An all-round approach to interior design: Bonaldo

The idea of a gesamtkunstwerk, or ‘total work of art’ is understood to mean a project in which every detail is consistent and contributes to a cohesive overall scheme. This principle has historically been used to describe iconic buildings and spaces where an architect or designer has exerted full control over the project. For Italian furniture brand Bonaldo, however, creating a contemporary gesamtkunstwerk means developing and combining pieces that share a unifying concept and quality – or, in their words, B/Style.

B/Style is a curated furniture programme in which each selected item is integral to a space or theme, resulting in a dialogue between products created by different designers, but united by Bonaldo’s distinctive style. In each virtual space – with concepts varying from ‘Iconic’ to ‘Sculptural’– different furniture elements are combined that interact harmoniously with each other. ‘Beauty is thus created gradually, from one look to another and from one user to another,’ the company suggests, ‘making the styles of the designers who created them resonate as if playing together in an orchestra.’

Bonaldo’s collection has expanded over recent years to include furniture and accessories for every room in the house. Products are created in collaboration with some of the world’s top architects and designers, including Alain Gilles, Karim Rashid, Ryosuke Fukusada, Mauro Lipparini, Fabrice Berrux and Bartoli Design. Every item is Made in Italy using quality materials and features unique finishes, details and colours that reflect Bonaldo’s distinctive identity.

The current range represents an evolution of the values that have defined the company since it was founded in 1936 in the Italian province of Padua. Originally a manufacturer of metal bedsteads, Bonaldo has consistently focused on innovation, precision and quality, with the Bonaldo family overseeing the company’s transition into a leading global brand. The result are a stellar reputation and several award-winning products, including the iconic Big Table designed by Alain Gilles or the Gino Carollo’s Art Table.

The latest expression of the B/Style philosophy is represented by the upholstered furniture collections featured in the new Night and Living 2022 catalogues. As with all the products in Bonaldo’s collection, the new Living pieces reflect the B/Style identity and the company’s commitment to craftsmanship of the highest quality.

The Blend sofa, for example, expresses the beauty of its two main materials – leather and fabric – through a design that combines a leather-wrapped structure with soft upholstered sections, while the Peanut B sofa family displays an enveloping softness that invites lounging. The modular Aliante seating system also blends materials in an intelligent way, using a lightweight metal frame to support comfortable cushions.

Coffee tables topped with Canaletto walnut or ceramic surfaces can be integrated with the seating or used as standalone elements. For true relaxation, the Alpilles armchair offers a reclined profile designed to embrace the sitter, with options for either fabric or leather upholstery. The Lock armchair, designed by Alessandro Busana, features a padded seat that wraps onto itself to form a comfortable backrest. The sculptural seat is available with thin metal legs or a swivel base.

The new Night catalogue presents a range of single and double beds, along with various accessories including dressing tables, bookshelves, mirrors, lights and valet stands. The bold designs include statement pieces such as the Basket bed, with its fabric or leather-covered headboard that curves inwards, creating a comforting and enveloping shape. The Squaring bed by Giuseppe Viganò forms a sculptural landscape for sleeping that comprises an extended, upholstered frame surrounding the mattress. Poufs and a bench displaying the same geometric design language can be used to complement the bed.

Bonaldo’s upholstered products are a prime example of the company’s rigorous focus on design innovation and exceptional Made in Italy manufacturing. On their own, the pieces display the expressive aesthetics and elegant functionality typical of Italian design, but when they are used together, they create a gesamtkunstwerk that is distinctly B/Style.

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