The allure of furniture design lies in its ability to continually transform the same basic shapes—lines, rectangles, circles—into freshly expressed forms. And the transformation doesn’t end with the piece itself. Once brought into a room, new furniture alters a space in several ways, from look-and-feel to purpose and function.
This spring, Studio Como welcomes an array of furnishings from Italian greats Minotti and Flexform to our flagship Denver location. Here is a selection of stand-out showroom additions from some of Europe’s best shapeshifting designers, like Antonio Citterio, Patrick Norguet, Nendo, and the late Rodolfo Dordoni.
Alma dining chair by Antonio citterio
“Alma” is a word that means both “nurture” and “soul,” and Antonio Citterio’s Alma dining chair, released in 2022 by Flexform, perfectly embodies its name’s dual meaning. This striking, petite seat offers steady support alongside seamless ease of motion. Its gently rounded back is supported by an aluminum base that can be either stationary or swiveling, and Alma’s feet can be fit with movable casters to accommodate use in workplace settings—whether corporate conference rooms or well-dressed home offices. For a more formal and stationary application—around a Flexform dining table, for instance—these features can be omitted, as can Alma’s armrests.
kobo dining table by Patrick Norguet
In the Studio Como showroom, you’ll see Alma paired with Flexform’s Kobo dining table. Designed by Patrick Norguet, Kobo was introduced by Flexform just last year. Like Alma, the table has a multifaceted identity, with the company describing it as “a table whose bones reflect the traits of many cultures.” In particular, Kobo is influenced by African furniture-making traditions that imbue a minimal frame with superior strength. Kobo, which features a double-thickness tabletop and equally robust legs, is offered in Canaletto walnut veneer, ash veneer, teak, wedge, or ebony. The table is offered in smaller scales, including coffee and side table options that will carry Kobo’s distinct presence from dining to living room—perhaps placed next to Flexform’s Brig ottoman, which we’ve also recently welcomed to the showroom.
Hamilton Sofa by Rodolfo Dordoni
From Minotti, armchairs, lounges, sofas, tables, and shelves are now on the Studio Como floor. The Sally armchair and Hamilton sofa join several other Minotti pieces by Roldolfo Dordoni, whose quarter-century collaboration with the company ended upon his untimely death in August 2023. One of Studio Como’s most popular sofas on offer, Hamilton was designed by Dordoni in 2004. The linear, modular sofa is an icon of Italian design and has continued to evolve over the last twenty years as studies on function, ergonomics, and materials have further developed in the field. With every optimization, Hamilton continues to meet a range of needs in contemporary living, serving as a bridge between traditional and modern aesthetics. The sofa is in situ in Denver with the Brady, one of two Dordoni-designed coffee tables that feature Marquina marble tops. The other, the slim, Scandinavian-inspired Lelong, is also new to the showroom.
Reflecting Dordoni’s signature rationalism, Sally Armchair is an expression of rigorous geometry softened by plush upholstery. Atop a cylindrical metal base (which can swivel, if desired), Sally’s cube-like seat is, according to Minotti, “made particularly comfortable by the cradle-effect backrest.” Joining it at Studio Como is Sally’s curvilinear cousin, Torii Bold Armchair, designed for Minotti by the Japanese-Italian furniture-makers Nendo. Compact and cushy, Torii Bold is accentuated by its several fine details, like the sartorially-inflected quilting and piping that outlines the backrest. The chair is offered with a solid metal base or small vertical feet. These structural and finish options are a testament to Nendo’s focus on the couture in craft.
Lastly, if you’re aching for outdoor gatherings, add Minotti’s Patio armchairs and Warren outdoor side table, and Flexform’s outdoor Supermax sofa to your warm weather wishlist. Soon enough, backyard spritz season will be here—a multi-sensory transformation of space Studio Como longs for every year. Make your appointment to visit our space and chat with our team of design consultants today!
