Somewhere between the mountains in Lecco and the shores of Lake Como in Italy are the headquarters and workshops of the luxury custom furniture maker Promemoria. As it unveils luxurious custom creations for the home—from decadent, ultramodern kichens to bold, outrageous kids’ furniture to outdoor patio creations—its exquisite works have found their way stateside with a new showroom in New York City.
At the helm of the 24-year-old Promemoria workshop is Romeo Sozzi, a fourth-generation cabinet maker and graduate of the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan, who brings more than 30 years of crafting experience to the table. Descending from a long line of crafts people, including ancestors who built custom carriages for 19th-century Italian nobility and who restored antique furniture, Sozzi and his three sons continue to develop the traditional craftsmanship at the center of their work. Because everything is custom-made, the company requires up to 14 months for completion and delivery.
As Sozzi provides the “creative spirit” of Promemoria, his three sons manage everything else. Stefano manages the carpenter’s shop; David, an architect, oversees planning; and Paolo manages the day-to-day business.
Most recently unveiled was Promemoria’s first kitchen collection, Angelina, described as “efficient, functional, comfortable, and precious.” Stone and bronze, as well as simple lines, help define “a kitchen which offers intimate everyday pleasure.”
New products also include an innovative collection of elegant lighting pieces. Grenoulle, a lavish table lamp available in bronze, glossy chrome, black glossy chrome, nickel matt, gold, copper, or white gold shades, is topped by a cobalt-blue Murano glass lampshade. Best of all, the base is crafted of a sophisticated yet playful frog—the brand’s logo.
Sozzi utilizes a decadent, natural palette of materials: fine mature woods; animal hides and skins; precious metals; and luxurious fabrics such as silk, cotton, velvet, wool, and cashmere.
Recent collections have included wooden writing desks; tables, mirrors and paraventi (screens, or room dividers); and pillowed chairs, beds, headboards, sofas, and armchairs. One kids’ collection featured furniture in colors like lime green and fire-engine red, and a sophisticated outdoor collection with seating uses materials like dyed ashwood, okume, bronze, and fabric.
With “sensibility and culture, constant experimentation and research,” the firm’s new showroom in New York marks a new era in company history. Italy has never been so close. promemoria.com.
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