Elegance in repose: Flexform MOOD

Flexform MOOD, Flexform’s furniture collection launched by this family-run firm in 2001 and produced annually, is aptly summed up as ‘classic contemporary’. This season’s collection echoes this description: it recalls a bygone era of old-world elegance – part Art Deco, part retro – yet is thoroughly modern. The theme of this year’s collection has an intriguing slogan – ‘An Intimate Look’.

Stefano Gaggero, artistic director of the new Flexform MOOD project, has been responsible for the overall concept behind it, including the design of its stand at the Salone del Mobile this year, the choice of fabrics for the furniture and the accompanying catalogue and ad campaign. This year’s collection has been designed by Roberto Lazzeroni, a longstanding Flexform collaborator: he is currently celebrating 10 years of working with the company, which was co-founded by brothers Agostino, Pietro and Romeo Galimberti in 1959 and originally called Flexform di Galimberti.

Flexform MOOD’s 2017 collection, which includes the Alfred sofa, Ermione armchair, Judit chair and Crown table, sends a strong message of classic elegance married to contemporary simplicity. Sofas – a vital element of Flexform’s DNA – and armchairs are covered in tactile fabrics, boast softly rounded contours and cocooning seats.

Some sofas have curving armrests that embrace the sitter and encourage intimate conversations. By contrast, generously sized, supremely comfortable chaise longues with curved backrests are conducive to private, contemplative moments – a soothing antidote to the stresses and strains of the outside world.

The understated luxury of some pieces is enhanced by their frames and slender, splayed legs in dark ebony-stained oak or ash. The tables’ burnished metal finishes in warm tones such as amber are similarly rich without looking heavy. One sofa recalls Art Deco or 1950s design, its ecru upholstery with delicate piping in a contrasting darker shade accentuating its refined aesthetic.

At the Milan stand, the presence of Deco and mid-century lighting and abstract sculptures on plinths evoked the modernist age. Indeed, the stand’s retro style harked back to Flexform’s early history, when the Galimberti brothers began producing furniture in the streamlined, mid-century modern idiom.

Yet, despite its retro qualities, Flexform MOOD’s furniture is unmistakably modern, thanks to its pared-down forms. It also evokes a broad spectrum of moods due to the different colours it comes in. While some pieces are upholstered in fabrics in neutral dove grey and cream or soft

At the Milan stand, these moods were also influenced by the different settings the furniture was placed in. Walls made of Verde Alpi marble in a deep sea or forest green and dark wood floors bordering an imposing fireplace provided dramatic backdrops to many pieces.

Conversely, a lighter, more modern vibe was created by cement-grey walls and highly polished grey floors, which blended well with the furniture in paler tones. Yet even here, the room sets weren’t entirely monochrome but enlivened by accents of colour in the form of olive green leather armchairs and pouffes and by cushions in vibrant sunflower yellow or mustard.

These myriad moods have been captured in the latest, lavish Flexform MOOD catalogue, which shows all the pieces in the collection and features 100 stunning photographs. The pieces are seen in different types of rooms, so they can be visualised in a domestic context. The accompanying ad campaign also mirrors the spirit of the collection, presenting cosy spaces that accord with the campaign’s slogan – An Intimate Look. While enticing viewers to enjoy the warmth of a cosily furnished home, these also invite interior designers to create a similar atmosphere in public spaces, such as airport lounges or boutique hotels.

© Architonic