The colors beiges, grays, taupes are also characteristic of the designer's palette, and most of the furniture, such as a round wooden dining-room table and a lacquered black bookshelf, is influenced by the simple lines and textures of 1930s and '40s Italian architecture.

WSJ: The Future of Armani

Michele Lupi, editor of Italian GQ, abandoned his studies of architecture for the lure of journalism but has retained a love for beautifully designed buildings.

BBC: The Real Milan

Ratti is an Italian civil engineer and architect with a MPhil and PhD degree in architecture from the University of Cambridge.

FORBES: Names You Need to Know in 2011: Carlo Ratti

With Hotel Missoni, the eponymous Italian fashion house has established a style icon in the heart of the Old Town: modernist architecture, impeccable staff and very comfortable bedrooms.

BBC: Mini guide to Edinburgh, Scotland