Hello, I’m Fabiola Zambon.
I’m the founder and principal designer of Atelier Serenissima, a boutique design studio based in Blue Hill, Maine.
I grew up in Milan, Italy, surrounded by a culture where design is not reserved for special occasions—it is woven into everyday life. Architecture, craftsmanship, proportion, materials, and beauty were simply part of the landscape. From an early age, I was fascinated by the way a room could change how you felt in it. I was the person rearranging friends’ homes, moving furniture, editing shelves, and imagining what might be possible.
That instinct eventually became a career.
After graduating from Middlebury College, I began working in the design world in Los Angeles, first with designer Ron Rezek in Santa Monica and later opening the Southern California Design Within Reach studios. I went on to lead the Vitra Design Museum retail branch, experiences that immersed me in the rich mid-century design community of Los Angeles and gave me a lasting appreciation for thoughtful modernism, exceptional materials, and beautifully considered objects.
Those years shaped the way I see design today: with an appreciation for clean lines and strong proportions, but without sacrificing warmth, comfort, or character.
Eventually, I found myself longing for a different pace of life—and a deeper connection to place. I moved to Blue Hill, Maine, where the landscape, historic architecture, weathered materials, and rhythms of coastal life became an entirely new source of inspiration.
Today, my work sits somewhere between those worlds.
I love the quiet simplicity of modern design, but I am equally drawn to the patina of an old farmhouse, a beautifully worn antique, a linen curtain moving in the breeze, or a handmade object with a story behind it. I believe the most compelling interiors are rarely the result of everything being new or perfectly matched. They feel collected over time.
Collected, not decorated.
My approach is rooted in balance: contemporary alongside vintage, refined alongside relaxed, clean lines softened by natural materials and meaningful objects.
I want a home to feel beautiful, but never overly designed. Elegant, but never precious. Personal enough to tell the story of the people who live there, and timeless enough to evolve with them.
For me, good design is ultimately about how a space makes you feel—and how naturally it allows you to live.
Design & hospitality
My work also extends into the world of vacation rentals and hospitality.
For more than seven years, I have been an Airbnb host and have designed and operated my own successful vacation rental in Maine. The property has been recognized by Condé Nast Traveler among the best vacation rentals in the Acadia and Midcoast Maine area for multiple consecutive years.
That experience taught me something important: a beautiful space is only part of a successful guest experience.
The layout, lighting, furnishings, amenities, photography, communication, cleanliness, and countless small details all contribute to the way a guest remembers a stay—and ultimately to the way a property performs.
Today, I bring that perspective to homeowners who want to create exceptional vacation properties of their own, whether they need design, strategic consulting, or a trusted partner to oversee the guest experience.
I work selectively with homeowners who value thoughtful design, genuine hospitality, and a high level of care.
From designing a home from the ground up to transforming a historic property, refreshing a single room, or helping a homeowner unlock the potential of a vacation rental, my goal remains the same:
to create spaces that feel effortless, enduring, and distinctly their own.