Italian luxury furniture company Longhi began life in the 1950s, specialising in wooden tables. The family-run business is now helmed by its second generation and has expanded its offering to include a huge variety of indoor furniture products, from bookcases and cabinets to sliding glass room dividers, benches and sofas.
While mindful of new trends and changes in taste, Longhi is at its heart a traditional brand, with a heritage in manufacturing that runs deep. Over the years, it has evolved and added new skills to its repertoire; most noteworthy is its use of aluminium for the production of sliding doors and panels, as well as its focus on upholstered furniture, such as the Elda armchair designed by Joe Colombo.
The variety of items that Longhi now offers is the result of a consistent global corporate strategy that influences every aspect of the production process, from prototype development to applied technologies, to customer service and communication, and choice of materials. Each collection reflects the values of a clear design philosophy: comfort and functionality first, followed by a design vision that ensures every element – whether it’s a small table, a door or an entire wall – is part of a co-ordinated system, with an understated, elegant appeal.
A focus on hand craftsmanship and ethical practices is important for the “Made in Italy” status of the brand, with all marble and stone holding a certificate of authenticity, and all leather specifically selected and processed in an environmentally friendly way. Each item undergoes thorough inspection before being dispatched, ensuring that everything is made to the highest quality standards.
Loveluxe 2017, the brand’s most recent collection, combines exquisite materials and fabrics with interesting colour combinations and rich textures, to produce interior furniture akin to works of art. Key pieces from the collection suitable for yachts include the David table, a circular marble-topped dining table with a matching turntable for serving food, the Cloe chair, a round swivel metal chair with a quilted upholstered seat, and the Alexander bar cabinet, which features a satin steel top and suede or 3D-effect leather panelling on the sides, plus a basin, taps, shelves, cupboards and even a small wine refrigerator on request.
In the collection there is also the Daisy loveseat sofa, with its curved edges and fringing detail, and the modular Ansel design, which can be fitted to various specifications and can include an in-built box-shaped utility shelf with a dimmable internal light. Extra storage options include the Kate, a glossy wooden cabinet with glass doors to display your finest crystal glassware, as well as the long Armand cabinet, which combines both drawers and cupboards plus a backlight which can be turned on with a touch-sensitive switch.
Longhi is also known for its bespoke pieces, made for private clients to a specific brief. “Functionality, research and design combine to give our Contract furnishings all the warmth and charm of the Loveluxe collection,” says Andrea Longhi. “This casual, seductive and refined elegance has won over prestigious international clients. In the contract sector, we do not supply only products; we create entire projects and the relative services – a rich selection of bespoke designs or customised items.” The sky is the limit when it comes to creating furniture that is absolutely unique to the customer.
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