DECORATOR’S ADDRESS BOOK
Refined making skills, years of design expertise, upholding the use of exquisite materials – these ‘Made in Italy’ brands are defined by quality
FEATURE AMY MOOREA WONG
ACERBIS
Striving to craft revolutionary furniture at the forefront of modernity since 1870, fourth generation-run family business Acerbis specialises in avant-garde storage pieces, many of which have been exhibited at museums including the V&A and the MoMA. Collaborating with trailblazing designers such as Vico Magistretti, Nanda Vigo, Gabriele and Oscar Buratti, and David Lopez Quincoces, the firm is also defined by its lacquer, producing a rainbow of brilliant shades in high gloss. acerbisdesign.com
ALESSI
‘A true design work must move people, convey emotions, bring back memories, surprise, and go against common thinking,’ says Alessi president Alberto Alessi, summing up the firm’s unique outlook. Beginning as a workshop for processing metal sheets in 1921, it has since produced everyday objects that blend functionality with creativity, charm and surprise, from coffee-makers and corkscrews to kettles and cutlery, collaborating with over 300 designers and architects from Achille Castiglioni to Zaha Hadid. alessi.com
B&B ITALIA
Revered for its original approach to furniture, 1966-founded B&B Italia works with an array of design names – Antonio Citterio, Monica Armani, Naoto Fukasawa, Barber Osgerby and Foster + Partners – under the creative eye of architect and designer Piero Lissoni who has been artistic director since 2021, producing icons such as Gaetano Pesce’s Serie Up and Mario Bellini’s recently updated Camaleonda and Le Bambole ranges. bebitalia.com
BOFFI
Known for its refined kitchens and bathrooms, 1934-established Boffi is all about architectural aesthetics and beautiful detailing. Led by art director Piero Lissoni since 1990, the brand’s minimalist spaces are full of creativity and wit as well as functionality. The firm often collaborates with eminent designers such as Paul Smith, Patricia Urquiola and Zaha Hadid, merging with De Padova in 2015 to become Boffi|De Padova. boffi.com
BONTEMPICASA
Introduced in 1963, Bontempi Casa mixes grace with an ageless classic-contemporary spirit. Its catalogue features furniture of every size from consoles to coffee tables. Working with prominent designers including Bernhardt & Vella, Carlo Bimbi, e-ggs and Massimo Castagna, Bontempi adapts to the ever-changing desires of today’s homeowners. bontempi.it
CASSINA
Founded in 1927, Cassina built a collection spanning furniture, lighting and accessories. Initially reissuing iconic furniture in the 1960s, the brand is now noted for creating desi
