Floral Autumn. An Interview with Valentina from La Corallina

Autumn is the season of warm colors, cozy atmospheres, and those little touches that turn everyday life into an experience. With its floral collections, La Corallina brings the delicacy of a flower and the strength of the season to the table, creating a perfect balance between craftsmanship, originality, and beauty.

Valentina, how did the idea of an “autumn” table collection come about?
Each season has its own breath, its own light. Autumn brings with it a different kind of intimacy, made of warm tones and gathered moments. We loved the idea of capturing this atmosphere in our placemats, using generous floral motifs, such as peonies, but reinterpreted with colors reminiscent of earth, wood, and freshly fallen leaves. The idea is that even a lunch or dinner at home can reflect that sense of transformation that nature offers us.

Peonies are often considered spring flowers. Why choose them in autumn?
That’s true, but only partly. Peonies bloom in spring but last throughout autumn until the first winter chill. It’s a flower we like to call “liminal,” with a chromatic and symbolic richness that lends itself to crossing the seasons. In autumn, with the right color combinations, it becomes a transitional flower, able to unite freshness with depth. In our placemats, peonies are never isolated: they coexist with warm backgrounds, with textures that recall wood and cork, so they harmonize perfectly with the season.

What makes a floral placemat perfect for autumn?
Without a doubt, the choice of colors. We’re not talking about bright tones, but warm shades: rust, bronze, moss green, burgundy. These are the hues that evoke a walk through vineyards or a forest at sunset. In addition, the texture of the material – cork – adds a natural, tactile sensation that reinforces the connection to the earth. This makes our placemats not only beautiful to look at but also truly consistent with the season.

How can these placemats be used to make an autumn table special?
I like to imagine a table that speaks of warmth. All you need is a set of floral placemats, a natural fabric like linen or cotton in neutral tones, and perhaps a lit candle to create a welcoming atmosphere. The placemat becomes the focal point: a small floral painting that makes each place setting unique. And they’re extremely versatile: they pair well with both plain white ceramics and more decorative dishes.

Is there a common thread between La Corallina’s floral collections and your artisanal journey?
Absolutely. For over ten years, we’ve pursued the same philosophy: combining Florentine craftsmanship with an international aesthetic. Peonies, bamboo motifs, ikat patterns… they are all expressions of the same desire: to create objects with strong visual impact that remain everyday, usable, alive in the home. Floral autumn perfectly represents this idea: the beauty of nature, made available every day at the table.

If you had to describe autumn in three words according to La Corallina?
I’d say: warmth, beauty, intimacy. Warmth for the colors, beauty for the floral motifs, intimacy for the atmosphere these objects help create at home.