Dressed to impress: Blending opulence and contemporary style for an Italian-inspired interior

This is something that co-founder of Trenzseater Hamish Lewis knows all too well. Synonymous with high quality, luxurious furniture, Trenzseater is a design destination that imports and distributes an impressive portfolio of international brands.

Enter Frigerio – the latest brand to be added to the fold.

Founded in 1938 by Frederico Frigerio in the heart of Brianza, just outside of Milan, as a small workshop specialised in upholstery production, it has strong roots in the Italian design industry.

“The company now sees the second and third generations at the helm,” says Hamish. “And they combine traditional manufacturing processes along with technological advancements to personalise each piece of the collection, using the highest quality materials – from solid woods to carefully selected fabrics and leathers – all enhanced by tailoring to create a unique piece.”

With showrooms based in Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown, Trenzseater’s showrooms offer an immersive shopping experience. Wander through the curated collections and you’ll easily be able to visualise the products in your own space.

While the Frigerio brand is new to Trenzseater’s showroom floors, the sofas, armchairs, tables, chairs and bedroom furniture only complement the surrounding atmosphere.

“They specialised initially with sofas and seats. But over the years, Frigerio has enriched the collection of furnishings and accessories to offer a complete finishing proposal that ranges from the living room to the sleeping area.”

Hamish says that this is thanks to the national and international architects and designers who have collaborated with the Italian brand over the past few years.

“They’ve got a unique design flair, which offers something a bit more unique to what we have with our New Zealand made products.”

Alongside Trenzseater’s own custom-made joinery and various design pieces, bespoke brands grace the showroom floors of Trenzseater – many of them only available in New Zealand at the brand’s three locations.

This exclusivity is no different when it comes to Frigerio.

The partnership with Frigerio came about through working with its sister brand, Vittoria Frigerio. Established in 2012, the Vittoria Frigerio Collection is luxurious and has been well-researched to deliver timeless pieces – pairing elegance with contemporary living.

Of equal sophistication, Trenzseater knew that the wider Frigerio range would also make its customers happy.

“All of the products are manufactured in the same factory, with Vittoria Frigerio featuring slightly more detailed products,” says Hamish. “We had a bit of enquiry and need for the products that Frigerio offers so we decided to take them on as exclusive in New Zealand as well.”

Being rather contemporary, the characteristics of Frigerio furnishings fuse well with New Zealand architecture and their appeal is easy to see – suited well to both metropolitan or more classical environments.

The knowledge and craftsmanship that has been passed down through the generations at Frigerio’s Italian workshop means that their work stands out from others. And this is a perfect fit for Trenzseater, also being a family owned and operated business, influenced from previous generations.

“Our inspiration for creating Trenzseater came from our grandfather, whose company D.A. Lewis & Co. manufactured furniture for many large retailers throughout New Zealand for over 70 years. It was the foundation of growing up amongst a business such as his that led to our enthusiasm for furniture and interior design.”

Ben Lewis is the other half of Trenzseater and is an accomplished interior designer and furniture maker. With many accolades to his name – including being the winner of the Design & Architecture Awards’ ‘Global Interior Design Scheme’ category – Ben’s work has helped to establish Trenzseater as a leader in New Zealand’s interior design industry.

If you have an eye for quality design, find out more about Trenzseater's product range on ArchiPro.

Words by Cassie Birrer