Minotti anchors cross-cultural interiors dialogue in Bengaluru

What really connects Indian homes with Italian ones? While India and Italy share a long and storied history of craftsmanship in handmade sculpture and furniture, Indians today import Italian furniture for its impeccable detail, material honesty, measured maximalism and an astute design language.

Susanna Minotti is an architect, head of interior design, Minotti S.p.A, and third generation of the Minotti family, from Meda, Italy. She was in Bengaluru last week (February 11) to celebrate the first anniversary of the brand’s flagship store in the city, in collaboration with Amber Home Interiors, headed by Bhashar and Sneha Sarda. For her, the two countries are rooted in family. “It’s not the aesthetic, but what the home represents, the warmth and comfort of family. And food, that’s very important to both Indians and Italians,” Susanna tells me.

Susanna Minotti

For three generations, since Alberto Minotti founded the studio in 1948, Minotti has been crafting luxurious furniture, with 80 experience centres across the globe. “These are not showrooms, and we are not selling furniture. We are offering a dream and an experience,” observes Alessandro Minotti, general manager, Minotti S.p.A, and third-generation Minotti, present at the anniversary.

Embracing pastels, Brazilian curves

Choosing colours and designing for India has been a unique experience.

Alessandro Minotti

While Indian maximalism is making a comeback in interior spaces, choosing to stick with the Italian penchant for pastels has proven to be an unusual but winning choice.

Bhaskar and Sneha Sarda, co-founders of Amber Home Interiors.

Spread over three levels, the space in HSR Layout was conceived by Minotti Studio over video calls. Each floor at the Minotti experience centre is carefully calibrated. Each piece can be customised, from material to contrast detailing. The Yves bedroom suite is particularly impressive. “Designed by Milan-based Hannes Peer, this is an homage to Yves Saint Laurent, so the seams on the headboard, and bench bear a resemblance to a collection by the couture designer,” explains Alessandro.

From a sartorial statement to a more organic one, the Bézier seating system designed by Brazilian designer Marcio Kogan (founder, Studio MK27) is a true romance of mathematics and art. It is inspired by the legacy of Pierre Bézier, whose parametric curve (used in CAD software) celebrates the fluidity of organic shapes. The collection pays tribute to Brazilian modernism with all its elements embracing curves that fit into each other seamlessly, from the sofas to the low coffee tables that resemble smooth pebbles. The Nico table, on this level, in green textured marble, rests on a unique interlocking base, in marble or wood, holding up the round, oval, rectangular or hexagonal top with soft edges.

A view of Minotti store in Bengaluru.

Lunar influence

The second floor, with its generous skylights and ivory ceiling, illuminates the living and dining spaces it showcases.

Here, it’s the 1970s-inspired Super Moon collection, designed by Giampiero Tagliaferri, with its soft contours, luscious upholstery and an air of playfulness, that steals the show. The shape of the armrests, seat cushions and marble tops evoke a lunar leitmotif, as the upholstered base rests on a floating metal frame.

Lego solutions

The terrace comes alive with the outdoor collection where Minotti imagines the garden in tropical splendour. The Quadrado collection, by Marcio Kogan, is inspired by the duckboard used in the yachting industry, with suspended square platforms, and any number of combinations made possible with an interlocking effect. “A lot of our furniture can be thought of as Legos, where you can keep adding elements to create new arrangements,” states Susanna. For the Minotti family, while their business has expanded impressively across the globe, their team of around 300 in Meda, Italy, still mostly deals with local vendors, for their leather, stone and ashwood components. They are, however, curious about materials from overseas.

Yves bedroom

“We are open to looking at new materials like teak for outdoors, that can be best sourced in Asia. We also see the size of homes changing — some Indian living rooms can accommodate our large sectionals while some choose the smaller seats. For us, the most important design factor is versatility,” concludes Susanna, as the family prepares for their showcase at the Salone del Mobile in Milan in April.

Centrepieces start at ₹4 lakh, armchairs from ₹5 lakh, seating systems are upwards of ₹18 lakh.

The freelance writer is based in Chennai.

Published – February 20, 2026 06:21 pm IST