This year’s overall theme displayed a modern take on the 1950’s era style trends, with many imported italian designer furniture exhibitors exuding a relaxed yet sophisticated and inviting feel to the modern design living space.

In particular, overall trends from the showroom floor included:

• rounded legs, and the use of metal, marble and wood.

• cabinets and sofas with a floating look to create a feeling of space.

• concrete walls used as feature backdrops with contrasting timber slats

• luxurious items with light terracotta and curves – juxtaposed with more fun elements incorporating feminine, pastel colours.

We also saw a trend in deeper toned woods, satin lacquers, satin glass and new black chrome finish on metal work this year. Our pick? The stunning new Edmond sofa from Flexform with featured curved tubular black chrome frame:

In terms of designer furniture finishes, here’s what you should look out for over 2013:

• Marble in light and dark chocolate colors – used in table tops for designer dining tables and contemporary coffee tables.

• Timbers in a deeper toned wood called “Terme” (where Oak wood is smoked to achieve the darker brown tones with light walnut colour variations).

• Natural linens used to highlight loose cover finishes creating easy care & cleaning options with a relaxed inviting feel.

• A return to natural textured oak & beech finishings combined with satin lacquers to create contrast with a soft, sophisticated feel – evident in the Jesse Strand side tables below:

We also love the Thin K table from Kristalia with Oak top:

Stay tuned for our next installment in the Milan Furniture Fair 2013 series, where we will give you a run down of the latest stunning designer furniture to come out of the fair – no matter what room you are decorating, we have something for everyone – designer bedroom furniture, contemporary dining chairs, contemporary dining tables to match, plus designer outdoor furniture and much, much more.

1. Test the quality of the materials: Imported italian designer furniture pieces can easily be identified by the use of top quality materials in their construction. If you are buying a timber item, ensure the wood feels solid and heavy. For contemporary designer furniture pieces look out for lightweight, innovative finishings.

2. Buy on quality, not on price: It’s tempting to snap up the latest bargain either online or from bulk discount furniture suppliers, however often in the long term you will actually save yourself money by investing in key designer furniture pieces in the first place, than wasting your money on poorly made furnishings with zero durability which fall apart at the touch. Authentic italian designer furniture can always be guaranteed to last the test of time, for generations to come.

3. Pay attention to the details: Does the designer furniture piece you are interested in buying have any exposed wood or staining? Is the upholstery finished correctly and seamlessly? Before you pull out your wallet to pay for your new contemporary dining chair or designer bed, ensure you inspect it closely for any flaws – better to pick up on imperfections on the storeroom floor, than when you bring it home!

4. Always bring a measuring tape: Here at Fanuli Furniture, we know from customer experience that the number one issue when buying new designer furniture is overestimating the size of your designer living space, and underestimating the the size of your dream purchase. Are you having trouble find the perfect designer sofa lounge or designer furniture item to suit your latest home reno venture? Talk to one of our professional design services team today – we’re always available and on hand to provide advice on what will work for you.

5. Don’t forget about comfort!! At the end of the day, never forget that whilst you always want to choose a designer furniture piece to fit in with and compliment your overall room design theme and style, you should never sacrifice comfort for design. The best designer furniture pieces are those which fuse innovation with practicality.

Fanuli Interiors is dedicated to giving you advice and helping you achieve the living design space of your dreams. In our previous articles you’ve had the chance to get to know our consultants Bernard & Chermaine, and here, in our 3rd blog we introduce you to Jason Woodland, who has been working here at Fanuli for over a decade, so you can be sure he knows more than just a thing or two about quality stylish imported designer furniture:

*How long have you been working with Fanuli? 13 years

*Please give a brief history of your experience as an interior design? I studied at the University of South Australia and obtained a bachelor of design education, majoring in interior design. I have been working in the design field for approximately 18 years. I work closely with end users architects and interior designers, locally, around Australia as well as internationally.

*If you could describe your design aesthetic in 3 words what would they be? As an interior designer I can appreciate all well executed fields of interior fashion and design. Any genre done well inspires me. Emotional , fluid and clever are 3 words which best describe the end result I wish to achieve through decorating.

*What is your favorite room in (or outside!) a house to design? I love the centre of the home where most time is spent with family and friends, this is of course the living space.

*Do you prefer contemporary designer furniture or classic? I love the energy of young contemporary designers and enjoy supporting the creative industry. This can be projected through innovation and new directions in textiles, lighting and materials as well as the designs themselves. These new designs are often derived from the past hence all good design will age well.

*If you had to choose your favorite designer furniture piece, what would it be? I love the Lifesteel sofa by Flexform Italy. It is exceptionally comfortable as well as sexy. The way the sofas metal frame allows the body of the sofa to appear as if it defies gravity and weight with it’s thin profile is amazing. I also love this sofa for the fact it is smart yet relaxed and inviting.

*If you could give one piece of advice to home renovators, what would it be? You should have strong convictions of style in your home but also let a professional guide you along the way. This enables the designer to piece together your personality and style in an effective way.

Ever wanted to ask for some expert guidance when looking to refresh your current home interiors but not had the chance? Look no further – no job is too small for our expert consultants – all of whom are designer furniture fanatics! Fanuli Interiors is your one stop shop for help in all areas of interior design – Contact us to arrange a consultation today.

Our team of expert design consultants are on hand 24/7 to help you achieve your dream living design space – which is why we’re highlighting their work in our special blog series which takes a look at Fanuli Interiors. In the first article of our new series, we introduced you to one of our expert professional interior design consultants – Bernard Radcliffe.

Read on to learn more about, Chermaine Thompson, one of our longest team members, and an integral component of the Fanuli Interiors design services family:

How long have you been working with Fanuli Furniture? 7 years

Provide us a brief history of your experience as an interior design: I studied at the ANU for 3 years for my bachelor of arts focusing on interior design, painting, sculpture and designer furniture. After my studies I worked as a design consultant at a custom joinery studio for three years before landing my position at Fanuli’s designer furniture store in Sydney, and the rest is history as they say!

If you could describe your interior design services aesthetic in 3 words what would they be? contemporary, organic & now.

What is your favorite room in (or outside!) a house to design? Definitely the living room – this is where I (and most people) spend most of my time when at home, and so it’s one of the most important rooms in any house.

Do you prefer contemporary designer furniture or classic designer furniture? Love, love, love, contemporary designer furniture!

If you had to choose your favorite designer furniture piece, what would it be? Hmm, that’s a tough one  - I have too many favorites! But if I had to choose, my top 3 designer furniture items would be:

1. Shelf from kristalia

2. Pulp commercial chair by Christophe Pillet

3.’Haiku’ contemporary lounge chair by Jesse designer furniture

If you could give one piece of advice to home renovators, what would it be?

It may be simple advice, but it is the best: Less is always more…

Regardless of your living design space needs, Fanuli Interiors offers help in all areas of interior design – from simply deciding on what sort of designer furniture to buy for your next interior project, to advice on finishing’s & upholstery, Fanuli interior design services can provide you with a cost effective, seamless solution to all your design living space requirements. Contact us today to arrange a consultation here.

Every year, Fanuli helps hundreds of people (just like you!) make their dreams happen with our special custom design interior colour services. Fanuli Interior is an in-home decorating service which can help you achieve your dream home with the help of our expert interior design consultants.

Ever wanted to know what makes our professional design team tick? Here is an interview with one of our consultants, Bernard Radcliffe:

How long have you been working with Fanuli? Just over a year.

Provide us a brief history of your experience as an interior design: I have worked with High End French Classic Reproduction Designer Furniture from Italy as well as France. I have extensive knowledge of contemporary designer furniture and trends. I have worked with both clients whose budgets are modest, as well as clients whose decorating tastes extend to multi room ocean view mansions, which provides me with depth of scope and great experience to draw from when offering my design services.

If you could describe your interior design services aesthetic in 3 words what would they be? Casual, Sophisticated, elegant

What is your favourite room in (or outside!) a house to design? I enjoy decorating the main living area as I believe this is the beating heart of any home. I find I can express my client’s personality best in this space.

Do you prefer contemporary designer furniture or classic designer furniture? I look for timeless, well designed pieces regardless of whether they are classic or modern. Most importantly, I never use items that will date or are of poor quality.

If you had to choose your favorite designer furniture piece, what would it be? The Long Island 05 Sofa by Flexform which is designed by Antonio Citterio. It’s sophisticated casual feel for everyday is only matched by the details of its finish.

If you could give one piece of advice to home renovators, what would it be? When working with architects it is important to incorporate your designer furniture sizes & the types of designer furniture items you plan to to include in your room(s) before signing the plans off. This will not only offer the best looking design living space, but will also be extremely functional, and avoid later changes that may be costly. I believe Architecture can work with designer furniture and not against it. Frank Lloyd Wright is my favorite architect. He designed his own furniture for his buildings. It this reason I enjoy working with the brand Flexform. Anthony Citterio the chief designer of Flexform is one of Italy’s most acclaimed architects as well as awarded furniture designers. Want to learn more about Flexform? Read our article ‘Flexform: The story behind the brand’

So whether you need help simply deciding on what sort of designer furniture to buy for your next interior project, to advice on finishings & upholstery, Fanuli interior design services can provide you with a cost effective, seamless solution to all your design living space requirements. Contact us today to arrange a consultation here.

1. Forgetting to take measurements: there is a reason this takes out the number 1 spot! Always, always measure the space you plan to put your new designer sofa lounge in, as well as the entrances to your home and any tight spots you may need to manoeuvre around when you bring your brand new designer furniture item home with you. Similarly, before visiting the designer furniture store of your choice, ensure you bring with you your tape measure so that as you test each furniture item in-store, you can also measure the dimensions of the designer sofa lounges which you like.

2. Buying on impulse: All too often, people make split decisions on new designer furniture items based on gut feel however rushing into your next major purchase could lead to regrets later on down the track. Whilst that purple spotted cow hide leather hammock might have taken your fancy in store, it’s important to take a step back and consider thoroughly the pros and cons of each designer furniture item you go for. Consider factors such as durability, budget and practicality before making that final choice.

3. Choosing on price instead of quality: With the advent of online stores and increased retail competition, it can be tempting to go for an inferior piece of designer furniture with a deceptively small price tag, over something that is well made and will last for generations. In the long run though, buying quality designer furniture products from reputable designer furniture importers means you will save yourself money in the long run, as your contemporary designer sofa will last for years to come, and in a better condition than a cheaper, badly made product would do.

4. Selecting the wrong material: When deciding on the type of contemporary designer lounge you will ultimately buy, you need to take into consideration not only the shape of the couch but also the type of fabric and colour palette you wish to choose.Make sure your selection takes into consideration your lifestyle (for instance, if you have a family, go for something highly durable and easy to clean), and where you will be placing it – i.e. will it be in direct sunlight?

5. Not asking for professional advice: Unless you are an interior designer yourself, it may make all the difference to your purchasing decision to seek some professional advice – many designer furniture stores offer custom design services to help you make the right decision. No matter what stage you are up to in your home renovation, its never too late to ask. Email us at Fanuli Furniture to learn more about our professional interior design services.

Regardless of whether you are doing a complete overhaul of your living design space, or if you just want to refresh a tired old piece of furniture, your choice of designer sofa lounge can mean the difference between a spectacular living room and one that is just so-so. What is the biggest mistake you have ever made when buying furniture?

For over thirty years, Flexform has offered a veritable mecca of contemporary designer furniture products to its faithful following, and the Australian launch promises no less than a breathtaking collection of stunning italian designer furniture on display.

A sneak-peek of what to expect at the launch:

1. Impeccable italian design on display right in the heart of Sydney
The new showroom was collaborated on, designed and built by a specialist team of italian artisans flown specially from Italy to Fanuli’s designer furniture store in Sydney. No detail was left un-thought-of, with everything – from the choice of contemporary designer lighting, down to the way the living design space in which the Flexform collection will inhabit – a complement to the designer furniture brand’s dynamic, stunning and streamlined aesthetic.

2. A fresh take on traditional designer furniture materials & colour palettes
For over 30 years, Flexform has remained at the helm of innovation in contemporary designer furniture – in particular, its collections are notorious for their cutting edge concepts and use of the latest designer furniture fixtures and materials. Therefore, to complement Flexform’s distinct contemporary look and feel, it was necessary to transform the original Fanuli showroom and replace traditional fixtures and fittings such as metal balustrades and laminated joinery, with more modern finishes and a new, inspired color palette. Expect to be inspired!

3. A comprehensive collection of Antonio Citterio inspired designer furniture products
First and foremost, the new Fanuli designer Furniture showroom has been designed to replicate and enhance the feel of Flexform’s renowned international flagship showrooms, showcasing the exceptional work of award-winning designer Antonio Citterio. The brand, which is renowned for its avant garde experimentation of designer furniture form and technology, is well represented in the new collection, with each designer furniture product – from designer bedroom furniture, through to contemporary designer sofas  -  carefully considered and placed within its living design space surroundings .

Fanuli Furniture has a long standing reputation for offering quality italian designer furniture products. The exclusive launch for Flexform will be held at Fanuli’s designer furniture store Sydney Cremorne showroom on Tuesday the 12th of  March at 6.30pm, with renowned sydney based uber event specialist, Steve Cordony styling the launch party – so expect for a night of stunning interior design. Would you like to attend? Email us here to secure your place at the launch.

The Flexform brand began its story in 1970, operating out of a small northern italian city at a time when italian designer furniture was just hitting its stride. It was one of the first designer furniture manufacturers to really understand and connect with the concept of collaborating closely with designers.

Its collections included the likes of Joe Columbo, Cini Boeri, Sergi Asti and Rodolfo Bonetto and since then, this family-run organisation has always closely aligned itself with the top furniture designers of our time. Over the past 20 years Flexform has been synonymous with harmony, quality and creative designer furniture, specialising particularly with contemporary designer loungechairs , designer sofas, and bedroom furniture.

Most recently, designer furniture architect Antonio Citterio has been the driving creative force behind some of Flexforms most popular and exalted products. It wouldn’t be a feature story if we didn’t mention the very designer furniture products that Flexform are famous for – so here are our top 3 favourite Flexform pieces in no particular order:

• From Flexform’s designer bedroom furniture collection: Lifesteel bed frame

Designed by premier furniture specialist Antonio Citterio, Lifesteel is a unique and striking designer bedroom furniture piece which combines the luxuriousness of soft, sumptuous upholstery with a distinct industrial-chic embellishment in its steel frame. Built using top quality, imported italian finishings this elegant contemporary bedframe comes in nickel-satine, burnished metal or chromed metal and features a headboard crafted using a resilient foam and  your choice of leather or fabric overlay.

• Designer contemporary sofa lounge: Groundpiece

Yet another exquisitely and effortlessly designed piece by Antonio Citterio, Groundpiece contemporary sofa is a versatile sectional lounge whose seating system allows for bespoke furniture formations no matter how small or large your design living space is. Simple, understated and remarkably comfortable, this stunning italian designer furniture piece is minimalist yet generous on comfort. A hidden support for the main cushions adds to its sumptuous feel.

• Designer contemporary sofa and ottoman collection: Cestone

This showpiece designer furniture ensemble is distinctive – not just by the detail of its smartly woven leather arms and back supports, but also in its cleverly constructed inner metal frame. Its hand woven upholstery features a resilient and luxurious core lining combining down feathers. Available in a wide range of contemporary sofas, ottomans and armchairs, there’s a reason this collection is one of our best sellers!

An ethos that is prevalent in all of Flexform’s exquisite designer furniture collections is the constant reminder that your home can always be considered an aesthetic gesture  - and by extension, the objects that constitute it reflect the image of those who have chosen them. In layman’s terms, what this means is that when you choose  a Flexform designer furniture product, you can be sure this reflects exquisite taste!

What is your favourite Flexform designer furniture piece?

• Practical, functional industrial-inspired designer furniture

Inspired by the industrial revolution and a return to economic prudence – 2013 signifies a return to durable yet unique designer furniture favourites.  Think rustic salvage metal colours, iron, lead and other designer furniture items featuring matte metallic and chrome finishes. We love:

‘Dot Office’ designer contemporary desk by Monica Graffeo and Bluezone

• A focus on creative and innovative multi-functional designer furniture

In keeping with the overall theme of hard-wearing, multi-purpose interior trends, there will be a focus this year on dual functionality when it comes to home decor – whether it be designer dining chairs which are stackable and reusable as designer outdoor furniture; or contemporary bedroom furniture with in-built storage- the emphasis will be on innovative interior furnishings which are solidly built. We love:

‘Pikaia’ contemporary dining chairs by Italian designer furniture specialist Angelo Natuzzi

• Flexible, tailored designer wall units

With the rise and rise of apartment living, it has never been more important than now to ensure every square metre of your living design space is utilised, so its no surprise one of the key interior design trends in 2013 show an uptake in bespoke, tailored storage solutions – in particular, contemporary wall unit and shelving which can be hand made and fit to order depending on the area you have available. We love:

‘Open wall units 2’ by Jesse Furniture

•  Portable, lightweight contemporary occasional pieces

In tough economic times, show piece feature furnishings such as accent tables and versatile coffee tables can provide an inexpensive yet effective way to update any existing interior features. Coming in an array of shapes, designs, and finishings, small to mid-size tables, these portable designer furniture gems can brighten even the most outdated of interior design spaces. We love:

‘Ambrogio’ designer contemporary side table by No Code Design

• Luxurious yet functional sectional contemporary sofa lounges

If we’ve said it once, we’ll say it again – if you only invest in one designer furniture essential in the coming year, make sure one of your top priorities is a comfortable, practical and long-lasting designer sofa lounge. In 2013, we’ll see an emergence of more and more sectional-style sofa’s, due to their high versatility and the convenience of having separate furniture pieces which can quickly and easily be connected and rearranged depending on your requirements. We love:

‘Magnum’ contemporary sofa by Antonio Citterio

Are you planning a big interior design project in 2013? Tell us what trends you think take precedence in home renovation this year?

Like many enthusiastic (yet time poor) home owners, you’d be forgiven for having time run away with you – not to worry, this year can be different. A brand new year, filled with endless possibilities, and the chance to improve your home once and for all! To help get you started, here are our top 5 home improvement resolutions for 2013:

1. Invest in a quality contemporary designer sofa

If your home is your castle, then your lounge room could easily be likened to its beating heart – used as a place for relaxation, family time, and often as a make-shift dining room, the lounge room should be at the top of anyone’s home improvement list, since its also the area likely to get the most daily foot traffic. What better way to enhance your living design space then, by investing in a luxurious new contemporary designer sofa to enhance this area? If your current sofa is falling to bits, come visit the Fanuli designer furniture store Sydney and view our array of beautiful designer sofas to suit any tastes. Our personal favourite? The stunning ‘Groundpeice‘ contemporary designer sofa by Antonio Citterio:

2. Double the value of your home by freshening up your outdoor living space

Regardless of whether you plan to sell in the near future, or just want to ensure a great return on investment years down the track, overseeing a redesign of your balcony, deck or backyard can give your home the perfect, cost effective ‘facelift’ its been needing. Best of all you don’t need mounds of money or a big earth-mover truck to make a difference. Plan your area with statement designer contemporary outdoor furniture pieces, such as imported Italian ‘Hamptons Lounge’ by Roberti – this ultra durable designer sofa comes in a range of modulars, including ottomans, armchairs and coffee tables. Resistant to UV light and woven from sun-loom polyethylene fibers, this stunning designer furniture ensemble would make the perfect statement piece for your outdoor entertainment area:

3. De-clutter your bedroom by investing in a bespoke contemporary wardrobe

The curse of modern life is that we all seem to accumulate things at an alarming pace! Whether its shoes, clothes, books, or even the latest iPad incarnation by Apple, sometimes the conventional contemporary wardrobe just doesn’t cut it where storage is concerned. Why not treat yourself to the latest in stunning designer furniture and invest in a completely tailor made inbuilt designer wardrobe? Our pick: Plana Hinged Doors 3 by acclaimed imported italian designer Jesse Furniture. Available in a range of elegant finishes including timber, lacquer and high gloss, this stunning modular robe system is especially designed to fit any designer bedroom space:

4. Make meal time special for all the family with a new designer dining table

Busy work schedules, a plethora of after-school activities, and just sheer convenience means more and more home meals are being left by the way-side in favour of a microwave dinner in front of the television. Resolve this year to make meal time a special event that the whole family will enjoy; by investing in a stunning new designer dining table. One of Fanuli Furnitures stand out new arrivals is ‘Vero‘ designer contemporary dining table by Italian powerhouse AB Design. Uniquely constructed with sculptured legs crafted from solid American walnut, this is one designer furniture piece which will become part of your family tradition forever:

5. Take the stress out of home improvement: book an appointment with an interior design professional

Home renovation is supposed to be fun! But there’s no point breaking your back and wasting your time if interior design just isn’t your thing. Deciding on the right designer furniture pieces for you home can be time consuming, exhausting and quite frankly downright difficult, especially if you’re stumped on where to start. That’s why Fanuli Furniture offers a in-home decorating service dedicated to creating your dream living design space with the help of our expert interior design staff. Interested? Learn more about Fanuli interior design services here.

Your home is not just a place to rest during down time, its also the best investment you can make in your future, so keeping it well maintained can pay dividends in years to come – regular home improvement and updates of designer furnishings are the best way to keep your home in tip top shape.

What are your top home improvement resolutions this year?