Italian furniture has long been regarded as not only the most stylish for home decoration, it is often used for hotels, bars and restaurants seeking a contemporary, fashionable atmosphere. Larger interiors such as those on airplanes and cruise ships also come fully equipped with Italian chic.

Traveling in Italy, you have probably noticed that the Italians are masters of craft. Gold and silver jewelry trends originate in various regions in Italy. Italian fashion designers are upscale brand names, their clothing sought by anyone conscious of fashion with the means to express themselves. Glass work, tile and high-end finishes provide the luxurious touches to interior design. Italy also excels in leather work, nowhere more irresistible than in handbags and shoes. Leather furniture produced in Italy is of the most supple variety.

Furniture design and production in Italy is of the highest quality, with the most sophisticated creativity. The pieces work not only from a design aspect, but a clever functionality imitated by manufacturers worldwide. Furniture is built for longevity by proud craftsmen but that is not the whole picture. It is also meant to please the eye and aesthetic sensibilities. The Italians take artistry seriously; it is applicable to everything.

After World War II, designers looked to the future. They sought to recreate in everyday objects what the modernist painters did for art. Before the wars, Art Nouveau and Art Deco predominated. With so much of the country destroyed, it was a challenge for architects and designers to combine technology with newer materials for rapid consumption. With this challenge, designers invented the avant-garde style that to this day, is still sought after in home furnishings and finishings: Streamlined, minimal, with a juxtaposition of incongruous surfaces.

With materials such as chrome, leather, steel and even plastic, a new aesthetic was born. No longer did designers seek hand-carving or highly-embellished pieces. Instead a pared-down style using humor inspired by the surrealists and the Bauhaus movements came to dominate the market. Whimsical styling and overt attempts to shock were also brought to the forefront of European design. The public had little interest in recreating the past or its sentiments after the carnage of two wars.

It would be many decades before Americans embraced this ideal but today, it is much in vogue. With the advent of young professionals living in tiny city apartments or condominiums, smaller, multi-functional furniture is in demand. The Italian style is replicated worldwide but America, in particular, has embraced the quirky designs and streamlined effects after years of over-sized sofas and plush chairs that can hold several people and numerous pets. While these reproductions are sometimes not of the quality the Italians insist upon, their origin cannot be denied: Italy.

Industrial design preoccupied designers from the 1950s to the 1970s with quirky stackable kitchens, space-saving appliances and futuristic forms. Lamps, radios, television sets, and automobiles were produced for functionality with a dose of humor just for fun. Modern materials; steel, chrome, Plexiglas and acrylic became chic in the hands of Italian craftsmen despite mass production. Italy continues to export high-style whether quickly mass produced or one-of-a-kind time-consuming labor.

The most significant movement in Italy by the late 1970s was post-modern or neo-modern. A few vanguard designers used provocative designs and kitsch to keep up with trends in art. Many of these quirky designs failed to ignite the public but some have had lasting value for their novelty. Today, it is the sleek leather and chrome sofas and chairs that command the most attention. Cubist-inspired cabinets and tables continue to amuse decorators and are copied voraciously.

If you are looking to add some style to your rooms, it will only take a few minutes to go online and find inspiration. Not only are Italian furniture styles thoroughly represented in most stores today, there are some very good online stores offering high-end Italian furnishings and accessories. If you are dreaming of transforming your minimal space into a maximal lifestyle, check out the history of furniture design in Italy. And then go shopping.

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Category: Home Management
Keywords: furniture,Italian furniture, modern furniture, home, home decoration, home deco, design, home improv