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Boffi Turns 80, Debuts New Designs in Milan

April 23, 2014

(Photo by: Julia Walter) Boffi founder, Paolo Boffi (seated) and CEO, Roberto Gavazzi

“It’s all in the details,” says Boffi Georgetown's manager, Julia Walter. Fresh from Milan and the 2014 Euro Cucina, the International Kitchen Furniture Exhibition, this year’s celebration also marks Boffi’s 80th birthday.

For a company that literally invented the modern kitchen, to have its founder, Paolo Boffi at the weeklong celebration, was extroardinary.

(Photo by: boffi.com) 'Open' kitchen

From its inception, Boffi has focused on creativity, production and entrepreneurship, finding the best modernist designers and world-class art directors including Luigi Massoni, Antonio Citterio and Piero Lissoni.

This year, Lissoni debuted the first indoor/outdoor kitchen, aptly named ‘Open Kitchen.’ “A monobloc stainless steel kitchen, specifically engineered for outdoor use. Open is not a kitchen, it’s much more. It's a machine, for preparing dinner, having a drink, listening to music, chatting with friends, cooking a meal or enjoying a good dish."

(Photo by: boffi.com) 'Origine' by Alessandro Andreucci + Christian Hoisl, 2014

These days, in addition to innovative kitchen and bathroom design, the company designs wardrobe systems, and, for the first time, a ‘fitness center.’ The idea of ‘Origine’ is to “combine the functionality and ‘charm of Swedish wall bars with the added asset of a full length mirror.” It’s also the perfect solution for a completely integrated modern bathroom and workout area.

“Always pioneers,” Julia explains, “Boffi is keen on improving current models, with an eye to eco-sustainablity, being super innovative, and constantly introducing new finishes.

Patricia Urquiola’s ‘Salinas’ kitchen is a great example. This totally original design has a gutter-shaped element providing useful storage space and all the connectivity needed to operate appliances, making the design sutiable for placing anywhere in a room. The modular elements are available in different finishes, including Urquiola’s exclusive Nerosicilia countertop with glazed lava.

(Photo by: Julia Walter) 'Salinas' kitchen

What’s new in the bathroom? ‘DueC,’ a sink available as a single or as a double ‘C’ with an open storage unit between. ‘Eclipse’ is an elegantly designed tap system with “opening and water adjustment control swivels out of the vertical axis of the base.” Never need to worry that that the water drips again.

All 2014 Boffi designs will be arriving in Georgetown soon. In the meantime, check out the current designs, MaxAlto furnishings and Robert Shields' photographs.

(Photo by: Julia Walter) 'Salinas' by Patricia Urquioia, 2014

(Photo by: boffi.com) 'Eclipse' taps by Studiocharlie, 2014

Boffi is located at 3320 M Street. Tel: 202.337.7700

(Photo by: boffi.com) 'DueC' by Victor Vasilev, 2014

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Play Acronyms of Georgetown

April 20, 2014

The first reader who can correctly name these Georgetown businesses from their acronyms wins a Dish tote bag! Please respond in the comment section below this article but only if you have all 11 answers. And let us know how to contact you.

AGB

ARTBA

BID

BHLDN

CAG

CB2

DMV

DSW

GBA

GNC

HOK

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Bocce, Anyone?

April 14, 2014

(Photo by: Judith Beermann) Sara Mokhtari, Cecilia Browning, Bonni Braverman, Janine Schoonover and Kurt Snyder

Contributors, advertisers and friends of The Georgetown Dish gathered Monday at Pinstripes for an evening of cocktails and bocce ball. Thanks to the stellar team at Georgetown's fabulous new bowling, bocce and bistro venue, invited guests enjoyed drinks in a private room, and, keeping with the theme of the evening's sport of choice, a buffet of delicious Italian-American cuisine.

(Photo by: Judith Beermann) Virginia, Goode, Lauren Hakim, Channing Gibb, Kimberly Casey, Farleigh Jewett

Appetizers included Angus beef sliders, artichoke bruschetta, and a variety of salads.

Desserts were served at courtside where guests were treated to a lesson in how to play bocce, and the group discovered just how competitive their teammates could be. Within minutes, the tape measures were out at all four courts.

Georgetown leaders Janine Schoonver and Jennifer Altemus, mingled with business owners Sara Mohktari and Kurt Snyder of Tari DC, POSTES handbag designer Claudine Sorel, and interior decorator Bonni Braverman.

The Washington Fine Properties team was represented by Kimberly Casey, Farleigh Jewett, Lauren Hakim, Channing Gibb and Virginia Goode. House of Sweden's Cecilia Browning chatted with economist Mark Bloomfield and Dish contributors Janet Staihar, Constance Chatfield-Taylor, Katherine Tallmadge, Oliver Devine and Don Alloway.