Flou at the 2018 Milan Design Week 2018

TIME REDISCOVERED

Time is a value and a resource, but in today’s world it is most of all something of a luxury.

And in the interface between the past and the present, it can be rediscovered by reclaiming materials that are fixed in our memories and transforming them into unique, one-off products that become part of our personal space and our everyday life.

Reclaiming these materials is a conscious, deliberate choice, which also safeguards and protects the environment.

Processing them reaches far beyond serial production: it means accepting their imperfections and appreciating their natural qualities.

Now we are celebrating 40 years since the foundation, #flou has accepted the challenge and presents a new and very different collection, produced using these materials.

The staging of ‘the #flou Home’ on our stand at the 2018 Milan Furniture Exhibition presents ambiences where we have deliberately arranged some of the new pieces alongside iconic items to tell a tale of style, beauty, and exclusivity.

Massimiliano Messina

April 2018

NATHALIE, THE PERFECT BOW

Time has been more than kind to #nathalie - at 40, this ground-breaking bed still preserves its enviable freshness.

Flou has decided to celebrate this with ‘NATHALIE 40^th Limited Edition’, the iconic bed produced in just 299 pieces. The #design faithfully reproduces one of the 1978 versions in which the headboard and cushion covers match the duvet cover. And for this limited edition, the fabrics were selected from the ‘Antique Gold’ range (2018 #flou covers/bed linen collection). 

“The perfect bow” “Il fiocco perfetto” 

A short film, written and directed by Andrea Cavallari, invented and produced by Cristian Rabbiosi, has been dedicated to #nathalie. Through a suggestive and poetic language, it tells the story of a family; it’s a simple tale consisting of fragments of life, emotions, traditions and teachings. These moments are bound together by a common feature and a joining thread - the bow; and at the end of the story, it is revealed to be the ‘perfect bow’ on the headboard of #nathalie.

Nathalie is also the metaphoric representation of our own family, with an ensemble of values that were and always will be the foundations of our way of life and our way of working. 

MATERIALS

FOSSIL WOOD 

An ancient, noble material. The oak wood was sourced from tree trunks that had been buried underground for between 1000 and 5000 years. This prolonged period of hibernation impressed unique veining and a range of different colours on the planks of wood obtained from the trunks that had lain untouched in the soil for thousands of years. The inimitable features were deliberately not changed using wood stains and colour correctors. Processing this special material requires a careful selection process of the timber and artisan coupling expertise to make every single piece of furniture unique and immediately recognizable. 

PRIMITIVE WOOD (Reclaimed)

This oak wood is reclaimed from beams, planks, mouldings and facades of historical buildings, and has aged naturally during 200-300 years of exposure to the elements. The qualities differ greatly from industrially processed wood. The top layer of the wood can be cut to produce thin laminas that are cleaned and repaired to exalt the intrinsic characteristics and preserve the fascinating signs of time. Their value is on par with the precious parquet commonly found in aristocratic palaces and mansions.

BURNISHED BRASS

New life has been injected into an alloy that ‘matures’ with age. It has been used extensively to decorate classical furniture, though has rarely found a purpose in #interiordesign. #flou has opted for burnished brass obtained from an artisan process that exploits the technical skills of the craftsman and his ability to seize the moment. The quality and degree of burnishing is affected by the atmospheric conditions and the exposure to sunlight. And time will deposit the fascinating patina that makes brass so unique and exclusive.

ARABESCO MARBLE

Superior in terms of quality and aesthetic appearance, this marble is extracted from a small quarry in Northern Italy that was recently re-opened after its closure in the 70s. The marble that #flou has selected has been sourced in the oldest part of the quarry and is greatly prized for its elegant black colour with veining in white to gray with suggestive splashes of gold. It is a compact material with low absorbency and considerable hardness. This ‘natural work of art’ is found only in Italy and has emerged from the bowels of the earth after being hidden for thousands of years. 

FULL GRAIN LEATHER

Flou’s range of full grain leather is available in 19 colours. It has been sourced from young, healthy, free-roaming European cattle, and selected exclusively from suppliers that can guarantee value and quality. The skins are subjected to complex treatment procedures, the most important of which is the tanning that stabilizes the skin and gives it strength and elasticity. The use of aniline-based plant dyes preserves the precious characteristics and exalts the natural features, identifiable as the typical signs of cattle that have roamed freely in the pastures: scars, scratches, insect bites, wrinkles, charring and rosettes on the skin are not imperfections but precious and unique features that guarantee the natural quality of the skin. The considerable thickness of the leather (1.6 /1.8 mm compared to 0.9/1.1 mm of a standard skin) means that it is a perfect cover material that will always be in fashion and last a lifetime.

THE NEW FABRICS 

The new fabrics have been produced in colourways and patterns that underline a return to decoration following years of minimalism and total white. Linear shapes emphasize the austerity of jacquard, prints, and patterns that revisit the fashionable styles in furniture and clothing in the 50s and 60s.

Dots arranged in circles, hexagons, micro geometric lines, macro and micro waves and masculine motifs exalted by bright colours, live in harmonious contrast with elegant braided fabrics, ideal for covers and cushions.

In general, the new fabrics, characterized by opaque weaves and rough textures, are split into two ‘colour bands’: one matching Antique Gold with ecru and greys that fade to brown; the other matching Cherry Red and Ocean Blue with warm shades of grey.

ICON_Design Carlo Colombo

Double-size bed

A strong, decisive double-size bed with male traits. It is distant from cold minimalist lines as it has been softened by an important textile component.

The softly padded headboard, covered like the base in removable fabric or leather covers, forms a delightful contrast with the elegant metal details visible in correspondence with the feet. The mattress support is available as an adjustable slatted version or with electrical movement mechanism.

Luxury and comfort are the main features of a bed that has perfect proportions, with a further touch of elegance added by the skilfully tailored stitching on the headboard.

MANDARINE_Design Emanuela Garbin – Mario Dell’Orto

Double-size bed

An elegant bed of oriental inspiration, ideal for both classical and modern environments. 

The base is characterized by corded horizontal stitching along the perimeter that breaks up the perception of its height: it sits 38 cm from the ground, two more than sommiers and traditional beds. The same decorative motif is repeated in the headboard and is positioned at 2/3 of the height.

Mandarine is also available as a sommier, with no headboard; it can be embellished with drapes, paintings, curtains, and boiseries fixed to the wall behind it.

Both versions of the bed are available with a storage or fixed base, an adjustable slatted mattress support, and feet in polished black nickel.

NEW BOND_Design Matteo Nunziati

Double-size bed

The name of this elegant double-size bed refers to the famous Bond Street in London. The headboard sports a detail that is original, distinctive, and extremely difficult to reproduce.

The #design has been softened with a ‘belt’ effect that intersects in two points on the headboard: a decorative motif that expresses the tailoring skills matured in the 40 years of Flou’s professional experience. The bed can be covered in fabric or leather, while the ‘belts’ are always and exclusively produced in leather. It is available with a storage base, a fixed base or a base with an electrical movement mechanism.

TADAO_Design Vico Magistretti

Double-size bed

The use of primitive (reclaimed) wood impresses a particularly fascinating sign on this historical bed, characterized by wide slats that extend upwards to create the incorporated headboard. It is produced in a limited annual edition, depending on the supplies of the materials. The timber, marked by the signs of time, makes each piece precious, unique, and unrepeatable. 

BEAM_Design Massimo Castagna

Bench

The clean lines of this bench embody the very essence of a sophisticated project. With its perfect dimensions and a characteristic style definition, this bench is exalted through the use of primitive (reclaimed) wood. Ideally, it can be positioned at the foot of the bed but can also be used as a practical piece of furniture in any other room in the home.

It can be completed with a soft cushion, realized as a single piece, with a totally removable fabric or leather cover.

SOFTBENCH_Design Massimo Castagna

Modular sofa

This modular sofa introduces a concept of dynamic and multifunctional use, ideal for today’s lifestyles. It consists of 6 basic elements (two seat units, 1 armrest, and 3 backrests) that can be freely arranged to create multiple seating systems and endless custom designs.

The mobile backrests are not anchored, but have an efficacious ballast mechanism that guarantees firm support. They provide freedom of movement and the same degree of comfort for #people of different statures. The depth of the elements allows the creation of double-faced seating, as well as its use as a chaise-longue or a comfortable bed.

The aesthetics are enhanced by matching the base, armrest, and cushion covers in a range of colours and patterns.

TAY_Design Massimo Castagna

Coffee table

An original furnishing element that complements the modular sofas of this series. The base is embellished with removable fabric, leather or Ecopelle Dollaro covers. The top is available in eucalyptus wood or hide in a choice of 9 colours. 

JIL_Design Massimo Castagna

Pouf

These poufs are available in two sizes – large or small – and are characterized by an extremely stylish #design. 

They are easy to use and immediately change the look of a room. They are ideal for the living room but can slide gracefully into every corner of the home.

The soft cushion-seat can be embellished with removable fabric or leather covers, providing a delightful contrast with the solid base and the legs in eucalyptus wood.  

B-WAVE_Design Massimo Castagna

Coffee table

This table is characterized by the artistic base shaped by master craftsmen. 

The burnished brass sheeting used in its production is folded back on itself to create an eye-catching circular sculptural motif. The large round top, available in extra-clear or bronze glass, expresses its soul and emphasizes the important aesthetics.

ARI_Design Emanuela Garbin-Mario Dell’Orto

Accessories 

A new, precious version in fossil wood for the Ari collection’s three-drawer nightstand and tallboy. 

The drawers are fitted with a soft-close mechanism; the interiors are black stained; the handles and the base are polished black nickel.

C-SYSTEM_Design Massimo Castagna

Modular system

A system of horizontal, modular wall units. The precious quality of the finishes – fossil wood or coffee-brown oak – adds a very special touch, while the compact sizes and the simple #design allow the creation of different compositions, suitable both for the living area and the bedroom, according to where they are positioned and to the arrangement of the available modules: 

open units with a lower shelf available in a range of ten different marble types;

a drawer unit or a unit with a flap door, both fitted with a ‘push’ opening system

writing desk that can be accessorized with a round mirror/vanity.

Each element can be fitted with LED lights, and the side that lies adjacent to the wall is embellished with a black nickel trim.

Guardaroba 16.32_Design Emanuela Garbin-Mario Dell’Orto

Wardrobe

The door Project 

This new door has been created with porcelain stoneware, a material that to date has not been used frequently in wardrobes. 

For full exposure of the door, there is just a hint of very thin perimetric profiles.

The doors are available in hinged or sliding versions, in two colours - ‘Concrete’ and ‘Liquerice’. The handles can be selected from a vast range of models finished to match the colour of the trim: matt black or matt burnished.

The door Saffiano

The heat-structured surface of the new door – available in hinged and sliding versions – reproduces the texture of Saffiano leather, typically used for luxury bags or purses. Its elegance is emphasized by the new handle Yard. Slim, thin, and fitted at a height of 120 cm, this handle extends down to the ground and is complete with an overhang that facilitates opening.

B-SHELL_Design Massimo Castagna

Lamps

This is not a simple ceiling light but a lighting system that modernizes the enchantment of hand-turned and burnished brass used to create the dome-shaped shades. It is composed of three elements with different sizes, that can be hung at different heights or, by adjusting the three steel cables that support them, they can be tilted to vary the intensity of the diffused LED lighting.

Another option is to use just one single element to create an eye-catchingly suggestive decorative effect. 

BALLOON_design Volodymyr Karalyus 

Table

This table has an unusual structure and an original base in burnished brass and was inspired by the shape of a hot-air balloon. The round top – available in two diameters (150 and 180 cm) – is luxurious Arabesco marble. Alternately, other marbles from the #flou collection can be selected.

CONTINUUM_Design Matteo Nunziati

Mirror/dumb waiter

Floor-standing mirror/dumb waiter in coffee-coloured oak or Canaletto Rialto walnut, with LED lights installed along the perimeter.

The steel support structure is available with an anodic bronze or gris sablé finish and reiterates the clean, simple lines that characterize other products of the Continuum collection. It is available in two versions: the first includes a sequence of small vertical drawers, the second is embellished by a clothes-stand and a tray.

The base is covered in hide.

Writing desk with mirror

In the ‘vanity’ version of the Continuum desk, alredy included in the collection, the adjustable bar with integrated LED lights that lies above the top is embellished with a round mirror.

It is available with an anodic bronze or gris sablé structure and a choice of coffee-brown oak or Canaletto Rialto walnut finish; these are joined by the versions in the special scratch-proof material in the Continuum, Style, Epoque, or River finishes. 

Coffee table

Coffee table and/or storage container with a steel structure. The anodic bronze or gris sablé finishes repeat the materials used throughout the collection. The shelves and the vertical partitions are produced in extra-light clear crystal glass and are perfect for displaying ornaments, books or magazines. 

The lower shelf is coffee-brown oak or Canaletto Rialto walnut. 

CCLIGHT_Design Carlo Colombo
Bookcase

This unit is unique thanks to its elegant simplicity. The bookcase in aluminium slats with integrated LED lights is now available in the new height of 259 cm and a new colour – anodic bronze. A version 189 cm high, available in white, matt burnished, and black, is already included in the catalogue. 

The LED lights are integrated in the first and third uprights of the bookcase and when they are switched on, eye-catching shadows are projected onto the wall, with a light intensity comparable to a normal standard lamp.