Dine like You're Summering in Spain with Pomelo Casa
Francesca de la Fuente in her kitchen.
Inspired by the hand-painted ceramics that filled her mother's kitchen when she was growing up in Spain, interior designer Francesca de la Fuente started Pomelo Casa to bring these colorful, artisan-made pieces to tables across the United States. The result is a joyful mix of prints and colors, a tabletop canvas perfect for a long summer meal with friends.
We chatted with Francesca about her business, life in Spain, and what she's serving up this summer!
So tell us, when did you start Pomelo?
Summer of 2019
Your website mentions that a driving force behind starting Pomelo was your childhood growing up in Southern Spain - how has that influenced your line and your vibe for the business?
Spain is where the heart of the business is, where all the ceramics are made, and the designs descend from. Without the original product, the brand wouldn’t exist!
Salad Plates with hand painted designs.
Outside of the gorgeous hand-painted ceramics you grew up with - what inspires you when you put together a collection for Pomelo?
The lifestyle that people lead in Spain. Where they put family and friends first. Long, family-style meals are the way I imagine our ceramics being used in their new homes, hopefully!
Dinner plates stacked with mini plates.
What’s been most surprising to you about starting your own business?
Mostly, how lonely and isolating it can be when you have a small business and don’t have the means to have multiple employees, it’s up to you to wear all the hats and to be constantly inspired and motivated. Being your own boss is tough.
What’s it like being in the homeware/decor space?
It’s a super exciting space that really has endless possibilities. I really love seeing how each person puts their own individual spin on putting together their tablescape with our pieces.
A summer ready table with Pomelo Casa.
Your pieces are perfect for a summer dinner party - What is your vibe for hosting this summer?
As laid back as possible…nothing too precious. Mismatched colours, fun vintage glassware and silverware, and handpicked flowers from the garden. I love my dinner parties to feel as relaxed as possible and to go on all night long!
The large bowl featuring hand painted designs.
What are you cooking this summer?
Brioche with butter and anchovies. Baked fish in white wine and olive oil, served with potatoes and Anaheim peppers. Linguine vongole with chili flakes for an extra kick! Broad beans in a green sauce with baby clams…And, of course, Gazpacho!
We know you’re in Spain at the moment (jealous!) Do you have any other fun travel plans on the horizon?
Now that I’m in Europe, I feel like the world is our oyster! We’re planning on going to Portugal, France and the English countryside, all while maybe exploring some new places in Spain. We just got back from Barcelona, which I hadn’t been to in years, and the food was exceptional.
A pitcher from Pomelo makes for a great wedding gift.
What do you love to gift from the collection?
I think the pitchers are the perfect gift; they don’t have to match anything else the person already has at home. They can be a stand-alone piece, used in the kitchen for serving drinks or as a vase for flowers, and look good in any room of the house. I love putting the small vase on my bathroom vanity with some freshly cut Bougainvillea.
What are your must-have/favorite items in the collection?
I love the medium and large serving bowls because my favorite kind of meals are always served family style.
An array of bowls for all your summer snacking.
And lastly, as a business owner, what’s your current rose, thorn, and bud?
Rose: Bringing a new lease of life to a super classic timeless Spanish ceramic. I’m not as interested in trends that come and go but rather in giving people a modern heirloom they can treasure forever.
Thorn: There's never enough time, and I do have a bad habit of feeling rather overwhelmed and freezing!
Bud: Spain has SO much to offer; I’m so excited to have inspiration all around to keep building Pomelo Casa
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