Born from skilled hands and guided by an unwavering passion for beauty, Macchini Arredamenti is a family story that began in Tuscany in 1964 and continues to evolve across generations.
Marilena Macchini doesn’t simply design interiors - she tells stories.
Stepping into the Macchini showroom feels like entering a world where art, craftsmanship and emotion blend seamlessly. Founded fifty years ago with her husband, the atelier has grown into a creative laboratory where each space is shaped around the soul of the person who lives in it. For Marilena, a home is never about styles or trends, but about emotion: a subtle balance of light, objects and details that can transform even the simplest space into something unforgettable.
Macchini Arredamenti is a place in constant movement. Downstairs, fabrics and furnishings welcome visitors; upstairs, ideas take form through hand-drawn sketches, carpentry and in-house upholstery, in a rare fusion of tradition and creativity. Technology takes a step back in favour of pencils, colours and skilled hands - a deliberate choice to preserve warmth and authenticity.
Today, alongside her sons Gianluca and Alberto, Marilena continues to look forward rather than back. Clients arrive from all over the world, drawn by a vision of interiors as living works of art. Because a Macchini home is never just furnished - it is deeply felt, personal, and alive.
Marilena Macchini
What started as a small artisan workshop has grown into a creative universe where upholstery, interior design, art and architecture meet, without ever losing the soul of craftsmanship. Rooted in freehand sketches, authentic materials and human connection, the Macchini philosophy transforms interiors into deeply personal narratives.
Today, with projects spanning Italy and an eye turned toward Monaco, the company carries forward a rare vision: homes not as products, but as emotions brought to life.
How did your company come to life?
“It all started in 1964 with a small craftsman: my father,” – starts Gianluca Macchini his story. – “I always say “from a small craftsman with skilled hands,” because he could do a bit of everything. He began as an upholsterer and tailor—his mother was also a seamstress—and he was an interior decorator.
My mother, on the other hand, was an interior designer who worked freehand, because back then computers didn’t exist. This trait has remained part of our identity: today we have designers and planners who use computers, but the first interaction with the client is always a freehand sketch. Sometimes it’s not perfect, but the client can already visualize the idea. Our work is all about fascination.”
How important is craftsmanship in your production process?
“It’s extremely important because we have preserved the original artisan workshop, with seamstresses, upholsterers, and carpenters. Everything remains within our workspace. When people visit, they see the seamstress sewing, the upholsterer working, the carpenter sawing and planing.
They immerse themselves in a showroom that has never been a sales space, but rather a source of inspiration for interior design. Even high-end clients love to experience the workshop instead of a traditional showroom. It’s demanding, but it pays off.”
What materials do you use most and how do you select them?
“Everything starts with fabric. We are still one of the few, at least in Tuscany, to have a fabric center for home furnishings combined with interior decoration; both hand-painted and wall coverings, including wallpaper.”
Which piece of furniture or project best represents your work philosophy?
“Always the upholstered furniture, where there’s a mix of crafted wood finished in a unique way, combined with wallpaper, hand-painted decorations, and special fabrics. A piece of furniture is never just furniture, it becomes a statement.”
You often work on custom projects: what do clients usually request?
“We started with extreme customization, where everything was designed and made to measure in upholstery and carpentry. For example, a sofa was built from the frame to the upholsterer filling it, and then the seamstress sewing it.
Nowadays, times have changed, also in terms of costs, so we collaborate with companies that provide semi-finished products. After that, we always personalize, even a standard sofa is customized with details like piping, fabrics, and lighting. For those who request extreme customization, we still do it, but at a different cost.”
How have client requests changed over time?
“There’s a strong demand for restyling, keeping the old instead of throwing it away. We work on many venues, bars, and restaurants that ask us to reuse what’s already there. We’re skilled and successful in restyling, recovering fabrics, curtains, and more. I always ask for word-of-mouth about our restyling service because it’s one of our strengths.”
What technologies have you integrated into your work?
“Definitely computers: we start with freehand sketches, but the innovation that made the difference was hiring a technician and an engineer who work with modern furniture design software. In upholstery, we also use increasingly modern fabrics with acoustic technologies. We specialize in acoustic fabrics and collaborate with leading companies like Caimi, which produces soundproof rooms.”
Macchini Design
How important is your relationship with the local area?
“Tuscany remains one of the top regions in Italy for craftsmanship, which is becoming increasingly rare. In our showroom, we attract many artists and artisans working with marble, wood, ceramics, and artistic objects, organizing events and exhibitions. We like our showroom to be a meeting place rather than a sales space. This is why it has been successful, people come in, get inspired, and then something new is born.”
Is there a project you’re particularly proud of right now or a future project?
“We are currently working on the “La Dogana” restaurant project, handling the entire design of the venue in Pisa near the Scuola Normale. We also have projects in Milan, Viareggio, and Versilia, which will lead to a franchising concept we’re very proud of. Clients trust us with turnkey solutions, which is another strength of ours: it’s cost-effective because it saves time and money.”
Why Monte-Carlo? What are you hoping to find there?
“First of all, I’m not sure if craftsmanship is truly appreciated in Tuscany, so I’d like to find out and bring it there. Our artisans have evolved, and there’s a proliferation of artists we’d love to showcase. Some artists aren’t appreciated here in Italy because there’s not much culture for modern art, but maybe in Monte Carlo, where many cultures meet, I hope to find appreciation for both craftsmanship and modern art.
I also want to promote the concept of following a private project –a villa– from A to Z, with artisanal care, starting from a single room or object that sets the tone for the entire home. Of course, I’m looking to work with open-minded people. In Italy, it’s hard to find people who truly have a sense of beauty; maybe in Monte Carlo, they still do. What do I hope to gain from Monte Carlo? Perhaps one day to move there and open my own showroom.”
What’s your unique advantage?
“Our greatest asset is Marilena Macchini, the true soul of the company. At 82 years old, she still wants to work and teach in her own way, a resource that is priceless and irreplaceable.
When Marilena shares the story of how the business evolved from the one she and her husband founded fifty years ago, she captivates you. Her smile is transparent and sincere, and her words seem to paint beautiful sensations that reach you deeply.
You realize you are in a special place, in front of someone who is teaching you something unique and precious, and who listens to you with the curiosity of a young girl.”
The Macchini showroom is a blend of art and craftsmanship, simplicity and deep culture. It’s a space that constantly surprises you, always offering something new.
As Marilena says: “When you enter a home and are asked to furnish it, it’s like telling a story. You need to find the individual in every space, their desires and personality. A project must be planned and realized by personalizing it according to the person’s world, tastes, and style.”
For Marilena, giving soul to a home doesn’t mean following a format or replicating a style. It’s about creating emotion. Sometimes, a single detail makes the difference. The home is the stage where everyone performs their life, and it should reflect the personality of those who live there.
This philosophy permeates the entire company: downstairs is the showroom and fabric area; upstairs is where ideas are born, designs are drawn, and furniture is crafted, just like decades ago.
Technology is present, but the heart of the work remains manual: sketches with markers, pencils, and real colors, very different from computer renderings.
Marilena is supported by her sons Gianluca (architect) and Alberto (surveyor), who continue the legacy of an enterprise that started with courage and creativity.
“We never stop looking for new adventures,” she says. “For us, every new home is a gift.” This passion, combined with decades of experience, makes Macchini Arredamenti an excellence in Valdinievole and beyond; a place where having a Macchini piece in your home means owning a work of art.