top of page
STEFAN_SCHOLTEN_STUDIO_32_edited.jpg

Manuela Rotta I Founder & Director
​
“I’ve always believed that beauty is not just something we see, it’s something we live,”

I often say when people ask me what drives me. I’m the founder of Stone Made Italy, a brand dedicated to the timeless beauty of natural stone, deeply rooted in Italian heritage, craftsmanship, and design culture.
​
​

I grew up surrounded by creativity. My family’s world was steeped in fashion, craft, and an innate appreciation for beauty, and growing up in Italy, where beauty and craft are a natural part of daily life, I developed a profound respect for materials, and for the people who shape them.
​
My journey with natural stone began during my years at a prestigious Italian stone company known for its cultural foundations and collaborations with celebrated architects, designers, and artists. Those formative years taught me not only about material and process, but also about creative vision and integrity. My travels, especially throughout Asia, expanded my understanding of how design and culture intertwine.

Later, my experience with Dutch shipbuilding excellence refined my sense of technical precision. “It taught me that creativity and engineering can dance beautifully together,” I often say. Guided by passion, curiosity, and a hands-on spirit, I’ve spent years traveling to quarries around the world. “To truly understand a material, you must touch its origin,” is something I deeply believe. Those journeys have not only deepened my knowledge but also connected me with extraordinary people, quarry masters, artisans, and designers, who share my respect for the craft. Over time, these encounters have grown into a global network built on trust, collaboration, and mutual respect. 

Today, I divide my time between Tuscany and Amsterdam, where I live with my husband, Stefan Scholten, a world-renowned product and interior designer. Together, we lead a life that’s dynamic and demanding, but always surrounded by beauty and meaningful objects. “Our home is our laboratory of ideas,” I like to say — a place where creativity never sleeps. At the heart of my work lies a profound respect for craftsmen and artisans, those who transform raw materials into something truly exceptional. I see them not just as executors, but as co-creators in a shared vision. Their sensitivity, dedication, and mastery inspire me every day.

 
Equally important to me is the team that brings Stone Made Italy to life every day. “No vision can thrive without people who believe in it,” I often remind myself. I work alongside a remarkable group of artisans, designers, and project managers, many of them women, who share my values of care, precision, and integrity. Some are even family, continuing the generational thread of creativity that runs through my life. We see ourselves not as colleagues, but as co-creators, each contributing a unique skill to a shared vision. Together, we’ve built a company culture rooted in trust, excellence, and a collective passion for craft.
 
Equally vital are the collaborations with architects and designers whose bold ideas challenge convention and expand what’s possible. These creative exchanges push me to explore new horizons of design and material expression.
 
Through Stone Made Italy, I continue to celebrate craft and elevate tradition  but always with an open, international mindset. My hope is to inspire future generations to find meaning, connection, and fulfillment in the art of making , an art that transcends borders, languages, and cultures.

bottom of page