Inside the Spirited Milan Home of Furniture Impresario Andrea Molteni

MagazineInside the Spirited Milan Home of Furniture Impresario Andrea MolteniThe space remains true to the philosophy of his pioneering forebears

By Mayer Rus

Photography by Laura Fantacuzzi and Maxime Galati-Fourcade

April 20, 2022

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Colored concrete side tables by Vincent Van Duysen for Molteni&C on the terrace. 

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To say that Andrea Molteni was born into the design world would be an understatement. As the scion of the furniture dynasty founded in Giussano, Italy, by his grandparents Angelo and Giuseppina Molteni in 1934, Andrea has been fully immersed in the grand tradition of Italian design his entire life. Today, as the vice president and director of product development for Molteni&C | Dada, he is not only safeguarding his family’s legacy but also forging new avenues of experimentation and innovation for the company and its affiliate brands. “I was raised in the design industry, so the importance of quality is part of my DNA,” he says. “It’s more than just a question of style. I like things that are well made, products with inherent integrity and craftsmanship.”

The Milan apartment that Molteni shares with his wife, Camilla, and their young daughter, Vittoria, is a testament to the furniture executive’s sensibility and approach to design. “I saw a picture of the terrace and its rustic wood paneling, which really spoke to me,” he says, recalling his initial attraction to the residence, which had been lovingly renovated by a previous owner. “The weather in Milan has been quite mild, so we are able to enjoy the outdoor space in many seasons. This place was my family’s saving grace during the pandemic,” he adds.

A sectional and cocktail tables by Vincent Van Duysen for Molteni&C anchor the living room.

Molteni and his wife outfitted the home in a fashion consistent with the company’s historical predilection for elegant modern forms and an understated, largely monochromatic palette. Several of the pieces, including the living room sectional and cocktail tables, were designed by AD100 architect Vincent Van Duysen, the creative director for Molteni&C and Dada since 2016. “Vincent and I share a common view. There’s a subtlety in his work that I find very appealing,” Molteni states. The furnishings ensemble also encompasses other company products, past and present, including Jean Nouvel’s modular hanging bookcase system, re-editions of Gio Ponti cabinets and chairs, and a chic Rodolfo Dordoni credenza with fluted-glass doors that was shown years ago at the Salone del Mobile but is no longer in production.

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1 / 8ChevronChevronColored concrete side tables by Vincent Van Duysen for Molteni&C on the terrace. 

The tailored mix is leavened with a collection of contemporary art and vintage furnishings that have followed Molteni and his wife to many homes, among them a classic Eames lounge chair and a Tom Dixon sculptural Pylon chair of welded metal rods for Cappellini. The kitchen, which Molteni describes as a “Frankenstein composition,” has elements from the Dada kitchen line blended into the custom cookery that came with the apartment. One of the most sentimental pieces in the home is an Asmat shield that looks like a surfboard, a gift from Molteni’s mother. “There was a time in my life when I dreamed of becoming a surfer, which is not so easy when you’re based in Milan,” he says, laughing. “At the end of the day, you can’t just live in a showroom. Even for a furniture maker, a home has to reflect the full life and history of the family.”