#10 LONDON
THE BLOG - curated by Antonella Dedini
DESIGN ITALY IN THE WORLD
LONDON
It's the most futuristic and innovative city, but it's also rich in ancient traditions and passed-down rituals. London, the capital of the United Kingdom, always has this captivating and mysterious aura for a foreigner because it constantly surprises, making it hard to grasp its true essence. It's a city of many faces, multicultural and multi-ethnic, a place that's both shaped and witnessed transformations and evolutions, be it in technology or style, leaving its mark in history. As the literary critic Samuel Johnson put it back in the 1700s, "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life," and it's true. London manages to blend the old with the new, ancient traditions with the latest trends seamlessly. It's like a creative laboratory that's always buzzing with activity, often filled with surreal intelligence and humor. The homes of its residents are like hidden treasure troves, layers upon layers of history waiting to be discovered.
So, what does a London apartment look like? Let's dive in!
THE LIVING ROOM
Historian Bill Bryson once said, "In our little domestic microcosm of living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens, we don't realize it, but whatever happens in the world, whatever is discovered, created, or fiercely contested, ultimately finds its way into our homes."
In this imaginary London home, we have the Ziqqurat cabinet from Driade, featuring floral patterns reminiscent of English tradition, coexisting with the minimalist Claudio Bitetti Adelaide Metal bookshelf. There's a throne-shaped armchair, a playful nod to the British monarchy. It's like a magical and fairy-tale-worthy seat, complete with a luxurious ruby quilted carpet framed in gold – that's the Osforth by Emanuele Magini for JPC Universe.
In the spotlight, we find the functional Dasé coffee table by Ildefonso Colombo for Mogg, alongside a piece of English design history: the Chesterfield sofa. It's a British classic, usually handcrafted in leather with a special technique called capitonné. It's named after the Englishman Philip Stanhope, the fourth Earl of Chesterfield. The Chesterfield sofa became a global design icon, with Renzo Frau's version for Poltrona Frau being the most famous.
The Butterflies umbrella with a bamboo handle by Pasotti is London's signature accessory. Through its flowers, colors, and exotic materials, it reminds us that rain can be a gentle companion that reveals a different and vibrant world.
THE DINING ROOM
The walls in English homes are often painted in bold colors, making the space both classic and cheerful. The Tense Material dining table by MDF Italia boasts elegant and minimalist lines, accenting the black lacquered beechwood Ponti 969 chairs from BBB Italia.
The chair is a superb example of Gio Ponti's classic style, where unique elements come together in a singular combination. In this setting, a sideboard serves as a strong declaration of love: it's the Love Black by designer Fabio Novembre for Driade.
On the buffet and around, you'll find precious objects like the Post Scriptum vases designed by Formafantasma for Cassina and the whimsical T-Chair chairs by Annebet Philips for Mogg, inspired by T-shirts, hence the name.
The Ghost foosball table by Fas Pendezza brings life to the evenings, a tradition that unites generations and especially football enthusiasts, just like the English.
THE NIGHT AREA
Even the bedroom walls are painted in bright, relaxing colors like this shade of blue. The bed, in white leather, contrasts beautifully with the wall color and features the same quilted style as the Chesterfield sofa, called capitonné.
It's the Aurora Due by Tito Agnoli for Poltrona Frau. As a nightstand, the iconic Traccia table by Meret Oppenheim (1939) for Cassina. It's considered a "functional work of art," reissued for everyday use.
Luigi Baroli's Cartoons screen by Luigi Baroli for Baleri Italia won the prestigious 1994 Compasso d'Oro award (the Nobel Prize of Design). It balances on the " S " of sinuous.
Made of pure cellulose that is totally recyclable, so it is ahead of the current awareness that recycling means preserving the environment and recognizing its value. It is also light to move and easy to close. It takes up little space because it rounds on itself. Super.
Sticking with the theme of design icons... the Quaderna console table for Zanotta was designed by the Florentine group of architects Superstudio in 1970; these were the 1960s and the Pop Art years, and the Quaderna collection highlights the excesses of Pop Design, an explicit critique of the rigid and dogmatic functionalism of traditional design, a liberating vision of life and design where an imaginary orthogonal spatial grid can be adapted to different scales and become an object, space or city.
