BAXTER;
MADE IN ITALY, LOVED IN HOLLAND
When I was young, we had a huge capitonated leather Baxter sofa in our living room. So you can imagine,
my love for this brand goes way back! Also in the years thereafter I have enjoyed this Italian label
because of its tasty ads in magazines like Art & Decoration and the Dutch More Than Classic.
And in the last couple of months Baxter and I had several ‘dates’….
We saw each other event twice this spring; during Salone del Mobile of course and briefly at the showroom of Noort Interieur in Holland. After that, we ran into each other in September at Salon Residence in the stylish Breakfast Room of the Dutch interior designer Mariska Jagt. And last but not least the Amsterdam based Edha Interieur opened the Baxter Flagshipstore in October, where we met again.
Obviously, my love for Baxter was written on my forehead, because the whole team of Edha Interieur was doing its utmost that evening to arrange an exclusive appointment with Baxter in Italy. And they succeeded!
At home in Como
I was going to Milan anyway for Co van der Horst to have interviews with Laura Meroni and Molteni&C. And besides that, I would collect some writing material myself in preparation of the launching of my new platform VITA DI LUSSO by LEEM WONEN. So I could easily combine this business trip with a visit to Baxter in Como.
Thus I was directly introduced to Federica Rizzi, who is the Marketing & PR Manager of Baxter. And together we agreed that I was going to have an exclusive tour around the headquarters, including the factory. Next to that, Federica would bring me to the flagshipstore in the centre of Milan and on top of that we would end the tour with a lunch in the new opened Baxter Bar. You can imagine this sounded like a dream for someone like me! So when I saw the first Baxter sofa shining on the headquarters’ podium, that felt like ‘home coming’.
Details make the design
For years, Baxter is a leading label where handmade, luxury leather furniture is concerned. To be different from other high-end labels, they strive a high level of craftsmanship, innovation, quality and authenticity.
International top designers like Paola Piazza Navona, Piero Lissoni en Roberto Lazzeroni love to work for this beautiful, ‘award winning’ label.
Next to these ‘external’ designers, Baxter has the privilege to work with an in house Style Office with experienced employees, who design wall paper, rugs, lighting and of course furniture. In their designs, details count. That can be a certain stitch, but also the way their craftsmen work. These details eventually result in an elegant, yet raw, informal appearance.
Only the best is good enough
Baxter carefully selects its leather. Depending on the design, the material comes either from Scandinavian bulls or American cows. Subsequently the leather is prepared in their own atelier. The raw skins are being hand washed, barrel dried and colored with a natural tree substance. In that way, more than 100 different types of colors derive, from cold to warm shades and from hard to soft leather.
After this time consuming process, the clean and colored skins are transported to the factory, where they are hand cut in molds so that they can be applied to the furniture pieces. Which only occurs when the client in particular placed the order. Every furniture piece is made only in the event of an order, which makes it even more exclusive.
Baxter Cinema
Exactly two years ago Baxter opened its flagshipstore in Milan in a very extraordinary building: the former ‘President Cinema’. The Milanese used to watch their favorite movies in this city centre cinema in extremely comfortable chairs. Today, in this building, every visitor can take a look, enjoy the eye candy and try out the even more comfortable Baxter collections.
Next to the lovely furniture pieces you will also find walls covered with hand-painted wallpaper, ‘booths’ upholstered with the finest leather wherein design icons are lighted out, and a stylish bookshop where the interior books of famous architects and designers are showed as art pieces.
Also, Baxter created a true ‘home cinema’, where they show the visitor their company philosophy, the collections, the developments, the successes and lots of other items on a huge film screen. A friendly wink to history.
Baxter Bar
Next to Baxter Cinema you will find Baxter Bar, which can be described as a dandy club bar. The perfect place to meet people, relax and enjoy the best of what Italy has to offer. Including the stunning interior of course. During the day they serve a lovely lunch and attractive aperitivos. At night Baxter Bar transforms into a trendy cocktailbar, where the design district of Milan blends with worldwide working professionals.
You can imagine I enjoyed this exclusive tour to the max! When you are in Milan, I kindly suggest to step inside at the Baxter Cinema and close your city trip in style at the Baxter Bar. I am already looking forward to my next visit in April 2018!
