Italian furniture store Calligaris has just settled into its new location in Georgetown at 3328 M St., and it is a classy, welcome addition for anyone interested in contemporary Italian design.
The well-curated showroom feels more like an exhibition of fine design. Calligaris furniture is visually pleasing, particularly the selection of vividly-colored chairs, some of them suspended from an interior window. But it’s not all show. The furniture is practical, comfortable, classical in design but with a modern personality.
Calligaris has been making fine furniture in Italy since 1923, when Antonio Calligaris founded the company to build the Marocca chair, a straw chair typical of the Manzano area in Friuli, Italy. In 1986, Alessandro Calligaris, member of the third generation, took over as president and began expanding its product lines, including tables, beds, sofas, and decorative accessories. In addition to the use of wood, Calligaris also makes innovative furniture in metal, plastic, leather and glass.
In the last decade the company has grown from a small, family-owned operation to an international company with 600 employees. Calligaris Group is now 40% owned by L Capital, a private equity fund sponsored by the luxury giant LVMH. (Francesco Isgrò)