The Bold & The Beautiful | Bonaldo through the lens of Leonardo Grillo

A loyal proponent for the culture of furniture, Bonaldo remains an esteemed trendsetter through instinct and intuition, prioritising timeless originality above all else, and narrating its journey with the utmost passion and know-how is Leonardo Grillo, Export Manager of the Asia Pacific Region.

Words by Monisha Sivanesan | Images courtesy of Bonaldo

Once upon a time, in 1936 to be exact, blacksmith Giovanni Vittorio Bonaldo learnt everything one needed to know about metal and began producing iron bedsteads, meshes and mattresses. Unbeknownst to him, he had planted the seeds for what would become a world-renowned furniture brand that still stands proud today. While the formative years were educational in many ways, the company only really saw itself take off in the 90s, when it leaped headfirst into its metamorphic, design-orientated era by partnering with notable industry names such as Chiaramonte and Marin, who were then responsible for the resulting Young & Design Award-winning Più folding chair. In the years to come, the design roster grew to include other Italians like Mauro Lipparini, Carlo Bartoli and Matteo Nunziati as well as internationals such as Alain Gilles from Belgium, Fabrice Berrux from France and Karim Rashid from Egypt-Canada.

What arose from the significance placed on quality-backed designs was a collective desire to go against fleeting trends and be a trendsetter instead through instinct and intuition, creating something unique, original and timeless in order to give life to spaces and to those within them. And what hails from this desire is a series of immersive product collections meant for dining, living and sleeping areas, not forgetting accessories and lighting too. Drawing from its rich Italian heritage, Bonaldo always tries to attain a perfect mix of form and function because when it comes to product design, beauty must be accompanied by comfort, purpose and longevity in mind.

“When we design something, we strive to make it everlasting in every sense of the word. We believe that good design means that the product is not only beautiful today, but also beautiful in 10 years down the line,” remarks Leonardo Grillo, the company’s export manager of the Asia Pacific region, who brought up the beloved Squaring bed that was introduced in 2005 as an example.

If one were to ask for his suggestion when it comes to sampling a nibble of the comprehensive Bonaldo world, Leonardo replies, “It’s tough to choose, but I can tell you for certain that we would like everyone to have a Bonaldo table at home, particularly a dining table.” Surpassing the fact that each and every one possesses a bold identity and a distinctive charm, the chosen piece ultimately becomes the centrepoint of the heart of the home, where loved ones congregate around to confab and connect. He agrees wholeheartedly that the dining room is the most important room in the home, and that the dining table is the most important item in it, recalling how his own quietly draws everyone together and strengthens the bond between them like a magnet.

Ergo, it’s no wonder that the nonconformist Big Table designed by Alain Gilles, and released back in 2009, is his favourite piece from the catalogue, having fallen in love with it years before even joining the company. What makes it so special in his eyes, you ask? Its revolutionary base consists of laser-cut steel legs that intersect and overlap for a dynamic interplay of balance, the perception of which alters according to the observer’s point of view.

Launched during Salone del Mobile Milano 2024, the expansive Evolutionary collection found itself in the company of great success. According to Leonardo, some of the well-received standouts include the Louvre table by Alain Gilles, the Boolean sofa by Giuseppe Viganò and the Flatiron executive desk by Mauro Lipparini. Whether it’s referencing popular visuals like the grand entrance to an ancient Roman temple or one of New York’s most famous historical landmarks, or simply wanting to challenge the traditional canons of contemporary design, a strong sense of dynamism and a theatrical presence appear to be the central themes that link them all together—take note, you can get a taste of all these pieces and more at Forest Furniture, the brand’s exclusive retailer in Malaysia.

Although different designers are always involved in a singular collection, all the products created adhere to the same underlying blueprint, harmonising well with each other like a well-composed symphony. And it’s all thanks to third-generation CEO Alberto Bonaldo who oversees and coordinates the design team, and is ultimately responsible for that very blueprint a.k.a. the brand’s unique style. For that reason, Leonardo designates him as his personal favourite designer from the Bonaldo legacy.

Having already jump-started on the product development for the upcoming collection that’ll be released next year, he teases two new collaborations with some of Italy’s finest designers: one with Massimo Castagna, and another with Gabriele and Oscar Buratti. The ambitious agenda for 2025 also includes the highly anticipated opening of the first monobrand store in Milan, with both floors to be designed by Castagna—signalling yet another precious milestone for Bonaldo. As for the brand’s 90th anniversary that’ll take place in a couple of years, the company may or may not have already gotten the creative wheels turning for something special, to which he looks forward to seeing it all materialise when the time comes. Coming back to the present, Leonardo signs off with a final message to audiences near and far: “At Bonaldo, we aspire to create something groundbreaking, something truly different in concept and style. For that reason, we hope that people will always look for originality, and appreciate it too.”

BONALDO | www.bonaldo.com

Available at
FOREST FURNITURE | www.forestfurniture.com.my