THE CONCEPT: The doucine, a moulding formed from two arcs of a circle, at once concave and convex, is at the heart of the originality and technical complexity which gives this range its uniqueness. It procures a harmonious wave-like shape or a natural undulation which, with its subtle flaring, gives the effect of breaking up a structure which would otherwise be rectilinear and impersonal. Thus this range proudly yet gently asserts its personality through a play on multiple customizations, most notably of the top, which is offered in ceramic stoneware or verde marble.
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: The Utopia collection comprises 4 pieces : the 3-door sideboard, the 4-door sideboard, the occasional unit, and the low table. The fronts of each piece have the doucine detailing, tapered towards the top and broader at the bottom. This feature slightly reduces the width of the units at the top, thus giving them their elegance and singularity. Another feature is the working of the front corners, with a hollow joint which appears to be hewn from the body of the unit. This effect is further accentuated by the combination of the two veneers, the dark-stained walnut contrasting strongly with the natural varnished cherry. This cherry is continued on the 4 door edges and the edges of the unit. The top is set back from the doors and sides, creating a hollow section which lends dynamism and exacerbates the tension created by the upper edges. This kind of integral top draws the gaze towards the noble surface of the Emperador ceramic stoneware or verde marble. One discovers the thickness of each of these tops – 6 mm for the ceramic stoneware and 20 mm for the marble – when opening the doors. One will also note that the rear is finished with just as much care as the rest, rising a few centimetres above the top and veneered vertically to finish. The surprise comes on opening the doors since this back panel is veneered right to the bottom, which is very unusual and an unexpected, undeniable interior refinement, like an extravagant lining of a sober-looking jacket. The fantasy rests in the details. The interior is finished in chocolat lacquer, in perfect harmony with the external veneer finish. If you are looking to achieve an even more deliberate « wow effect », there is the optional illumination for the right-hand side of the occasional unit, which illuminates the whole interior from top to bottom. This is triggered by a door sensor and its smoked grey diffuser filters the light to avoid glare whilst still providing plenty of light. The miniature 2nd generation LED’s make this possible. The doors are heavy and qualitative, robust in appearance and quite monumental. That said, they have a pleasant movement thanks to their numerous high-quality hinges and are damped on closing to avoid any undue noise. The 3-door sideboard boasts one single and one double space within to accommodate large trays. The 4-door version has two double spaces. Sideboards have 1 interior shelf ; the occasional unit has 3 shelves.