How Boffi Studio’s courtship turned into a perfect marriage

15 August 2018

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There’s a new, exciting addition to Boffi Studio Elemento’s Mt. Eden showroom: De Padova. We spoke with Stephen Horton about his decision to bring in the range and learn more about the Italian furniture business living harmoniously with Boffi Group’s kitchen and bathroom products.

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Boffi acquired De Padova in 2015, but it wasn’t until a few months ago that Stephen Horton of Boffi Studio Elemento brought the brand into his showroom.

“I was hesitant,” explains Stephen. “I needed to see the furniture and really fall in love with it.”

And that’s exactly what happened on his recent trip to Milan for this year’s Salone de Mobile. There, Stephen was able to curate the De Padova pieces which now sit in the space, a renovated motorcycle factory in Mt. Eden.

De Padova is a furniture company that - despite their strong international influence - has never had such a strong global platform until this recent merger. Since the 1950s, they’ve been heavily focused in Milan, although the brand’s Scandinavian inspiration is evident across their range. Expanding the reach of De Padova is a major advantage of Boffi’s acquisition, not only for the two marques, but for Kiwi designers, who now have another high-end brand and added solution to choose from.

The two brands are, of course, entirely separate in terms of product offerings and identity, but design overlaps have become evident in each. That includes De Padova tables with signature Boffi finishes and a range of sofas and armchairs with incredible new textures and fabrics.

For the New Zealand consumer, the inclusion of De Padova in the Boffi Studio Elemento family marks an exciting addition to the high-end interiors market.

“We’re creating a space where kitchens, baths, tiles, wardrobe, stone and now furniture all live together cohesively. These brands - including Boffi’s other acquisition, MA/U Studio - all speak the same language, creating this real multifaceted harmony.”

Want to see what this creative space in Mt. Eden is all about? Drop into Boffi Studio Elemento today and be sure to check them out on ArchiPro.

“De Padova fits right in with the New Zealand aesthetic,” says Stephen. “It’s all about comfort and that’s one thing that really struck me about their collections. Everything is the perfect height, perfect size and so relaxed.

De Padova products make a statement without being too out there. You look at it and it’s different but not in a way that’s strange or eccentric. It’s just really timeless, beautiful and unique furniture.”

Stephen is explaining all of this while sat on De Padova’s Square 16, one of his favourite pieces and self-described ‘dream sofa’. It’s clear why as well. The Square 16 is a standout - a squared silhouette with thin, mid-century feet, softened by down cushions and supple, worn leather.

Another product that accentuates the range’s point of difference is the Yak armchair. The shape of the Yak is the first thing you notice; a solid stained timber frame wrapped in thick cowhide creates strong support for cloud-like cushions. It’s a chair that begs to be sat on and once you do, you won’t want to get up.

Leather furniture and woven chairs side-by-side with Boffi washbasins and taps? It might sound like a strange juxtaposition, but when you visit the space, the harmony is clear. That’s because the merging of Boffi and De Padova wasn’t merely driven by business or trade, but by a design relationship honed over several years.

“Boffi had been courting De Padova for some time, and the acquisition really came out of the strong synergy between the two companies and the desire to create something very special.”