Complementary design

In one of the most noticeable design trends of recent times, streamlined cabinetry is no longer confined to the kitchen. Today, contemporary homes and apartments feature spacious, open-plan living areas where a uniformity of design and materials creates seamless, sophisticated interiors.

It's a look pioneered by Poliform, the renowned Italian manufacturer of high-end closet systems. With the acquistion of the Varenna kitchen company in the 1990s, Poliform has extended its design influence, manufacturing kitchens that complement the company's wall units, closets, bedroom and dining furnishings.

Leading architects, including Christian Liagre, Paolo Piva and Carlo Colombo, have designed new kitchen models that reflect both a technical approach and an emphasis on craftsmanship.

Daniel Yarom, president of Poliform USA says homeowners, interior designers and architects can envision their homes with a distinctly uniform color palette: the same raw materials run through both Poliform and Varenna. For example, an open kitchen plan can be produced in wenge or oak cabinetry, to match a wooden wall-unit in the living room. Wardrobes in the bedroom can also match one of more than ten Poliform bed styles.

"Many kitchen dealers in North America have become experts at designing wardrobes, which involves a similar approach to kitchen design in respect to determining a client's needs and creating a modular product to suit."

Yarom says Poliform products and Varenna kitchens are appearing in many prestigious projects in major cities, such as New York and Chicago.

"In Manhattan, Varenna is the supplier to the upscale residential AOL Time Warner Building at the southwest corner of Central Park. The developers of Chicago's Palmolive building, a landmark limestone tower, also turned to Poliform to supply high-end, transitional-style kitchens."

Poliform Chicago is located in the front lobby of the Merchandise Mart. As well as showcasing kitchens and closets, Yarom also imports Tre-Piu doors and Flexform sofas designed by Antonio Citterio.

Poliform Chicago offers these products, plus contemporary bathrooms by Italian designer Antonio Lupi. These feature raw materials, such as stone, glass, metals and woods, that complement the raw materials of the Poliform collections.

For details, contact Poliform Varenna Chicago, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 110, Chicago, IL 60654, phone (312) 222 8465. Websites: www.poliformusa.com;www.varennapoliform.it; www.trep-trepiu.com; www.flexform.it; www.antoniolupi.it.

Story by: Trendsideas