Visit Visionnaire’s Luxe Showroom In London’s Design District

Founded in 2004, Visionnaire’s roots actually date back to 1959, when Carlo, Pompeo, and Vittorio Cavalli established IPE, producing automotive upholstery in Bologna, Italy. Two years later, the company’s first furnishing, Mercury, was unveiled at the inaugural Salone del Mobile. The armchair, based on a sketch by sculptor Rito Valla, was made of expanded polyurethane, a material rarely used in furniture at the time. Today, you can see (and sit on) Mercury at the company’s new Italian-luxe showroom in London’s Knightsbridge design district, a space that joins existing locations in Milan, Dubai, Miami, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Two of the five floors are open at present, with more to come, all anchored by a sculptural staircase, curved armchairs by Alessandro La Spada, and organically shaped wool-silk rugs. Other hits from the brand are also on view, such as Studiopepe’s Shibari chair based on Japanese rope binding.