Your skin becomes you, Poltrona Frau

Poltrona Frau’s status as a top-end leather furniture manufacturer is evident from the moment you arrive on the doorstep of their 2-storey showroom in Via Durini, 1, Milan. The first words that came to mind when I visited their store were understated elegance.

2012 marked Poltrona Frau’s 20^th anniversary. Founded in 1912, the company has enjoyed a long history of producing celebrated work grounded in principles of bespoke craftsmanship and impeccable quality. As a result, Poltrona Frau is a widely acknowledged symbol of Italy’s rich artisan history. A highly sought-after brand, the company has designed customised solutions for big names like Ferrari, Alitalia, the European Parliament and Walt Disney Concert Hall

A tiny model of the company’s iconic “Poltrona 904” armchair (now called “Vanity Fair”), designed in 1930, takes pride of place in the middle of the Via Durani showroom. The Vanity Fair sits on a chest of drawers with pine drawers encased in white leather with stitching detail.

In-house designers combine innovative shapes with modern craftsmanship to create pieces that are at once quirky and elegant. The sales assistant was kind enough to let us test run all the furniture (sitting, lying, leaning on tables, couches, beds…) What I loved about each chair that I sat in was how comfortable they all were. It’s rare to encounter modern furniture design, particularly high-end, that pays such attention to its user’s comfort!

This white armchair (below) is made of the softest leather that went through many curing processes to end up with a final product that is attractive but durable. The result is upholstery that is very easy to clean – a simple swipe of a damp cloth and you’re done.

The product I loved the most was this travel case in soft tan leather incorporating a handy stool (that doubles up as extra storage) and a row of hangers (because of course your cashmere suit cannot afford to get wrinkled while you’re out in the wild!) The cherry-on-top is that this whole ensemble is set on tiny concealed wheels for flexibility and to protect the base of the case. Clever.

“THE TRUNK WARDROBE”, LAUNCHED AT SALONE DEL MOBILE IN 2006

Poltrona Frau has recently ventured into a new desk stationary range including books, filing bins, mobile drawer units… The bright reds and bold blacks, reveal this brand has got what it takes to keep get their clients’ attention and keep it.

Lastly, a small salute to the store’s visual merchandising team, the Milan showroom featured tasteful accessories, such as lamps, screens and wall art in perfect complement to Poltrona Frau’s products.