bringing the Les Ottomans vision into Bungalo34 was easy, as the restaurant already feels like a Mediterranean spot, so we will just give it a little twist. I am not afraid of being conventional, as this is a word that does not exist in my vocabulary.

Dubai brings together people, objects and influences from many different cultures, something that also seems intrinsic to Les Ottomans. What interested you about bringing this particular expression of Italian Riviera living to Dubai, and what do you hope guests will take away from it?

I love Dubai because it’s a place where ideas actually happen and projects come to life, and honestly, that’s not so common nowadays. I’m so excited to bring Les Ottomans here in its full glory. This is actually the first time I’m doing it this way, mainly because I feel so much love and warmth from the city towards my brand. Above all, I want people to feel completely at home, relaxed and able to just enjoy a wonderful lunch surrounded by beauty.