The full flavor of Tuscany can be enjoyed in this refined private residence in Oakville, Canada. The colors are warm, the materials natural, pervading the space with a remarkable glow, where the soft lines frame the interiors. Every detail links back to evocative panoramas, and the atmosphere of authenticity that makes this Italian region – with its traditions and workshops – a destination renowned all over the world. The echo of this faraway land resonates through the products chosen to furnish the large living area, entirely produced in Pistoia by Borzalino, a company that has championed the artisanal culture of Tuscany since 1976.
The firm (now with the family’s third generation at the helm) has brought its know-how and exceptional expertise into this modern country home, shaping a theatrical setting in harmony with the architecture and the surrounding landscape: open, airy spaces for convivial enjoyment, in direct contact with the green forests of the zone.
“The challenge was not to be heavy, but to enhance the exchange between human beings and landscape,” says Matteo Pieri, Co-Managing Director and Head of Design & Communication at Borzalino. To reach this goal, the company has created a soft, minimal design, through appealing solutions that offer everyday practicality but also an opportunity to relax, to converse, or simply to ponder.
The spatial and conceptual fulcrum of the living area is the Belt sofa, deployed in a large composition. Designed by the duo De Bona – De Meo, the system takes its name from the leather belt that wraps the base, as if to contain the voluminous upholstery that grants comfort and extreme softness to the seat. Belt sums up not only the design ideal of Borzalino – simple and elegant, essential and refined – but also the inseparable link with the origins and location of the brand, in the leather district of Florence. The materials, stitching, finishing, the details of workmanship, all narrate a passion for handmade things and a close relationship with the territory.
The hides Borzalino provides for the personalization of its collections are vegetable tanned or enhanced with precious techniques, in products that always stand out for the expert touch of the company’s craftsmen. With an eye on sustainability and the recognition of local quality, the raw materials are sourced nearby, through a network of Tuscan suppliers – a choice that has gained the company “Made in Tuscany” certification. As the representative of this heritage in Canada, Belt has been covered with full-grain “Rustico” leather, offering the tactile sensation of a soft nubuck, while displaying the natural characteristics of the leather in the folds and in the grain.
The system of upholstered furnishings is accompanied by the Bon Bon ottomans, whose pleats are framed by a structure in metal tubing, bringing a dynamic, appealing touch to living and dining areas. Here the protagonists are the Neil chairs, which are tall and enveloping, featuring small folds in the lower back zone: an aesthetic detail that enhances the product’s versatility.
The lounge area, on the other hand, contains the Sigmund chairs: ample, enveloping, informal, they offer a true island of relaxation. The bar corner is completed by the high Diva stools. The setting is also enhanced by multiple complements, like the Clio ottoman (which combines a soft seat with the geometric rigor of the metal base), and the Minerva bench, with its airy, sophisticated image.
“Our goal is to blend functionality and beauty in a context of maximum comfort and relaxed convivial living,” says Matteo Pieri. “We rely on the use of natural fabrics and leathers, with a palette that spreads across hues of the earth, the sky and plants, to embody the authentic charm, without subterfuge, typical of the rural landscapes of Tuscany.”
