The art of staying in
The art of staying in
Winter is the season for making the home feel good, and this winter, staying in is not the backup plan; it is the main event.
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Journal
Bonaldo: 90 years: of Italian design, intuition and craft
Bonaldo is one of those rare design houses where history still feels alive in the furniture.
Founded on craftsmanship, shaped by material knowledge and refined through decades of collaboration, the Italian brand has grown from a specialist metalworking business into an international name in contemporary furniture. Its collections span dining, living, bedroom, lighting and accessories, yet there is a clear thread running through them all: expressive form, technical precision and a deep understanding of how people live.
At Bradfords, we are proud to offer Bonaldo because it reflects the kind of design we believe in. Beautifully made, carefully considered and full of character.
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1936
Bonaldo’s story begins with Giovanni Vittorio Bonaldo, a skilled blacksmith whose knowledge of metal, technique and handcraft laid the foundation for the company’s future. This early understanding of material is still felt in Bonaldo’s designs today. Whether seen in the structure of a table base, the line of a chair or the detail of a bed, there is a strong sense of technical confidence behind every piece. -
1971
In 1971, Bonaldo presented at Salone del Mobile for the first time, marking an important moment in the brand’s evolution. The company introduced its first collection of folding beds and bases, responding to changing lifestyles and new ways of living. This was also the point where Bonaldo began moving from artisanal production into a more industrial design future, without losing the craft and intuition that defined its beginnings. -
1996
In 1996, the Più folding chair, designed by Chiaramonte and Marin, won the Young & Design Award. This moment helped cement Bonaldo’s place within the international design landscape. It also reflected something the brand continues to do well: taking practical furniture and giving it originality, elegance and personality. -
2009
In 2009, Bonaldo and designer Alain Gilles introduced Big Table, one of the brand’s most recognised designs and winner of the Good Design Award 2009. With its intersecting steel legs and bold architectural base, Big Table captures the spirit of Bonaldo beautifully. It is technical and expressive, strong and dynamic, practical and full of movement. More than a dining table, it became a defining piece in Bonaldo’s story, celebrated for the way it brings structure, energy and direction to a room. -
2011
In 2011, Bonaldo opened its company showroom in Padua, designed by Mauro Lipparini. Created as both an exhibition space and a place for presentations and workshops, the 6000m2 showroom brought together icons of the past and new collections in a setting that reflected the full character of the brand. For Bonaldo, this was more than a showroom. It was a physical expression of its design world -
2020
By 2020, Bonaldo’s international presence had continued to grow, with flagship stores, studios, spaces and retailers around the world. This global expansion reflects the broad appeal of the brand. Bonaldo designs are unmistakably Italian, yet they work beautifully across different homes, climates and ways of living, including here in New Zealand. -
2026
From Shenzhen to New York, Bonaldo’s focus on finding harmony between furnishing objects and lived spaces is felt across the globe. Now, with the opening of the Bonaldo Flagship Store Milano, the brand’s design philosophy has a new home, one where furniture is not simply displayed, but experienced as part of a complete and considered interior world.
Why Bonaldo belongs in the modern home
Bonaldo’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to hold two ideas at once: imagination and restraint, statement and subtlety, design presence and everyday livability.
Each piece brings a clear sense of form, texture and personality into the home, but never at the expense of comfort. These are designs made to be lived with, layered around and enjoyed over time.
For Bradfords, Bonaldo represents the best of contemporary Italian design. Beautifully crafted, thoughtfully proportioned and full of character, it offers furniture that feels expressive without overwhelming the spaces it belongs to. From sculptural dining tables and softly upholstered beds to refined chairs and lighting with quiet impact, Bonaldo brings depth, intention and lasting beauty into the home.
Explore our Bonaldo collection online or visit us in-store at 1 Rockfield Road, Greenlane, Auckland.
