The considerably over-used word lounge finds new meaning in the collection which Paola Navone has designed for Ethimo: no longer only out, but also in; no longer only comfort, but also joy; no longer linearity, but harmony in contrasts.
It is in the sole of this designer – a true master of colours and fabrics – to shuffle the cards and change the rules, indicating new roads to be explored.
Rafael – as the collection is called – is striking in its simplicity. The stark contrast between the rough power of the wood and the warmth of the pillows, between the reassuring strength of the structure and the relaxing presence of the upholstery is both attractive and intriguing.
The destinies of shape and matter intertwine in a primordial combination. Volcanic rock, marble, and wood have been ever-present elements throughout history; fabrics and colours – if paired carefully and with a bit of vision – are the perfect complement. And in Rafael, fabrics and colours are the other half of the equation, an unexpected and brilliant compensation.
The lines which Paola Navone has created for Rafael and for Ethimo are never straight. They are interrupted and soften before – suddenly – becoming hard and geometric. The final result is a collection of seating and accessories that leaves its mark and that sends a message to the inflated world of lounge products: it is possible to change, and with change comes beauty.
