The Story Behind Foglie d’Oro

SBID continues to dig beneath the surface with another one of the SBID International Design Awards sponsors, sponsoring the Show Flats & Developments category. Rita di Venere, Export Manager at Foglie d’Oro shares how the brand upholds the founding-family’s guiding principles in the noble art of wood to refine the traditional craft; bringing to market an authentic and high quality range of wood floors and surfaces which are actually ‘made in Italy’! 

What are the origins of your brand?

Foglie d’Oro is the luxury flooring brand of the Brotto family, for over 50 years the highest interpreter of a cabinet-making tradition that has its roots in time. Trained at a very young age in the noble art of wood, Sante Giorgio Brotto started his own business in 1966, building on his successes year after year, soon adding the realisation of high quality wood floors and surfaces.

The Brotto family represents the Italian mastery in the art of wood and the authentic ‘made in Italy’, with determination and passion. The beauty of creating beauty: this is the guiding principle, generation after generation, of the Brotto family. For this reason Foglie d’Oro is appreciated by a growing number of prestigious customers in Europe and around the world, from the US to Russia and China. A global outlook built on solid local roots: all products by Foglie d’Oro are manufactured at its headquarters in Rosà, near Venice, at the heart of a dynamic and creative territory, where excellence is an attitude and a lifestyle.

What value does your sector add to the interior design industry?

An awareness of environmental sustainability is increasing in the high end interior design market. The Brotto group interprets this philosophy in its most authentic sense, designing and manufacturing interiors that last and become a heritage to be handed down from generation to generation. An interior design project that uses the finest natural wood, ancient and at the same time surprisingly contemporary, is able to guarantee a unique synthesis of beauty, comfort and respect for nature. Wood is a living and versatile material and is able to find its application in environments with the most different styles – from rural chic to minimal, from classic to contemporary settings with concrete and metals.

How do you work with interior designers / How does your offering enhance an interior designer’s projects?

Foglie d’Oro offers a wide range of wooden floors, from simple planks and herringbones, to fully customizable design floors, available in many different finishes and materials. The company stands out for its ability to support specifiers and interior designers in the realization of complete and tailor- made projects. Above all, this can be done because of the complete control of the supply chain, responsibly sourced form FSC® certified forests of its own property, which allow to manage a raw material warehouse unique in the world for quantity and quality of wood.

The technical office works closely with architects and designers, following in a precise and timely way their creativity and technical requirements. A reliable and competent partner, Foglie d’Oro can support professionals working on projects from the initial brief all the way to the installation, not limiting itself to producing but also providing its own original technical and creative contribution to their clients.

What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?

In a constantly changing market for luxury wood floors, we are seeing more demand for products with a contemporary look as well high design values and craftsmanship. The combination with different materials, such as brass, steel, marble and stone is also a growing trend.

As a result of its constant research and innovation, Foglie d’Oro is always developing new products. The range of colours and finishes is continually expanding to include a wide selection of contemporary colours, from natural soft greys to sophisticated dark fumed options. Products such as Matita and Azalea incorporate elegant brass and Mable inlays, which redefine the idea of floor as another element of decoration.

Why did you want to become a sponsor for the SBID Awards?

We are glad to support the SBID Award not only because it highlights and rewards design excellence all over the world, but also because it represents an important moment for elevating public awareness of design and strengthening the connection between business and design.

Sponsorship for the SBID International Design Awards 2020 is now open.

To find out more about becoming an SBID Awards sponsor next year click here or email [email protected]

Inspiration is key. Covering hardware, lighting, flooring, textiles and wallcoverings, this month’s latest products feature designs which are deeply rooted in the inspirations in which they were derived; whether built on concepts of heritage or the final interior vision. With brassware inspired by age-old manufacturing techniques, textile designs inspired by local landscapes and flooring tiles inspired by historic designs, keep scrolling to find out more…

Armac Martin launches a new range of sophisticated and striking hardware

Taking inspiration from the history of Armac Martin, their latest fine hardware collection is thoughtfully designed and named after the founder, Harold McGrail. The hammered appearance draws on an age-old manufacturing technique that dates back to the founder’s early days in business.⁠ Handmade using the finest materials in Birmingham, England, this collection has a distinctive texture and luxurious look created by the hammering of each individual piece, adding detailed interest to your interiors with a distinctive and tactile finish.⁠
Photographed above in the timeless satin antique finish, The Harold collection comprises 6 pieces of elegant and refined solid brass cabinet hardware. Each piece of hardware is available in 21 finishes to suit any interior and comprises of knobs, t-bars, three sizes of cabinet pulls and a larger appliance pull to ensure designers have a variety of sizing combinations to suit the design process.

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Introducing the creative Heritage Collection by Karndean

Karndean announce the launch of the brand-new Heritage Collection, featuring a range of exquisite designs inspired by the architectural tiled floors of grand Victorian and Regency villas and townhouses. From striking monochrome designs to beautifully blended traditional patterns, the new range reflects both the boldness of contemporary trends and lavish Victorian living.

The Heritage Collection is designed to give the opulent look of classic geometric tiles and presents ten new colours, from timeless terracotta, crimson and gold to contemporary dove grey, taupe and baby blue, alongside two Opus designs Luna and Nero. All 12 shades are available in square, triangular and octagonal tiles which can be mixed and matched in any combination to create a truly bespoke floor. Whether used to create a statement floor across an open plan space, identify different working areas or to define walkways, the Heritage Collection offers potential to create a unique space with the architectural elegance of a historic design but with all the benefits of luxury vinyl flooring.

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Muraspec offers digital wallcovering services to create bespoke wallcoverings for interior design

Muraspec’s digital design experts will work directly with designers to create the design concept and achieve stunning results – or if you have your own designs in mind, they can help bring your idea to life from the initial concept through to final installation. With skilled CAD and studio designers, a team of digital print professionals and dedicated project managers, no outsourcing is required. All of this is supported by an experienced technical and installation team to make sure everything you need is one place.
The Felix Sea Food Grill Restaurant (pictured above) showcases the results these efforts. Looking for a background that will provide a relaxing atmosphere and also add an extra wow factor to the walls, their digitally printed bespoke wallcoverings provided just that. Muraspec print on Wallcoverings, Glass Film, Acrylic Panels and Strataflex. They can also offer bespoke manufacturing of unique materials, even with recycled content that is Euroclass fire rated CE compliant and now comes with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

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Alexander Joseph presents the Limited Edition Vortex lamp

British company, Alexander Joseph is changing the way we look at interiors with a range of completely cordless, custom-made luxury lamps created with some of the UK’s finest artists and product designers. Taking over 60 hours to hand-create, Vortex is the latest one-off lamp creation by Alexander Joseph. Steve Burns, Technical Director at Alexander Joseph was draining an oil bath when he noticed the vortex as the oil drained from the bottom, with light streaming through a window the vortex was changing colour from deep chocolate to amber. Pretty soon the inevitable happened and the design team sketched out Steve’s oil bath-inspired lamp design.
Alexander Joseph cordless lamps are a patent pending new invention with each lamp staying lit for over 52+ hours before recharging is needed.

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Product designer David Irwin designs his first range of textiles with Bute Fabrics

Award-winning product designer David Irwin, has created his first range of textiles with Bute Fabrics. The collection was inspired by the Isle of Bute and intricately celebrates the company’s heritage, its location and its people.
Bute pride themselves in their unique story: The mill was founded in 1947 by the 5th Marquess of Bute with the purpose of providing employment opportunities for service people returning home from WWII. The two new collections: Identity and Strata, are firmly rooted in the elements on which the company are founded: craftsmanship, skill, the island landscape and the local community where 46 employees reside.
This collaboration celebrates the impact of the human touch within machine production; the makers mark and the mastery of the unique processes inherent in manufacture. The compelling collection will be woven on Bute’s new Jacquard looms – the first production of Jacquard cloth in the mills 72 year history.

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