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Written by Sherry Moeller

Boffi Celebrates its 80th Anniversary in Georgetown Showroom

 The Boffi Team: Boffi Georgetown Showroom Manager Julia Walter, Boffi Spa CEO Roberto Gavazzi, Boffi USA-President Lilian Leong, Boffi Georgetown Senior Designer Alberto DeMarco, and Boffi USA EVP Davide Cremese

The Boffi Team: Boffi Georgetown Showroom Manager Julia Walter, Boffi Spa CEO Roberto Gavazzi, Boffi USA-President Lilian Leong, Boffi Georgetown Senior Designer Alberto DeMarco, and Boffi USA EVP Davide Cremese

Boffi Spa CEO Roberto Gavazzi and Boffi USA-President Lilian Leong joined Boffi Georgetown Showroom Manager Julia Walter and Senior Designer Alberto DeMarco, along with more than 100 guests including Washington, DC’s top architectsto celebrate Boffi’s 80th Anniversary in the Boffi Georgetown showroom on Thursday, November 13, sponsored by Miele. The installation of new kitchen, bathroom, wardrobe and accessory lines in the Cady’s Alley showroom were among the highlights of the evening event where Gavazzi shared insight into Boffi’s 80 years of success as well as his 25 years with the high-end Italian kitchen and bathroom company, which is now in 55 countries.

“Boffi is represented in the best cities around the world,” says Boffi Spa CEO Roberto Gavazzi, “and is clearly recognizable.” While kitchens have been the mainstay of the company for 80 years, with 70 percent of sales from kitchens, bathrooms are now one third of Boffi’s business and growing. “We create well-coordinated baths, Boffi-style bathrooms… giving quality of life to daily tasks,” the CEO adds.
Miele USA's Senior Territory Manager Kelly Pappano, Boffi Georgetown Showroom Manager Julia Walter, and Boffi USA-President Lilian Leong

Miele USA’s Senior Territory Manager Kelly Pappano, Boffi Georgetown Showroom Manager Julia Walter, and Boffi USA-President Lilian Leong

“We invest in finding finishes, such as woods, that you cannot find anywhere else… especially in the US where there is more passion for wood and stone,” Gavazzi says. While the various cities present different markets in terms of taste, Boffi has a clear style and technical expertise that is unmistakeable and much appreciated worldwide. “People who travel a lot share the same pleasures, they go to the best designed hotels and restaurants and the newest museums… they have the same level of taste and hire architects who understand the best design,” Gavazzi says. Boffi offers highly customized kitchens and bathrooms for refined tastes, and has introduced wardrobe systems and accessories to complement the high level of designs.
N2 Publishing's Sarah Taylor, Range and Reef's Jim Holderbaum, and DC Living Real Estate's Debbie and Skip Singleton

N2 Publishing’s Sarah Taylor, Range and Reef’s Jim Holderbaum, and DC Living Real Estate’s Debbie and Skip Singleton

Our first showroom in the US opened in New York City, in the Soho area, in 2000,” says Lilian Leong, Boffi USA-President. “Since then, we’ve opened in Los Angeles, and then DC. Now, we’re also in Chicago. Boffi Georgetown is one of the most beautiful showrooms for us. Not only is its location beautiful, in the hub of design and fashion, its interior affords us the space to showcase our products without reserve.”
Charlie Mountain, Boffi Georgetown Showroom Manager Julia Walter, Maxalto Manager Brian Fell, and Donghia Showroom Manager Yoshiko Monterio

Charlie Mountain, Boffi Georgetown Showroom Manager Julia Walter, Maxalto Manager Brian Fell, and Donghia Showroom Manager Yoshiko Monterio

“I am very excited to introduce the newest finishes and Boffi novelties in the remodeled showroom,” says Julia Walter, Boffi Georgetown Showroom Manager. “The Xila kitchen in the front window stands out through unique fronts in Core Walnut in 3D effect with a beautiful Black cosmic granite countertop. Boffi’s stone selection is focused on showing the characteristics of the natural stone with lots of movement in the granite. The extended peninsula table in ‘metals’ finish is showing different ways of interpreting a seating area on a kitchen island. Accentuated by the new ‘Gio’ lights, the extended seating area is connected to the island.”
 
Leong adds that the team of trained architects in DC, including Walter, assist Boffi clients in figuring out the best solutions for their residences “because we believe in not only aesthetics, but also in utilitarian purposes. We invite everyone to come to our Georgetown showroom to see, feel, touch and handle our products. It’s a remarkable experience.”
The remodeled Boffi Georgetown showroom featuring the new Xila kitchen among the Boffi kitchens, baths and wardrobe systems, as well as Maxalto furnishings.

The remodeled Boffi Georgetown showroom featuring the new Xila kitchen among the Boffi kitchens, baths and wardrobe systems, as well as Maxalto furnishings.

For a company to be in business for 80 years, the brand must have value and continue to evolve. “Boffi will continue to change… especially in the way we structure shops in the future,” Gavazzi says. There will be more videos and products to touch and see with emphasis on the people, both the customers and the Boffi staff. “When visitors enter a Boffi showroom, they might be surprised by the products, but also by the charm and character of the space.” Gavazzi adds. “But we have to sell more than products; we have to create emotions in a space.” With a long term investment like a kitchen, there’s little room for mistakes. “You have to like the showroom and the person in front of you,” says Gavazzi, who is personally involved in the hiring of Boffi staff and oversees their training.
“Always striving to be the best” is how Gavazzi sees the company staying in business for the next 80 years.
For more information, go to www.boffigeorgetown.com or contact Sherry Moeller, MoKi Media, at sherry.moeller@mokimedia.com or 301.807.0910.
Photos by Kaz Sasahara

Karla Colletto X Design Army Pool Party August 22

On Friday, August 22, Karla Colletto X Design Army held an evening pool party at Capitol Skyline Hotel to celebrate the collaboration of their swimwear collection, Swim At Your Own Risk, a capsule collection designed by Karla Colletto and Design Army’s Chief Creative Officer Pum Lefebure.

Design Army Team poses with T.H.E. models in Swim At Your Own Risk collection

Design Army Team poses with T.H.E. models in Swim At Your Own Risk collection
Photos by Kate Warren

Design Army's Pum Lefebure & Karla Colletto's Kim Thornton pose with the T.H.E. models

Design Army’s Pum Lefebure & Karla Colletto’s Kim Thornton pose with the T.H.E. models

Models from T.H.E. Artist Agency, who posed on platforms by Amaryllis, Swim At Your Own Risk custom cookies by Occasions Catering, clever image taking by Onomonomedia, and inflatable alligators created a festive atmosphere for the 280 guests, who also enjoyed specialty cocktails, music from U.S. Royalty’s Paul Thornley, and a screening of Jaws.

T.H.E. models pose on Swim At Your Own Risk platforms

T.H.E. models pose on Swim At Your Own Risk platforms

The Swim At Your Own Risk five-piece collection debuted in Miami this summer to rave reviews. “It has an athletic, sporty feel, but it’s also very sexy,” Lefebure says. “It has an ageless quality but also makes a statement.” The idea of Swim At Your Own Risk has an attitude and humor to it, which Karla Colletto X Design Army captured so well at the pool party.

Pum Lefebure with Guest of a Guest's Morgan Evans

Pum Lefebure with Guest of a Guest’s Morgan Evans
Photo Courtesy Guest of a Guest

Guests for the swimwear’s DC launch event included City Center’s Timothy Lowery, T.H.E. Artist Agency’s Lynda Erkiletian, ArtJamz’s Michael Clements and Anchyi Wei, and the entire Design Army team including Co-Founder and CEO Jake Lefebure and Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Pum Lefebure.

Featured photo courtesy of Guest of a Guest.

T.H.E. models enjoying Occasion Catering custom cookies

T.H.E. models enjoying Occasions Catering custom cookies

T.H.E. models pose on custom platforms

T.H.E. models pose on custom platforms

T.H.E. models making a splash

T.H.E. models making a splash

View from the DJ booth at the Capitol Skyline Hotel

View from the DJ booth at the Capitol Skyline Hotel

Pum Lefebure poses in the photo booth with T.H.E. models

Pum Lefebure poses in the photo booth with T.H.E. models

 

Boffi-Maxalto create Albero di Natale, Italian for Christmas tree, at this year’s Georgetown Jingle

Julia Walter of Boffi and Brian Fell of Maxalto designed an Italian-themed tree that includes a Tuscany Villa getaway and gift certificates from local Italian restaurants and beauty salon.

Spectacular holiday trees and décor are now on display in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel in anticipation of the 8th Annual Georgetown Jingle held this Sunday, December 15th. The event benefits pediatric programs at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Among the 18 designers this year are Julia Walter of Boffi and Brian Fell of Maxalto, who teamed up to create the Italian-themed tree for this year’s Georgetown Jingle. The two Italian firms share the Boffi-Maxalto showroom on M Street in Georgetown with showroom managers Walter and Fell collaborating onAlbero di Natale, Italian for Christmas tree.

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