Our articles dedicated to luxury design products made in Italy and manufacturing companies in Italy.

Tag Archive for: Made in Italy

Maurizio Riva: “I am a carpenter who wants to improve the world”

Discovering the soul of Riva 1920

He isn’t a life mentor, but he daily spreads important messages through his work.

Passionate and meticulous, Maurizio Riva takes care of his products from the first to the last stage of manufacture. Born in 1954, the president of the Riva 1920, puts his soul into every inch of his company, where he himself makes sure that everything works and is in place.

We meet him at Riva Center in Cantù, in the province of Como, surrounded by the scent of wood and “order”, which is a key word for him.

The Riva Center

Showroom

The showroom covers 1,200 smq Among the most striking pieces is the “Draft Horse: Peace and Hope,” more than three meters tall and made for Expo in 2015.

In addition to solid wood pieces from the Riva 1920 collections, you can admire the so-called “Workers’ Bicycles”, a private collection, purchased by Maurizio Riva himself, dating back to the early 1900s.

Pangea Lab

The Pangea Lab is located on the top floor of the Riva Center. Designed as a multifunctional space, this is where the Company organizes his training events and conferences.

Inside, you can see the Pangea Table designed by Michele de Lucchi for Expo 2015.

The table is inspired by the continent Pangea, which originally included all the land surface.

Also located along the walls is a xylotheque, which contains about 900 different woods from around the world.

Wood Museum

The Wood Museum houses a collection of machines and tools that is unique in Europe. The pieces on display are, in fact, more than 5,000.

Standing out above them all, is the Antico table with an iron base designed by Renzo Piano.

This table is 12 m long and is made of 48000-year-old Kauri wood from New Zealand.

Leaving his building, we feel that this special carpenter and his story left a mark on us too. We come back home, after visiting the entire Showroom, the Production Units, the exclusive Wood Museum and sitting at the Pangea Table, created for Expo 2015.

We bring with us the honor of having walked among millennial woods and the awareness that, whatever happens, we’ll get up just like the spinning top.

Thanks to Cinzia Porro, Marketing and Communication Manager at Riva 1920.

How to buy high quality Italian furniture: ten useful tips

How to buy high quality Italian furniture ten useful tips

Buying high quality Italian furniture can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be a complex undertaking if you don’t have an interior designer who takes care of your project and a trusted supplier that helps you to select.

Here are some useful tips to help you choose and buy high-end Italian furniture.

1. List of needs

Amura Palmo

Amura: Palmo

Before shopping, make a list of the furniture you want. This way you can focus on priorities and select the furniture that best meets your needs. The list helps you a lot during the selection phase, so don’t underestimate it!

2. Design that fits your style

Sovet: Arkos

When choosing furniture, make sure it fits your style. Italian decor is known for its elegant and sophisticated design, so choose furniture that fits your personal preferences. There are many different styles to choose from, you will surely find the right one for you.

3. Space

MisuraEmme: Palo Alto

Before buying a piece of furniture, measure the space where it is to be placed and make sure you have adequate space to be able to use it.

For example, if you have to buy a wardrobe, you need to leave a free area in front of it, to allow the doors and drawers to open without problems. For chairs, sofas, and armchairs, make sure the furniture you choose fits the size of your space and that people can sit comfortably.

4. Functionality

Roberti: Atollo Day Bed

When choosing furniture, consider its functionality and usefulness. You can select products with a refined design that offer a perfect combination of functionality and aesthetics. This is a good way to enjoy your home and surprise your guests at the same time.

5. Materials

Riva 1920: Craftsmanship

High-end Italian furniture is known for the very high quality of the materials used. To choose products that will last a long time, also make sure that the furniture is well made and well assembled.

6. Colors and fabrics

Giorgetti: Production

Choose colors and fabrics that suit your environment. The best Italian manufacturers use high quality padding and the skilful use of materials such as leather and velvet have made Italian furniture famous all over the world. So, in addition to the colors you like, also choose upholstery that fits your lifestyle.

7. Variants

Secolo: Pingu X Side Table

You must follow this advice very carefully, because it’s really important!

Many furnishing products are available in different variants, so carefully evaluate the different solutions, dimensions and finishes. These characteristics are very often decisive, not only for the aesthetics, but also for the price.

When making comparisons between different variations of the same product or between different suppliers, always be sure to dig into the product details.

8. Brands

Choose only Italian furniture manufacturers and suppliers you can trust.

At Salbini we select the best furniture brands that guarantee high quality materials, workmanship and construction. We also ensure that the company choices of the producers respect the best environmental sustainability procedures. Natural resources are not infinite and it is our duty to take care of the earth.

9. Get ahead of the times

Salbini: Shipping warehouse

Decide precisely when you need the furniture and start the selection right away. In this way you will not have to settle for the availability of the local retailer’s warehouse, and you will be able to have a wider choice, as happens with us at Salbini. You can even have a bespoke product made just for you!

Furthermore, if you decide to import the furniture directly from Italy, consider the time required for shipping, delivery and assembly.

10. Budget

miniforms: Botera Sofa

miniforms: Botera Sofa

Before buying, plan your budget and keep in mind the price of high quality Italian furniture. There are many options available, so choose furniture that fits your budget and meets your needs.

In summary

Purchasing high-quality Italian furniture takes research and planning. Make sure you choose reliable manufacturers, invest in quality, consider functionality, respect the environment and plan your budget.

By following these tips, you will be able to buy high-end Italian design furniture that perfectly suits your needs and style.

Cover image: Longhi Cohen

Wood flooring: guide to contemporary choice that lasts forever

“Wood is a natural, noble and elegant material, suitable for various locations and different styles.”

To talk about it, we asked Marco Merolla, Sales Manager for Itlas and Expert in Wood Floors and Claddings for Salbini, who has been working in the wooden floor industry for twenty years.

Marco Merolla

“With its many qualities, timber floor improve life inside any home.”

If you want to buy a wood floor, you should first have a precise idea of the type you need. 

“All products are aesthetically pleasing, but it is important that you choose the product with the best technical features for your home.”

Itlas: “Tavole del Piave”

Don’t worry about maintenance and cleaning.

You’ll just have to use any vacuum cleaner and wash it with a little water and a neutral detergent.

“So, enjoy its comfort and forget about anything else!”

Esadesign: art and passion for design mirrors

Esadesign art and passion for design mirrors

Esadesign was born from the will and intuition of its founders to express their passion for glass through design. 

We talked about it with Luna Pavone, one of the founders and company manager.

“Passion supported by several years of experience for a raw material with a unique charm that they find in its malleability but at the same time resistance.”

The roots of Esadesign are deep and linked to the territory of Monza and Brianza, in Lombardy, where craftsmanship and tradition come together to give life to the typical excellence of Made in Italy.

Corporate values ​​of Esadesign

“Human value is certainly what we are closest to, it is a precious and indispensable contribution in all phases of the production processes.”

Another no less important value is the protection of the environment, that brings Esadesign to improve every day with the aim of achieving ever better sustainability standards.

What is the essential element in the design of a mirror?

“An essential element in a design mirror is the awareness of having to satisfy a need. Aesthetics in design will always have to meet functionality.”

Which collection are you most attached to and why?

“It’s difficult to answer, each collection brings with it elements and experiences that do not fade but remain and contribute to a personal and intellectual enrichment.”

Specular Collection

Specular comes to life thanks to the will of creating mirrors of absolute excellence gathering a secular tradition in glass processing.

The “Specular” collection is characterized by luxury finishes and contemporary lines. It has an incredible ability to adapt to different contexts thanks to its sinuous and seductive lines.

Can Esadesign also make customized mirrors?

Esadesign can make customized mirrors evaluating the needs of the customer.

Italy and Australia

“A professional synergy and a bond of mutual esteem and trust. A bond born thanks to the appreciation of the Italian tradition in this sector and the opening of Australian culture towards the aesthetics and lines of Italian design and beyond.”

Do you need Esadesign products for your project? Request a free quote

Credits: Photographs courtesy of Esadesign.

Visit to Riva 1920 in January 2023

Visit to Riva 1920 in January 2023

Our visit to Riva 1920 in January 2023 to let our South Korean partners appreciate the production units, the Riva Center and the Wood Museum.

Riva 1920 combines craftsmanship and technology for the production of entirely made in Italy wooden furniture, whose longevity is essential for sustainable development.

Guerra Vanni: Bespoke Luxury Furniture

Guerra Vanni: bespoke luxury furniture

Guerra Vanni was founded in the 1960, in San Pietro di Morubio (VR), immediately setting on the luxury furniture sector.

“Since 1962 we have been producing furniture and furnishing accessories for homes all over the world. Roots in tradition, contemporary vision, international design, craftsmanship: these are our distinctive traits.”

Family business. From left: Jenny, Vanni and Giada Guerra.

Made in Italy

Guerra Vanni is synonymous with Made in Italy. It was born in an area which has always been known and appreciated for the artisan production of furniture. Manual skills and attention to detail handed down by grandparents and great-grandparents combines with the typical Made in Italy mentality, to guarantee quality and good taste.

Guerra Vanni: Made in Italy production
Hand crafted decoration

Customized projects

Guerra Vanni creates customized projects. The most stunning furniture doesn’t just happen. It is carefully thought, designed and crafted. And this is exactly the ethos behind Guerra Vanni.

“The starting point of every collaboration is always your dream: how did you imagine your room? How would it make you feel comfortable and at home? It’s from this information that a detailed map of the area is created, and a 3D project is born. In this way, you can touch the final result right away.”

“We like to reflect a genuine connection with our clients and lifestyle: the colors they love, the type of wood and the materials they prefer. It’s only up to us to adapt their preferences perfectly to the style of the furniture we make.”

Best projects

In Guerra Vanni the team establishes a relationship of trust and respect with every customer.

“Customers like Mrs Silvia of the Los Angeles project are the greatest satisfaction for us. After 15 years, last year she contacted us to renew her house in contemporary style.”

Furniture for Silvia in Los Angeles

Guerra Vanni in the world

Today Guerra Vanni is a reference point in Italy and in the world thanks to its classic collection, synonymous with tradition and nobility, and to the contemporary, fresh, youthful, and daily collection.

Over the years, the team has specialized in the characteristics and needs of each country. From America to Asia, passing through Africa and even Australia: Guerra Vanni is everywhere where craftsmanship, good taste and elegance are sought.

Do you need Guerra Vanni products for your project? Request a free quote.

Credits: Photographs courtesy of Guerra Vanni.

Roberti: Italian Style of Outdoor Pleasure

Roberti outdoor

Roberti was founded as a family business in 1959 and the production processes take place mainly in Italy, in the Veneto region.

The ability of an expert craftsmanship combined with modern processes and technology and the high-quality materials, allows to achieve excellent quality standards.

Materials

Aluminum and stainless steel with high quality powder coating treatment, fibreglass, HPL and a special outdoor cushion system are only some of the many new materials introduced in the Roberti production to guarantee for long life in the outdoor space.

All the weaving materials used by Roberti are resistant to the atmospheric agents, bear easily thermical shocks, are long lasting and of easy maintenance.

Roberti outdoor Materials
Roberti outdoor Materials
Roberti outdoor Materials

Oasi

Oasi is a proposal with an exclusive style.

Round canopy lounger dedicated to relaxation and inspired by the breeze and the soft shapes of nature.

In the new Forest finish for a feeling of full immersion in a natural environment or in the delicate White finish. Oasi is a perfect outdoor shelter, which with the countless ropes knotted to the structure is able to redefine outdoor spaces and fascinate touching the senses thanks to its harmonies of color.

Roberti outdoor Oasi
Roberti outdoor Oasi
Roberti outdoor Oasi
Roberti outdoor Oasi
Roberti outdoor Oasi
Roberti outdoor Oasi

Gravity

Gravity is a cozy, swing, outdoor sofa with colorful cushions, playful combinations of colors and designs, perfect as patio furniture and garden furniture. It can be also a luxury outdoor armchair to relax.

Design and comfort are combined to create cozy and refined corners both for residential and contract. It is available in three new combinations: with hanging ropes, with supporting frame and with sunshade.

Roberti outdoor Gravity
Roberti outdoor Gravity
Roberti outdoor Gravity
Roberti outdoor Gravity
Roberti outdoor Gravity

Charme

Charme is a collection of innovative elegance, with a light and enveloping design, where the rope is emphasized in the backs of chairs, armchairs, sofas and rocking chairs. Its geometry created by the different tensions of the weave adapts naturally to the body, offering an amazing feeling of comfort.

The elements are offered in the warm Bronze finish or in the classic White. The table with a dynamic shape and the small tables complete the line and suggest comfortable environments for both exterior and interior.

Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Roberti outdoor charme
Buy Roberti products on our shop
or request a Free Quote for your project

Sovet: Glassmaking Tradition and Contemporary Design

Sovet: glassmaking tradition and contemporary design

After our visit to the company in December 2021 and the meeting with the team at the Salone del Mobile Milano 2022, we dedicate an in-depth study to Sovet, which blends the tradition of Italian manufacturing art and the inspirations of contemporary design, to give life to furnishing elements that speak an original, elegant and multifaceted language.

Sovet 

Sovet was founded in the late 80s. Later in the early 2000s it started its collaboration with important international designers, choosing to combine the glass with other materials.

From “New shapes for glass” to “New shapes for design“, in the last 30 years the company has seen constant growth to transform itself from a company identified with glass to a 360-degree design company.

Tradition and innovation

The creative use of industrial processes, the highest quality raw materials and the meticulous works performed by local workers allow Sovet to get collections of high quality and 100% Made in Italy.

Sovet combines experience, technology and strict selection of the materials in its production processes, characterized by the highest quality levels. Its production ranges from the use of glass, proposed only in its purest extralight version, to the use of steel, aluminium, ceramic and wood. Entirely made in Italy, Sovet products are exported to over 70 countries worldwide.

Life in Sovet

During the Salone del Mobile “Life in Sovet” was presented: it is a journey through the historical architectures that have culturally marked the evolution of Italian living in recent centuries.

Life in Sovet wants to express the values of the Sovet brand, its innovative and minimalist style at the same time, the desire to create a new culture of living spaces in the name of refined shapes and materials.

Slim sideboard

One of the absolute Sovet novelties is the Slim sideboard, a natural evolution that completes this premium collection.

The rounded edges of wooden elements perfectly blend with the aluminium structure. The various finishes available for the top create new solutions and contrasts.

Arkos

The Arkos table designed by Gianluigi Landoni is another important novelty. It stems from a desire to revive the atmosphere of Italian home interiors of the 1950s.

The aerodynamic lines and curved tensions of its shape are inspired by the designs of Ico Parisi, in line with the symbolic style of Italian furniture in those years. Arkos stands out for the distinct structural nudity of its X- or Y-shaped legs with its long, slender shape. 

Campos

The Campos collection designed by Altherr Désile Park expands with a range of coffee tables outlined by the graphic and minimalist sign of the structure.

The combination of ceramic and mirror finishes for the tops creates a refined balance for furnishing in contemporary style and recalls the concept already introduced with the mirror.  The subdivision of the surface, in the top for the coffee table, in the mirror for the inclined part, offers new inspiration and functionality for interior design.

Outdoor collection

With the outdoor collection Sovet wants to highlight the strong desire of Sovet to offer genuine ‘New shapes for life’ also for outdoor spaces.

A series of proposals ranging from the Slim and Kodo collection with Iroko wooden slats to the new Keyah seat designed by Gianluigi Landoni: a balanced stainless steel chair ensures excellent ergonomics, providing well-being and comfort with a polyurethane cushion that easily attaches to the structure. The aim is to create durable products, a basic principle of sustainability.

Buy Sovet products on our shop
or request a Free Quote for your project

Marelli: Atene Collection Designed by Luca Erba

Giulio Marelli Atene collection

Giulio Marelli is one the Made in Italy brands with whom we collaborate. We’ve had the opportunity to interview Luca Erba, the designer of the new Atene collection.

Luca Erba

He is an Italian architect and designer.

Born in Brianza in 1984, in the heart of the furniture district, he graduated in Architecture at Politecnico di Milano in 2010 and founded his studio.

A profound territorial, material and formal research is the basis of the creative process: Luca develops projects ranging from architecture to graphics and from interior to product design, collaborating with Italian and international brands.

The approach to the project celebrates the union between materials, industrial design, natural shapes and refined craftsmanship, with the desire to create objects that last over time, with a contemporary taste and a strong personality.

Atene collection

The Atene collection is the maximum synthesis of the classic trilithic system used in ancient Greece, the oldest simple structure, consisting of two piers on which the architrave rests.

In an apparent state of simple support, the Atene coffee tables are composed of 3 metal cylinders that support the marble or glass top in a perfect state of balance, framed by a metal ring that gives volume and solidity. A tribute to classical architecture.

The collection consists of coffee tables and side tables in different diameters and heights: five different sizes and heights are available. They can be customized in all the marble glass and metal finishes. The round shape is the distinctive element of this new collection.

Wave and Noah collection

In addition to Atene, Wave has been designed for Giulio Marelli, a large family of tables and coffee tables whose distinctive feature is a base made up of two thin curved metal sheets, reminiscent of the movement of waves. In addition, Noah, a large collection of upholstered furniture with generous and full proportions with a stroke that stands out for its contemporary roundness.

New products

During the 60th edition of the Salone del Mobile 2022, Marelli presented new products: Onno, a sculptural and vigorous dining table with Linda, a Nordic-inspired dining armchair with extremely soft and delicate lines.

The favourite product

“The recent Linda armchair is a piece to which I am very attached because the design of a chair is always something very intimate”.

Luca Erba

In addition to having to be beautiful and in line with market trends, a seat must also find the maximum harmony with the people who will use it. It is perhaps the most difficult object to make but at the same time the most complete and stimulating.

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or request a Free Quote for your project

B—Line brings to life some historical icons of Italian design furniture

b-line furniture

B—Line is a company founded by Giorgio Bordin in 1999. It restores life to several historical icons of design on the Italian scenario: these are works that have disappeared over the years.

Of the products re-edited the best-known is Joe Colombo’s famous Boby.

Timeless collection

The Timeless collection is dedicated to the greatest designers of the past, who combined aesthetics and functionality.

Expanded in the color palette and updated in the choice of materials and production technologies, the B-Line re-editions are developed by the company drawing on autographed drawings and collaborating with the studios that have collected the legacy of the great masters. 

This collection includes: Boby, Multichair, Supercomfort, Ring, Crossed, Spinny, 4/4, Aki, Buk, Boomerang and Esa.

Zero-mile Sustainability

B—Line’s gives particular attention to sustainability, linked to the durability of its products.

All B—Line products are entirely “Made in Italy” and tend to be “Zero-Mile”. In fact, the company favours neighbouring concerns that are the source of incredible skills that constitute a heritage of the highest craftsmanship and excellence to be safeguarded.

Environmental protection is at the root of the whole productive process. Transport and recycling involve huge squandering of energy and consumptions, which B—Line seeks to avoid

The most exemplary products

Boby

The concept of versatility and usability distinguishes all B—Line products and is represented at the highest levels by the Boby container trolley designed by Joe Colombo in 1970 to ensure easy vertical modularity and allow for different configurations with customized capacities.

Ring

Ring (Joe Colombo, 1964), is a container module that can act as a coffee table and once stacked it multiplies the capacity to furnish walls or create dividers. 

Multichair

Multichair (Joe Colombo, 1970) is a transformable system through the combination of the two cushions that compose it and thanks to the repositionable leather straps and the brushed-chrome steel bushings. 

4/4

4/4 (Rodolfo Bonetto, 1969) These are four identical elements which can be juxtaposed or stacked, thanks to the special inserts, to compose coffee tables, serpentine tables or modular bookcases.

Merano

Merano (Raffaella Mangiarotti and Ilkka Suppanen, 2017 ) A light and elegant collection suitable for indoors and outdoors consisting of lounge chair, pouf, two-seater sofa and bench. Once the frame has been separated from the cushions, it is possible to break the structure into two parts.

Fonda

Fonda (Maddalena Casadei, 2018) A table with almost archetypal lines, born from a softened reworking of the geometries.

Re-editions and contemporary products: how the two elements combine

From the very beginning, B-Line has combined its re-editions with contemporary furnishing accessories, the result of collaborations with international designers with the aim of incorporating different views and cultures and satisfying customer requests based on different sensitivities.

These are concrete, usable and transversal projects that have the burden and the honor of coexisting with the great cornerstones of design and convincing in terms of character and style to pass naturally from domestic environments to working spaces and from inside to outside. , areas that are increasingly hybrid and changing as the contemporary lifestyle dictates.

Buy B—Line products on our Shop
or request a Free Quote for your project

Credits

Cover: Photo by Miro Zagnoli and Styling by Maddalena Casadei

Products: Photos by Claudio Visentin, Andrea Pancino, Alberto Parise, Beppe Brancato, Miro Zagnoli, Salmaso Fotografia.