From the moment it was launched at the New York’s Museum of Modern Art ‘Italy: The New Domestic Landscape’ exhibition, Mario Bellini’s ‘Camaleonda’ sofa for B&B Italia has been a favourite of designers and style-conscious homeowners. Original vintage pieces have always been coveted, but it was thanks to a reissue in 2020 that the modular seating once again became the darling of the design world. These homes from the ELLE Decoration archives show why this modern classic has become just as popular the second time around.
A kaleidoscopic home by Uchronia
This exuberant Parisian apartment is defined by chromatic ombre that washes over sheer curtains and walls. This fumoir is separated from the dining room by a delicate gradient sheer curtain created by artist Justin Morin, which marries with the jade-coloured crushed velvet upholstery of the sofa. Its modular elements surround a chequered ashtray by Touche-Touche while the side table is by Gaetano Pesce.
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The California home defined by 1970s style
Given this home is an ode to the radical thinking and innovative design of the 1970s, there could be no better choice of seating than this caramel-coloured ‘Camaleonda’ sofa that wraps around the living room – architects Marmol Radziner paired it with another icon of the era, a François Monnet lounge chair. Groovy, baby.
A room of perfect contrasts by Hutch architects
A former piggery in the bucolic English countryside might be an unexpected place to find this 1970s Italian classic, but the soft curves of the ‘Camaleonda’ prove to be the perfect choice for this contemporary conversion by Hutch architects. It contrasts pleasingly with the sharp lines of the metal table from Spazio Leone, while the Cappelen Dimyr rug adds another layer of texture.
The Berlin apartment with a traffic-light colour palette
Designer Kasia Kronberger used a punchy palette of red, deep yellow and green to zone this Berlin apartment. Verdant hues define the living area, from the wall-to-wall oak cabinetry stained in Farrow and Ball’s ‘Danish Lawn’ to the wall painted the same shade and the ‘Camaleonda’ sofa upholstered in green mohair.
The monochrome home in London
This Brockley home is a lesson in how to keep a monochrome scheme from becoming one note. In the living room, two ‘Camaleonda’ sofas in a dove grey surround the marble ‘Plinth’ by Norm Architects for Menu, while prints by photographer Catherine Hyland adorn the walls.
The Milanese home inspired by the greats of Italian design
‘Starting from the great masters of design, and with the support of the Luisa Delle Piane gallery, I formed a creative dialogue with the aesthetic of the building,’ says architect Luciano Giorgi of this post-war apartment in Milan. In the living room, two ‘Camaleonda’ sofas are paired with a pair of ‘Elettra’ armchairs by BBPR (the architects of the apartment block) for Arflex and a ‘Fasce Cromate’ coffee table design by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for Azucena in the 1950s.
An eclectic mix of furniture in a Melbourne home
A cream ‘Camaleonda’ holds court in the lounge area of this Melbourne home designed by Susi Leeton. The architect paired it with a ‘Repose’ sofa by Okha upholstered in white bouclé, a ‘Laurel’ side table from De La Espada and a green marble ‘Castle’ table from BZippy.
A vintage leather ‘Camaleonda’ in Copenhagen
All the art and objects in the Copenhagen home of designer Bettina Gedda tell a story. Collected over time during her travels, she has also amassed an impressive collection of iconic furniture pieces including a vintage leather ‘Camaleonda’ in a soft beige that takes pride of place in the living room of her heritage-listed home.
The stylish snug made for lounging
Part of the brilliance of Bellini’s design is that even the smallest of rooms can accommodate a piece of this 1970s classic. This cosy snug in the French holiday home of fashion insider Alix Petit is the perfect nook to stretch out on the low-slung chair and footstool.
A minimally decorated Venetian apartment
Despite the building’s medieval beginnings, architect Massimo Adario took a distinctly modern approach to designing his sparsely furnished apartment. A vintage ‘Camaleonda’ sofa, purchased from Dutch mid-century furniture dealer Morentz, and walnut side table are the main pieces in the living room, allowing the Palladiana terrazzo flooring underfoot to sing.
Curves meet concrete in this Hamburg home
Downsizing to an apartment less than a third of the size of their former bungalow, the homeowners of this Brutalist apartment had little room for error when selecting furniture for their new home. After endless discussion they chose a ‘Camaleonda’ sofa and footrest for the living area, its sumptuous form proving the perfect counterpoint to the building’s raw concrete structure.
