matthew brooks italian homes

When Italian folk immigrated to Canada in the 1950s and ‘60s, they brought with them a very specific style of interior design and décor: crystal cabinets, couches preserved in plastic and Jesus – Jesus everywhere.

Years later, photographer Matthew Brooks discovered these homes through his girlfriend’s Italian rellies, and was immediately captivated by the spaces’ over-the-top and excellent aesthetics. He set about documenting as many as he could point his lens at, and learned a lot about their time-honoured culture along the way. Like the fact that there are traditionally two kitchens in an Italian home: one for cooking, and one purely for display.

Have a gander at some of his images below.