In 1994, Donna Lennard opened a rustic antique store on a desolate strip of cobblestoned Bond Street in New York City’s NoHo with then partner, Alberto Avalle of Umbria. Shoppers would often join them for their midday "pranzo" prepared in their tiny back kitchen. Within 6 months they transformed the rustic antique store into a charming enoteca, which ultimately became one of NYC’s most beloved downtown restaurants, il Buco. The restaurant was filled with beautiful and rustic antique tables and chairs, hutches, cabinets, art, objects and more left from the antique store days and became a staple of the NYC foodie scene. Over the years through many trips back and forth to Umbria where she had a small home in the village of Bevagna, friendships were cemented with cousins Lorenzo and Antonello Radi, also dear friends of Alberto, who dreamed of one day launching a collection of artisan Italian goods with Donna. A mere 18 years later on another cobblestoned block a stones throw away on Great Jones Street they helped Donna in the design and décor for her next restaurant,. il Buco Alimentari & Vineria, which quickly became an acclaimed NY Times 3 star restaurant with a market in front featuring the beautiful Italian products that made il Buco so dear to her clientele for so many years. Now 2 years after the opening of the Vineria, the story comes full circle as Lennard’s taste in food and design are brought together again. The years of dreaming came to fruition as Donna, Lorenzo & Antonello teamed up to launch il Buco Vita, a home décor line made up of both handcrafted artisan objects and the beautiful antique pieces that inspired them. Now, guests can create the experience of il Buco in their own homes The handpicked, cultivated collection was sourced from Central and Southern Italy by Antonello and Lorenzo, and items include beautiful and rustic ceramic dishes and cookware, tiles, pottery, linen, hand-blown glass, candles, baskets, textiles and more. Also offered will be some of il Buco’s Mediterranean food products, including olive oil, vinegar and sea salt. All of the items in the collection are exclusively from Italy and have never been sold in the U.S. The line includes a mix of both unique antique pieces and newly made objects sourced from workshops, houses and farms, and invokes the colors and textures of the Mediterranean. Friends for over 15 years, Donna refers to Antonello and Lorenzo as her Fratelli Umbri (Umbrian brothers). Lorenzo is an acclaimed architect, responsible for the design of a famous Italian luxury brand stores opening worldwide. Antonello officially works in finance but is a Renaissance man who spends most of his time gardening, painting, and collecting beautiful pieces from around the world that adorn his "maximalist" homes in Umbria. which have been featured in numerous publications including Elle Décor and A Casa. As part of the il Buco Vita brand, Donna, Lorenzo and Antonello plan to eventually provide custom travel services for trips to Umbria, a region she and her partners know inside and out, highlighting her favorite food and design stops. The il Buco Vita team is also available for personalized advice on interior design and styling sets and backgrounds for professional shooting.
