Fashion, Architecture, Furniture: Italian Design Aesthetics Come Alive at Copenhagen
Made by Cattelan Italia, the Tyron Keramik Dining Table has an x-shaped steel base designed to impress at any angle with its fusion of sharp and rounded lines.
For centuries, Italy has been a hotbed of artistic innovation, and the cultural impact of major Italian design movements is still seen today in the furniture industry. From the iconic sculptural lines of Roman art to the avant-garde ethos of Italian Modernism, the legacy of Italian design has reverberated across centuries and lives on in fine Italian furniture.
Prized for its minimalist yet luxurious aesthetics, sleek lines, and high design, Italian furniture uses color, pattern, and texture to create masterful pieces that perfectly blend form and function. Highlighted by opulent detailing and an obsession with comfort, Italian furnishings are artworks that elevate any living space they adorn.
“There are so many reasons Italian furniture has remained globally loved over the years,” says Mario Sforza of Incanto Italia, an upscale Italian furniture brand. “Simply put, Italian design blends shapes, forms, and textures in perfect harmony with ergonomics, all while using long-lasting materials of the highest quality.”
As a premier importer of Italian-designed furniture, Copenhagen Living is the Southwest’s connection to this iconic tradition. Below, we break down four of the many defining trends that have made Italian design so renowned, both historically and in the modern era. The results are a perfect blend of high function and high art.
The Tavolo Plisse Dining Table sports a unique form inspired by pleated fashions of the 50's and 60's.
Mix Dark Browns, Soft Leathers & Wood Tones for a Cozy, Organic Look
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Mix and match patterns and wood elements with the Opal Rug and Director Floor Lamp.
Minimalism the Italian Way
A bold use of color, pattern, or texture is often the first detail that catches one’s eye with many Italian-made pieces. According to Mario Sforza, this reflects a long tradition in Italian art, from the ancient red wall paintings in Pompei to the futurist colors and shapes made canon by the art of Lucio Fontana and Alberto Burri in the 1960s.
One only has to consider the vivid hues of the Jordan Sofa, the unique patterns of the Bonnie Armchair, or the natural wood finishes of the Costes Sideboard and Prato Chair to see this legacy in Italian furniture today. Italian furniture makers like Giorgio Cattelan have long held a passion and respect for raw materials, but wood stands apart.
“From a young age, Giorgio Cattelan has breathed the scent of wood in his father’s workshop, a beloved place from where his passion for design took shape,” recalls Federica Cattelan. “Through unique and exclusive woodworking, Cattelan Italia creates iconic shapes that nevertheless respect the raw and natural qualities of this timeless material.”
And it’s not just the arts and raw materials that influenced iconic Italian design. The Italian fashion trends that popularized soft-touch fabrics, rich colors, and striking visual textures have found their way into the lacquered steel pleated base of the Tavolo Plisse Table and the piping of the Penelope Chair. These designs wholly transform a living space, making attainable the flair of frescos and the sensuality of Italian fashion in stark, clean interiors.
Dining in Style and Comfort
This legacy continues today. Elegantly integrated features like the Lazy Susan in the Skorpio Round Dining Table make dining a communal act. The seamless and striking extension mechanisms of the Bella Clara Dining Table mean there’s always room for one more. And for a stunning storage solution that doesn't skimp on functionality, try Cattelan' s Vivaldi Sideboard, boasting a quilted glass exterior and spacious interior cabinets.
Italian furniture places a strong emphasis on aesthetic and functional dining furnishings that transform the dining room into the heart of the home. Because sharing a meal in Italian culture is integral to the very identity of what it means to be Italian, Italian dining pieces suggest inclusiveness and community without sacrificing aesthetics.
Colors, Patterns, and Textures that Pop
Intricacy and luxury are often trademarks of Italian design, creating an awe-inspiring effect that feels instantly iconic.
"Refined design is not about adding details; it's rather a matter of enhancing the essential characteristics of a piece of furniture," explains Federica Cattelan. "Shapes and decorations are created simultaneously by our designer. In this way, one obtains a simplified piece of furniture whose shape is the leading aspect, and its highly curated details underscore the care and precision of its manufacturing."
There’s an intrinsic value to living amongst beautiful things that are at once artistic and functional. The Tyron Dining Table is a perfect example. With its crisp geometric base, extendable leaves, and marble-look ceramic tabletop, the Tyron table is an artwork doubling as an adaptable dining surface. The Horizon 3-Door Cupboard showcases how blending materials, textures, and lines can transform a traditional cupboard into a timeless, one-of-a-kind piece. With fine leather and unique accents, the Mira Sectional by Incanto Italia has armrests that wrap around the back, creating an all-embracing look.
Italian design lies at the core of luxurious, minimalist living and has for thousands of years. Surround yourself with artistic objects that are both beautiful and functional and feel how transformative their effects on your day-to-day life can be. Shop truly one-of-a-kind pieces at Copenhagenliving.com or visit any of their various Texas and Arizona locations.
The Moon Knee Chair creates a sense of lightness and balanced posture, redefining the meaning of ergonomic.
Make Italian design the centerpiece of your dining room with the Bella Clara Dining Table.
Though often associated with an ornate look, Italian design has also embraced minimalism in its own distinct way, resulting in furnishings that are both stunning and streamlined. Sforza notes that the minimalist architecture popularized by Piero Manzoni and expressed in iconic buildings like the “Squared Coliseum” in Rome deeply influenced Italian furniture designers and their work.
One can see echoes of Italian Minimalism in a variety of designs Copenhagen carries, such as the Clessidra Dining Table and Apelle Counter Stool. Both pieces use geometric shapes and sleek curves, deftly balancing grace and drama to create functional, artistic furniture. When less is more, negative space in an interior is key to unlocking the aesthetic seduction of Minimalism. Staging interiors with seating like the Moon Knee Chair complements the minimalist approach rather than complicating it. With an open infinity shape, lightweight frame, and innovative design that shifts the sitter's weight forward onto their knees to encourage better posture, the Moon Chair effortlessly combines simplicity, beauty, and ergonomics. Also of note is the Horizon TV Bench by Mobilgam of Italy, whose clean, architectural lines conceal powerful storage capabilities to help you banish clutter.
Live your best with smartly designed furniture
The Jordan Power Motion Sofa meticulously handcrafted in Italy, is a perfect example of what can happen when great design meets modern technology.
Perfect for a small office, the Sequel 20 Multifunction Cabinet maximizes compact spaces with its convenient features
When looking for the right furniture to enhance and support your lifestyle, the diverse collection of contemporary and modern designs Copenhagen offers stands out. Sleek, exceptionally designed, and effortlessly functional, Copenhagen pieces are essential artworks that double as sophisticated furniture.
“Here at Copenhagen, our buying team understands the importance of delivering cutting-edge, intuitive designs to our customers,” Thompson explains. “They carefully select designs that represent us as a company and our customers, while also staying ahead of the times. Copenhagen's unique aesthetics are rooted in simplicity, practicality, and elegance. This aesthetic began with Erik Vinther Hansen, co-founder and long-time CEO of Copenhagen, and his dedication to contemporary design remains the cornerstone of everything we do here.”
Copenhagen furnishings inspire passion both for their practical and aesthetic value. With the help of a Copenhagen furniture expert, Creatives, 9-to-5ers, and Homebodies can all find the ideal furniture that complements their lifestyle goals and their space.
Works of Functional Art
Giorgio Cattelan, founder of the iconic Italian furniture brand Cattelan Italia, famously said: "The home is the symbol of cherished things, and the dining room is its centerpiece." Cattelan Italia was among the first to envision the dining table as a design statement, a sculpture, and a work of art.
For centuries, Italy has been a hotbed of artistic innovation, and the cultural impact of major Italian design movements is still seen today in the furniture industry. From the iconic sculptural lines of Roman Art to the avant-garde ethos of Italian Modernism, the legacy of Italian design has reverberated across centuries and lives on in fine Italian furniture.
Prized for its minimalist yet luxurious aesthetics, sleek lines, and high design, Italian furniture uses color, pattern, and texture to create masterful pieces that perfectly blend form and function. Highlighted by opulent detailing and an obsession with comfort, Italian furnishings are artworks that elevate any living space they adorn.
Fashion, Architecture, Furniture – Italian Design Aesthetics Come Alive at Copenhagen
The Tavolo Plisse Dining Table sports a unique form inspired by pleated fashions of the 50's and 60's.
The Mira Sectional features a striking design with wraparound accent cushioning, protected leather upholstery, and power motion seats.