Move away from plastic by choosing porcelain

At the beginning of the last century, electricity replaced the oil lamp in our homes. It was the pre-plastic era. Electrical wires were fabric-covered, and porcelain was the perfect insulator for our few electrical appliances. Then came Bakelite, and finally, plastic derived from the petrochemical industry. After the Second World War and during the post-war boom, plastic gradually became the unavoidable standard for electrical equipment. Low-cost, Chinese-made plastic seems to have no alternative other than European brand-name products, which, unfortunately, often lack character and offer little originality beyond a touch of color on a solid-colored, rectangular, and utterly drab plastic.

If this observation depresses you, then I might have some good news. There's an electrical appliance brand that continues to fight to offer something other than plastic. A brand that strives to provide high-quality materials, a choice of vintage or modern designs, and almost artisanal production in its factory in Catalonia, near Barcelona. A brand that can bring back the tactile pleasure of wood, porcelain, or metal every time you turn on a light or plug in an electrical outlet. A little bit of happiness a hundred times a day. I thought that deserved a post on this design blog. That brand is FONTINI .

The FONTINI brand

FONTINI has been manufacturing metal and porcelain switches and sockets for over a century. The company is currently run by the fourth generation of the Fontini family. FONTINI products are still made using traditional methods, with a porcelain body and a metal frame. The enameling is done by hand, and the company offers a wide range of colors.

The choice of material gives FONTINI products an undeniable advantage over plastic: they are much more resistant to scratches, heat, and impacts. And if you have young children at home, you'll be pleased to know that all of the brand's products meet current European safety standards.

Thus FONTINI offers a vintage look and noble materials while respecting the same standards as those of products from other more mainstream brands such as Legrand, Schneider or Hager.

Some of my favorite products from FONTINI

I have to admit I'm a big fan of FONTINI products, especially their vintage-style range. The switches are available in various colors and finishes. You can get a classic white porcelain switch, but also a black, enameled, or matte one.

The brand also offers a wide range of power outlets. Outlets are often less visible than switches, but they are just as important in terms of design. FONTINI offers power outlets as well as all possible combinations of current RJ45 or USB ports.

For each range of switches, there are perfectly matching sockets or sockets.

Fontini switches and sockets, either as original equipment or as replacements for existing ones

If you want to replace your current switches and sockets with FONTINI products, you should know that it's possible. That's how I did it at home. I started with a few switches in my living room. The procedure is simple: just remove (after turning off the power!) the very ugly plastic switch and install its beautiful porcelain (GARBI) or metal (DIMBLER) equivalent on the electrical box in its place.

How to find your way among the many FONTINI references?

"Simple? Don't take us for six-week-old rabbits!" a client once said to me, full of humor and also a little annoyed. Well, I have to agree with her. Between the plates, the surface-mounted or flush-mounted installations, the two-way switching functions, single switches, double-hand switches or changeover switches, it's easy to get lost if you're not a highly qualified electrician or interior designer.

No, simply being chic and bohemian, wearing vintage djellabas and wicker baskets, isn't enough to guarantee a working, high-quality electrical installation. Being an electrician is still a profession.

But that's precisely why we're here: to help, listen, and advise! And, I'll let you in on a secret, that's what we love most about our job: listening to you and truly engaging with you. So, of course, the first thing you might do is download the FONTINI catalog and our price list .

But please, before you make a mistake with your order, write to us at bohemianchicinterior@gmail.com