Baxter, the Alchemists of Italian Design.

So Good Armchair by Studiopepe for Baxter.

Paola Navone, seated on her Chester Moon Sofa for Baxter.

Tactile Sofa.

Lagos Table.

Today, we peek inside Baxter’s magical world of leather alchemy. It all began in a modest Italian tannery in the 90s, where Luigi Bestetti and his nephew Paolo discovered a leather considered too thick for furniture. This “impossible” leather became the foundation for their first design, the Alfred sofa—a Chester-style piece that transformed this supposed flaw into its defining characteristic. “The tannery turns into an alchemist’s lab,” Luigi Bestetti explains. “You try, you experiment, sometimes you are wrong, but then you start again.”

This philosophy of fearless experimentation has become the cornerstone of Baxter’s identity, attracting some of the most innovative minds in contemporary design to their workshop. The brand’s collaborative approach has drawn an impressive roster of design talent. Paola Navone, whose career spans work with legends like Ettore Sottsass and Alessandro Mendini, brings her unconventional perspective to the brand. “When I met Baxter many years ago, I didn’t like the items they carried out,” she candidly shares, “but I immediately fell in love with that energy inside the company and reflected in the manufacture of leather. Leather with natural dyes and therefore leather in all its imperfections. It was really an extraordinary savoir-faire.”

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This synthesis of innovative spirit and material mastery is evident throughout their current collection. The Miami Soft sofa exemplifies this approach with its ingenious roller backrests, offering unprecedented flexibility in configuration while maintaining the supreme comfort Baxter is known for. The leather treatment here showcases their expertise—soft enough to convert even the most steadfast leather sceptics.

Studiopepe, founded by Chiara Di Pinto and Arianna Lelli Mami, brings their unique design vocabulary to pieces like the So Good armchair. Their approach centres on what they describe as “the observation of nature and its manifestations,” resulting in designs that balance sculptural chrome frames with cloud-like leather cushions. Their Lazy Bones armchair, completely wrapped in leather, demonstrates a masterful understanding of form and material that feels both timeless and contemporary.

Behind each piece stands a team of over 100 artisans, designers, and tanners—“a large and not-so-ordinary family” as they call themselves. This collaborative spirit shows in designs like the relaxed Marilyn and Greta chairs by Draga & Aurel and the archipelago-inspired Aegates tables, each piece a perfect synthesis of tradition and innovation.

Experiencing these pieces in person is a revelation. Each one showcases Baxter’s extraordinary attention to detail and material innovation in a way that photos can’t capture. The way the leather catches the light, the subtle variations in texture, the overall presence they command in a space—it’s all pure magic. The best part? These beautiful pieces are available exclusively at Space Furniture locations across Australia, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur.

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Chiara Di Pinto and Arianna Lelli Mami of Studiopepe.

Jove Coffee Table by Draga & Aurel.

Greta Special Edition Printed.

[Images courtesy of Baxter and Space Furniture.]