Furniture with a Minimalist Approach for Multifunctional Solutions

Furniture with a Minimalist Approach for Multifunctional Solutions

In a valley rich in history, architectural and artistic presence, surrounded by the greenery of nature, a young family has discovered the perfect solution to optimize the spaces. Through innovative design, the focus has been on the living area, utilizing minimal and multifunctional furniture to create an open, bright, and versatile environment.

kitchen entrance and multifunctional stairs

THE MINIMAL KITCHEN

Integrated into a fitted wall, the kitchen embodies the essence of minimal. With a palette of light colors and the use of natural materials, it provides everything needed without burdening the space. The laminated natural oak wood countertop recalls the external wooded environment and accommodates a modern black granite sink and a induction hob.

The choice of matte white MDF for the kitchen base and refrigerator column, along with ceiling tiles, contributes to maintaining a clean and luminous aesthetic. The light and variegated gray ceramic floor complete the welcoming atmosphere, ensuring ease of maintenance and cleaning, harmonizing with the materials and colors of the house. 

minimal kitchen
details kitchen top
details kitchen top

THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL SIDE STAIRCASE

A light staircase in front of the kitchen serves a dual purpose. Besides connecting the living area to the sleeping area, it has been designed with a structure of modular equipped wood and metal, making it both aesthetic and functional.

It houses shaped drawers that provide additional storage space, avoiding the wall unit to the kitchen for maintaining a light and minimal appearance while providing all the necessary storage space in an unexpected location.

Here’s another example of a staircase solution equipped with drawers.

lateral stairs with drawers
drawers from the top
details drawers
shaped drawes

THE WELL-EQUIPPED LIVING AREA

The living area is designed with careful attention to internal flows related to space utilization. A laminated oak wood dining table, coordinated with the kitchen countertop, accommodates 4 to 6 diners and is positioned in a passageway between the kitchen and the living room. It is convenient and non-intrusive.

Upon entering the living area, the eye is drawn to a free-standing sofa against the wall with a slim high shelf in white lacquered sheet metal, contributing to maintaining a sense of openness and lightness. The frontal TV cabinet, acting as a partition between the kitchen and the living room and supporting the staircase, is an example of well-thought-out storage and organization element. Shaped on the steps, it contains well-studied doors and shelves, utilizing every available centimeter. A true demonstration of how minimalism can be functional. 

kitchen living room dining table
minimal living room
Tv cabinet open and close
lighted cabinet
lightweight sheet metal shelf

MINIMAL MULTIFUNCTIONAL FURNISHINGS

In conclusion, the entire apartment is an example of how multifunctional furnishings with a minimalistic spirit can optimize spaces without weighing them down. The most storage-intensive elements are integrated into the staircase support, while the upper part, thanks to glass handrails, rises transparent and luminous.

Everything around this central monolith of furnishings is essential, allowing to enjoy an airy, bright, tidy, and aesthetically satisfying environment. Living in a compact space does not imply sacrificing comfort and style.

Here’s another example of a minimal multifunctional apartment.

A Minimal Kitchen to optimize the living area

A Minimal Kitchen to optimize the living area

To optimize the available space, in a small two-room apartment in Milan, we have created this minimal, discreet, bright and elegant kitchen.

Minimal white Kitchen

ALL LIVING ROOM

As we wrote in this article dedicated to the Kitchen Snack Table, in contemporary kitchens the living area and the kitchen increasingly merge into a single open space.
There are no more partitions even at the entrance to the apartments, the door opens and everything we can have in a Living area is revealed in front of us.
So the kitchen, dining area and living room become a single room, just like in this article dedicated to a functional kitchen.
To give harmony to this triptych, the kitchen must therefore lose its “operative” spirit by hiding ladles, pots and groceries and becoming a more discreet element, which is revealed only when necessary.
Much more storage space and doors closed from view, while maintaining everything needed to cook, serve and enjoy food.

minimal kitchen lateral
minimal kitchen lateral

​PHYSIOMY OF A MINIMAL KITCHEN

This kitchen, designed by Artecasa studio, optimize the most of the available space.
It develops in the niche of the side wall at the entrance with an equipped part and a front island that acts as an additional storage space and snack table for quick meals.
What can therefore be seen from the entrance are two horizontal gray stone floors, which develop parallel.

gray minimal kitchen countertops

In the equipped part in the niche there are all the appliances needed in a minimal kitchen: a refrigerator column, a dishwasher with a two-bowl sink, a hob with an oven and a tall microwave.
In the island, lots of storage space, drawers for cutlery, pots and crockery and the top that extends towards the living area becoming a snack top to accommodate at least 3 diners.

details drawers
The atmosphere is convivial, and the lights are skilfully designed to amplify this feeling of intimacy and warmth.
Three ceiling lights descend punctually on the Kitchen Snack Table, the backlit wall units remain at the service of the kitchen while a track with adjustable spotlights illuminates the relaxation area.
The colors are light and glow in the light from the large windows at the back of the room.
minimal kitchen lateral

On the ground a natural oak parquet that matches well with the gray veined stone chosen for the countertops and the back of the kitchen and the light-colored furniture.
Here another minimal Milanese kitchen with similar combinations.

BLACK IRON IN FURNITURE

BLACK IRON IN FURNITURE

Nowadays the iron and the metals that are inserted in the furnishings have been returning to their natural finish, called in jargon “raw” (raw iron is commonly called black). This brings out the material with which the product was made and its natural imperfections make it even more alive and unique in its kind.

THE BLACK IRON

The word “iron” in common parlance is usually used to also indicate low strength “iron alloys” and mild steels which have a silvery-gray appearance. Very resistant, ductile and malleable, they are distinguished by black iron which is darker, more delicate and is used exclusively for indoor structures, therefore much less exposed to atmospheric agents. To preserve it from humidity and the risk of rust appearing even in sheltered environments, black iron is usually treated in a very natural way with beeswax or transparent varnish, both solutions make it slightly brighter and create a sort of film protective.

boutique made in black iron
details black iron table
details black iron table

A Boutique realized where the concept Fil Rouge was precisely the combined black iron and material finishes

THE IRON IN THE STRUCTURES OF THE ELEMENTS

The peculiarity of polymaterial structures is that the different materials are harmoniously associated with their aesthetic and structural characteristics. In terms of resistance, what wood supports with its 2 cm, metal can do with a tenth of the thickness. This is why we like to use metals in load-bearing structures, such as the backs of bookcases or furniture. Black iron kept in its natural color can also act as a contrast with a very light lacquer or with a wood-colored essence. Below are some examples where you can see how the structure is light even if extremely dark.

bookshelf in black iron
environment in black iron
bookshelf in black iron

black iron bookcases populate the living area of this elegant apartment

Also used for fixtures in its industrial spirit, it never abandons glass in combination with room dividers, as for the kitchen below which is separated from the living area. The shaped tops of the tables and the turned legs are also in very thin black iron sheet.

black iron fixtures and tables

partitions and tables in black iron in this Newyorkers Apartment

Black iron is also often used as a “lid” for furniture, a sort of thin blanket that envelops the entire element and sometimes reaches the floor, becoming a base. An example are the doors and the column of this kitchen and in the bar cabinet below, where the iron in addition to supporting it repairs the support surface, which, like all horizontal surfaces, is more subject to wear than vertical ones.

living room bookcase iron black
Iron and lacquered bar cabinet
 iron base detail
iron tv cabinet

Two Apartment, one in the center of Milan and one in Bergamo, where black iron structures bookcases and the top of the TV and bar cabinets.

Here, on the other hand, it is used as a covering for the doors and the niche of an elegant Kitchen in Milan.

 kitchen doors covered with black iron
covered doors detail
handles in black iron

THE BLACK IRON IN THE COVERINGS

Due to its dark and irregular color, very masculine and elegant, black iron can also be used as a wall covering to create a sort of partition or portal. A portal to divide the rooms inside the house, at a symbolic level to make the user cross towards a place that will be able to express himself only when he crosses the black threshold, many times illuminated from above or sideways with LED strips. Here are some examples of portals, some inserted only in the doorway and others much more structured, with also an equipped part in which to hide some furniture at the service of the house.

lighted portals
equipped portal

Portals that act as partitions and equipped portals

Branding paneling, on the other hand, is very common in the Retail sector, for example the corners of the Tiziana Fausti shop, in which the black iron panels visible from the central space have externally the laser engraved logo of the Brand which is located inside the box used for it.

brand logo in iron
external panel black iron

Laser cutted Brand’s logo on black iron partitionsin the Tiziana Fausti shop in Bergamo

ALL BLACK

Having a furniture completely made of black iron is not only possible, but sometimes it is the right choice for certain types of environments and goes well with the rest of the furniture. Here is our realization of a niche furniture in which doors and structure, both external and internal, are covered or structured in black iron.

iron covered furniture
details black iron furniture

Here is also another example of a black iron structure with desks and tables in the same material made by Locatelli & Partners inside a church, their old operational headquarters. The contrast of the cold and dark material inserted in a context that does not belong to it, as in this case a Baroque church with warm tones and completely frescoed walls enhances the material and turns out to be a harmonious union.

THE BLACK IRON IN THE DETAILS

Black iron can also be found in small details and accessories, such as handles and frames. They turn out to be a touch of color and a detachment of fundamental material for some very clear and bright environments. The detail gives an extra touch of elegance to the environment and characterizes it, an example are these full-height handles that reflect the frame of the glass partition of this splendid kitchen made in Barcelona.

kitchen Barcellona black iron details
black iron handel
black iron kitchen details

MATERIAL FINISHES

We have previously said that the surfaces of raw materials can be non-uniform and have defects such as scratches or changes in tone in the plate. Excellent for industrial-style interiors, black iron was in fact very common in production workshops at the height of the industrial revolution, sometimes even rusty and together with oxidized brass, ceramics, knotty solid wood and antiqued glass it became the symbol of those years. This raw effect of raw materials has become a trend of companies and design and architecture studios and in recent years it is in great demand. Precisely for this reason, numerous products have been created that reproduce the textures inspired by the essences of wood, black iron or natural stones for exclusive wall coverings or home furniture. The important thing about these finishes in addition to the visual aspect are the tactile emotions capable of arousing thanks to rough and often irregular surfaces, which together are called material finishes. Together with black iron, an anthracite-colored textured paint can give a hint of color and roughness to other elements in which iron is not present but which are in the same environment. An example are these shaped shelves associated with a black iron desk with a Linoleum desktop in the same shade of gray in the center of the top.

desk and shelves
bookshelf in dark gray

THE BLACK IRON IN THE PROJECTS

After all these examples we can only break a lance in favor of raw black iron, like a dark dress that is always in fashion its use, which is both bold and bold or minimized in small details in home furnishings makes it alive, vintage and fascinating at the same time.

Minimal style furniture for a youthful apartment in the city center

Minimal style furniture for a youthful apartment in the city center

An apartment in the city center shows all its freshness with bright interiors and light colors, while the minimal style furniture defines its elegance. Functional environments suitable for various needs and therefore excellent for short and long-term rentals. The geometric patterns and essential design lines return the idea of ​​freshness, presenting themselves as excellent companions in everyday life.

minimal style kitchen central island service columns

The living area: a minimal style kitchen with an industrial touch

The entrance to this apartment overlooks the living area illuminated by large windows located along the right side of the room.
The minimal kitchen also finds space here, divided from the living area by a half-height wall that acts as a conceptual filter for the two environments.

The development of the kitchen occupies the side adjacent to the entrance area with full-height columns and a central island. This becomes the functional element par excellence, acting as a pivot in the distribution of transit flows and welcoming the preparation, cooking and washing areas.
In the lower part, large drawers are placed under the induction hob, to house pots and accessories useful for cooking.
Beside them, two lacquered MDF doors house the countertop sink and the lower compartment for the differentiated waste bins.

The worktop in practical bilaminate in a medium gray tone recalls the industrial scent of the dining table with its material surface.
In the center between the cooking area and the washing area, the top is left free to allow the preparation of dishes. To facilitate the use of small appliances, a retractable socket tower.

On the column side, the built-in oven positioned at a comfortable height embrace, together with doors with internal shelves, the open compartment with bilaminate top and lacobel top. Element that acts as a useful support on the side of the oven or can be equipped with small appliances such as coffee machine and mixer, or Thermomix.
At the same time, it is also a significant aesthetic element, capable of attracting attention for the brightness that characterizes it.

The lacobel bottom reflects the light coming from the LED strip embedded in the upper part, giving further brightness.

 dining table metal structure industrial style top
furniture columns kitchen service minimal style bilaminate top lacobel day compartment
front view island drawers pans accessories induction cooking
white kitchen island retro doors detail
detail of the disappeared turret took a closed position
detail of the disappeared turret took the position of use

The functionality of the sleeping area with white furniture

The access corridor to the sleeping area is equipped with a full-height wardrobe shaped internally to restore the correct alignment of the rear walls. Internally, shelves of different heights allow the organization of household products while respecting the existing electrical arrangements and the counter compartments.
A functional element capable of blending into the minimal furnishings of the apartment and at the same time serving as an equipped piece of furniture in a closet.

To complete the sleeping area, a second full-height wardrobe with white lacquered doors and handles in white folded sheet metal with a minimal look.
This internally houses hanging tubes and drawers for linen allowing you to keep the garments in order.
In the master bedroom, essential white lacquered furnishings placed including a pair of bedside tables with storage drawers and a large side chest of drawers with recessed handles.
A desk, on the other hand, is inserted into a game of joints in a wall bookcase, creating an equipped point for smartworking.

full-height wardrobe doors sheet metal handles minimal furniture
internal wardrobe drawers linen tubes hangers
equipped corridor mobile closet minimal furniture
study corner bookcase wall desk shaped
chest of drawers bedroom minimal furniture white bedside tables
bedside table front view white lacquered handles hollow drawer black feet
white lacquered shaped shelves furniture minimal style furniture

The natural touch of the bathrooms

The two bathrooms with bold graphics reflect the minimal style of the furniture, giving a touch of freshness.
One, next to the master bedroom, incorporates the natural tones of green with a wallpaper with a vintage flavor. This is equipped with a cabinet with wooden finishes combined with a countertop washbasin with sinuous shapes. It is accompanied by a large designer bathtub that masters the corner of the bathroom and elegant furnishings.
The second bathroom, on the other hand, plays on the geometric textures of the wallpaper with more decisive colors, matched with a bathroom cabinet with the same characteristics as the first.

bathroom tub design natural colors vintage wallpaper
bathroom cabinet wood white countertop washbasin green wallpaper
bathroom furniture wood sink design support wallpaper vintage geometric pattern

City apartments require flexibility from both a functional and aesthetic point of view.
For this reason, the minimal style is perfectly suited to satisfy the tastes of future tenants. Another example of this type is this studio apartment in the center of Milan!
To deepen the minimal style instead, we can delve into the retail world with this shop in the center of Bergamo. Enjoy the reading!

Hangers that give new life to Tiziana Fausti windows

Hangers that give new life to Tiziana Fausti windows

The new hanging system becomes the leitmotif for the windows of the Tiziana Fausti women’s and accessories shop. Linear elements that unfold in the air supporting the products displayed with elegance and lightness.

tubolar hangers windows
painted hangers detail neutral colors

Always in constant change

The new layout of the Kids department on the ground floor of the historic Tiziana Fausti building has also led to a series of changes in the women’s store.
The latest fitting focused on the neutral tones of pink saw the prevalence of vertical elements that underline the large heights of the rooms.
To make space for the Kids department and uniform it from a design point of view, it was necessary to move some elements. Among these, the important wall that houses the Bottega Veneta display cabinet, whose dark tones and a light industrial touch are recognizable for their aesthetics and character. The entire wall occupied by that display system has been recovered, with careful restoration work.
Designing furniture that can be disassembled and rearranged while preserving all the components in the best possible way is a fundamental requirement for retail designers.

new setting project woman department Tiziana Fausti
new windows setting 01
new Bottega veneta wall
detail shelves film

The new display system for shop windows

Like sinuous lines, the new tubular hangers elegantly wind their way along the various side windows. To support them, vertical profiles that develop from the floor to the ceiling.
Exposed joints allow connections between the horizontal and vertical components, making the aesthetics of the display system essential. The soft color of the paint perfectly matches the existing furnishings.
A design line that introduces the theme of horizontality, in a set-up that emphasizes the vertical read.
To move the shop windows, cylinders with a velvet top covering in different heights.

new windows setting 02
painted tubolar hangers details
tubolar joint windows

A scenographic entrance

The changes made during the new layout also involved the entrance area, which now takes on greater importance.
If in fact in the previous configuration the two accesses to the floor could be equal in aesthetics and function, now it becomes essential to keep the women’s department separate from the Kids one.
To emphasize the scenographic setting of this strategic point, three exhibition totems have been added.
Just like the existing ones, the side lighting develops along the vertical profiles, illuminating the different shelves with soft pink film.
A sort of luminous wall that identifies all the design characteristics of the women’s department: essentiality, lightness and elegance.

volume detail entrance 01
volume detail entrance 02
shelve with light entrance
new display element side view entrance
new display element front view entrance