Meet Brian Pignanelli of Rifugio Modern in Rino

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Pignanelli.

Brian, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m a practiced and licensed Architect who some years ago got distracted by Italian design while in New York. I had these sophisticated clients who seemed to continually look to Italy for their design. By looking in the same direction as they did, my eyes were opened to a world of design that at the time was quite foreign to me. I fell head over heels. My first love was Arclinea, which happened to be one of the most elegant and sought custom Italian kitchen brands in the world. Then the closets and doors came. First in a simple way and eventually in the form of Rimadesio, which showed itself to be the most sophisticated closet brand I’d ever seen. After that, it was a whirlwind of furniture like nothing I’d ever experienced. The leathers of Baxter and monotones and forms of Molteni made me swoon. Before long I was immersed in this world of Italian design.

I took a short hiatus while the global economy reset and used the opportunity to add an MBA to my quiver. Studying at CU also gave me a great excuse to return to Colorado after too long an absence. Then, with Denver on the rise, I created Rifugio Modern as a place where I could curate the loves that I’d carried in my heart for so many years. It’s been a journey, sometimes uphill, but always driven by a singular vision to share my love of the pinnacle of Italian design with Colorado. Today I feel settled and at peace and as though I’m now able to mindfully enjoy the fruits of those labors. There is no greater reward than to help a designer or homeowner achieve their specific vision for their space.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Ha! The smooth roads are no fun which is why I drive a not fancy 4×4 SUV:) There are so many things that I could have done better, more efficiently, smarter . . . but then what would I have learned? I’m a builder as well as an Architect and I like to get my hands dirty. I always struggled to get out of the field and stay in the studio but I also truly believe that I can design at the levels that I work because I also build at those levels. I’ve installed nearly everything I have ever designed and that privilege makes me intimately familiar with what I design. I can’t imagine the challenges of designing without also building.

Real estate, and my passion for creating value, is something that I have struggled with. Some would say that Denver property values have grown too quickly and that design has been sacrificed as budgets must be allotted toward land and construction costs. This makes me sad even though I understand that its just part of the growth cycle. Rents are a burden in any retail business and overhead is always a challenge. Some get around this with real estate partnerships but partnerships don’t always work out, especially in the design business. Sometimes relationships take as long to unwind as they did to build, but they are an integral part of life and so part of the journey. I’ve had different partners at different times and I appreciate every single person I have had the privilege to work with. I have learned unique things from each.

Rifugio Modern – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Rifugio is an Italian-focused, multi-brand studio, with two Denver locations. Our team curates a diverse product offering, ranging from some of the most iconic design objects to the latest design innovations. In our showrooms, kitchens and closets can be experienced alongside furnishings and lighting, offering comprehensive presentations and experiences to our clientele.

Our approach is as straightforward as our values. From our pallet of rigorously selected furniture and casework, we propose comprehensive design solutions that help our customers to build successful projects, residential and commercial. We support those projects from conception through completion with design, product specification, custom builds and installation.

Our Brand offerings can be modern, contemporary, minimal, eclectic, or transitional. Rifugio Modern offers the best Italy has every created. Rifugio Custom offers equivalent quality at a different price point. Through both subsets, we offer many paths forward, because we believe that every project has a unique character, inspiring us to always propose rather than push and ask rather than know. We are here to help our clients to achieve their unique visions.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
That’s a tough question. I’m proud every time we deliver what we promise and a client smiles “thank you”. I’m not one to get very excited about achievements and I think that I have a tendency to downplay the things that I do that others might embrace and celebrate. It’s to my detriment I’m sure, as society tends to celebrate things on Instagram at every turn. It’s good marketing and I know that I don’t do myself any favors. I guess I’m averse to all of the marketing noise.

This is probably not the preferred answer for this interview but I have a son. Asher’s 11 and sometimes to my chagrin becomes quite the design critic. When he looks at a project that I’ve done and approves, that’s what I really love. He gets it. I remember when a local magazine published our own modest home that I’d renovated and Asher told the interviewer “I love my house”. I built that whole house for him and he appreciated that and that made me proud. Not just of what I’d built but of who he is.

Contact Info:

• Address: Rifugio Modern
  2901 Blake St. Ste. 160
  Denver CO 80205
• Website: www.rifugiomodern.com
• Phone: 720.504.8999
• Email: info@rifugiomodern.com
• Instagram: rifugiomodern

Image Credit:
JC Buck should have credit for all photos except
The white kitchen is credit James Florio

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