DEAR JOHN (SALADINO)

“A house is much more than a mere shelter, it should lift us emotionally and spiritually.” John Saladino

Sharing is a bit unnerving. When creating a video of Maison Bodega for The Local Project + Fisher & Paykel, my shy self was pried out from the shadows and gently coaxed to speak to the camera about the process (thus far) of our renovation. Intentionally, this space is always a WIP, some rooms still need light fixtures, there are corners that were left bare as the forever item has not been found. Time has been left present on the walls and that is not for everyone. Its ok.

A very kind commenter did not critique my speaking voice, but rather saw the intention: “Many congratulations, Ms. Gardner! Young and successful, and creating your dreams. l appreciate that so much, seemingly, as much as was possible to preserve, was preserved. It is so large and open, elegant, and yet it has a homey, comforting feeling. As Ms. Gardner explains her renovation and creation of the larder, we see how much thought went into every choice to create this beautiful home. Although here, the work proceeded with an eye toward preservation, Ms. Gardner's vision and her confidence in creating this space put me in mind of the designer, John Saladino. I remember seeing photos of his NYC apartment back in the 1980s. He treated the walls to recreate the look of Italian villa or palazzo. A quote from Saladino: ‘I believe our surroundings have a profound effect on us. At their most sublime, they can take us out of this world, and give us what I call moments of transcendence.’ Love this unique and beautiful dream brought to reality. You just knew that anybody who had that sweet doggie would put a lot of heart into their work.”

Christopher Worthland spoke so eloquently about John Saladino after his passing in 2025 “His palette—ethereal violets, shifting celadons, luminous neutrals—was chosen not just to please the eye, but to stir the imagination. His interiors breathed with light and time, always alive. He blurred boundaries between interior and exterior, past and present, imagination and reality. His work played with scale and illusion, yet always held warmth and soul. To Saladino, design was a fine art—a form of theater meant to provoke emotion, comfort, and wonder. “I am not interested in living in a machine,” he said. “A dwelling should provoke an emotional response.”