Piero Lissoni Times Two

Italy’s master of elegant minimalism has brought his distinctive touch to two new showrooms in the West L.A. design district. For Graye (316 S. Robertson Blvd.) Piero Lissoni stripped a warehouse to create a white void in which to display a few carefully selected pieces that he and others designed for Living Divani and Porro. They are all covetable, but my favorite was Balancing Boxes, a side table cum storage unit of tilted white-lacquered steel boxes. It was designed by Front, a trio of Danish women.

Graye

Around the corner is the new Boffi showroom, which occupies the former Modern Living store (8775 Beverly Blvd.). Lissoni installed the model kitchens and bathrooms complementing their sleekness with vintage wood boards and assorted bric-a-brac. In a competitive market, innovation is essential and Boffi have fused the best of Italian craft (exquisitely detailed acacia cabinetry) and German engineering (integrated ovens and appliances by Gaggenau). It’s a winning combination; too bad L.A.’s super rich homeowners rarely put these kitchens to practical use.

Boffi/photo by Benny Chan

Graye, 316 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, (310) 385-7872

Boffi, 8775 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, (310) 652-5500