Inside Ciao Cucine: How Italian Design Transforms Everyday Living

From the outset of Ciao Cucine, founders Logan Lim and Bryan Yong had a clear vision of bringing Italy’s finest designs under one roof, offering Malaysian homeowners direct access to brands the founders long admired. “There are many great brands around the world, but, with these four that we feature, we feel they offer something different compared to what is already available in the local market,” says Yong. Besides their products, each brand also carries a strong identity with beliefs that the founders deeply respect.

Now that Ciao Cucine has officially opened its doors in Bangsar, Lim describes feeling both relieved and grateful after spending years bringing this project to life. “I’m very happy to see our friends from overseas and supporters show up,” he shares.

Heart of The Home

Designed by Matthew Lim of Matthew Lim Associates, the showroom feels less like a retail store and more like a gallery of fully realised living environments. The journey through Ciao Cucine begins with Valcucine, an ultra-premium kitchen manufacturer, where the brand’s export sales director Ivan Ceschiutti demonstrates the Logica Celata, a transformable kitchen that blends into its surroundings when closed. It joins the Logica family as its newest member, continuing its considered application of ergonomics to enhance functionality. “A kitchen that is exceptional should be ergonomically precise, while also reflecting the desires of its users,” explains Ceschiutti.

Further along the kitchen spaces, the discovery continues with Scavolini, a brand celebrated as ‘the kitchen most loved by Italians.’ “Once you can satisfy the Italians with both kitchen and food, you are ready to satisfy the world,” quips Andrea Andreani, export area manager of Scavolini. Among more than 40 models in its range, the showroom showcases one of its most advanced culinary systems, Mia, built in collaboration with Italian chef Carlo Cracco and designed for those who cook with the same passion and mindset.

Music is Liquid Architecture

The space shifts to the K-studio, a dedicated theatre room demonstrating how sound shapes the experience of an environment. Complete with a surround sound setup, the brand features speakers as slim as an inch, making them almost impossible to point out. Known for its minimal visual footprint, K-Array presents products that may be discreet in form but make their presence felt through their acoustic performance. “When sound is properly designed with the right acoustics and quality, it enhances a person’s well-being,” explains Sidarth Dham, sales manager of K-Array. “In turn, they are more likely to remember the space.”

Restore and Rejuvenate

From the social setting of the kitchen and theatre room, the journey finally settles into the more intimate realm of Gessi’s bathroom furnishings. “At the heart of our work is the idea that water deserves the same care, attention, and design as any other element of the home,” states Matheus Dalberto Finato, sales and project manager of Gessi. With this idea, the Goccia collection draws inspiration from the form of a water droplet, elegantly designed to bring a sense of calm and fluidity to the bathroom space. “For us, longevity is not simply about living longer, but about enhancing the quality of everyday life through experiences that nurture both body and mind.” 

Living In

Apart from the displays, Ciao Cucine is curated as an immersive space, where the brands are integrated into the environment, so visitors can become part of the experience. K-Array’s Kgear ceiling speakers are embedded throughout, Gessi’s Inverso collection frames the showroom’s own bathroom space, while Valcucine’s minimalist Forma Mentis system takes centre stage on the top floor, functioning as a live kitchen for hosting private dining events, culinary masterclasses, and live cooking demonstrations.

Ciao Cucine