Family is what brought Kifu Augousti into the world of furniture design. The daughter of celebrated designers Ria and Yiouri Augousti, Kifu has a bold, quirky style that is fiercely independent. Her exquisite handmade tables, seating and decorative objects — which typically feature pronounced geometrical forms and exotic inlays — set Augousti apart as an up-and-coming creator of modern furnishings made in the Art Deco tradition.
Augousti embarked on her creative career early. After attending Brown University, she followed in her parents' footsteps, carving out her own reputation as a design powerhouse.
While it’s often likened to her parents’ work, Kifu Augousti’s designs have a look that is distinctively their own. Offbeat materials, sinuous curves and wild patterns have become hallmarks of the designer’s furniture. In the workshop of her parent's design firm, R & Y Augousti, Kifu experimented with semi-precious stones, shells and other interesting materials as a child. Her parents gained fame for bringing shagreen — leather made from shark or stingray hide — back into fashion. (It reemerged as a luxe material among designers and decorators in 2017.)
Popular in the 1930s, this versatile material had fallen out of vogue over time. The Augoustis revived it for use in their own work, and Kifu Augousti continues to celebrate it, incorporating shagreen into her signature styles that are on offer at her Kifu Paris shop in Paris as well as in her New York City showroom. She favors bold, nature-inspired prints and silhouettes, and in many of her handmade benches, coffee tables, daybeds and other large pieces, an integration of shagreen blends wonderfully with the structures’ bold bronze frames or bases. In her smaller boxes, baskets and vases, stylish combinations of shagreen, shell inlays and decorative knobs with semi-precious stones are merged to create a sumptuous, unconventional look that is utterly unique.
Find Kifu Augousti seating, tables and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Bench in Shagreen with Bronze Patina Brass by Kifu Paris
By Kifu Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Dandy Day Bench by Kifu Paris is an opulent masterpiece, meticulously hand-crafted to perfection. Its sumptuous cream shagreen seat exudes luxury, with a finely textured finish t...
Brass
Bench in Shagreen with Bronze Patina Brass by Kifu Paris
By Kifu Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Dandy Day Bench by Kifu Paris epitomizes luxurious elegance with its sleek design and meticulous craftsmanship. Encased in sumptuous black shagreen, the bench is elevated by a so...
Brass
Bench in Oak with Bronze Patina Brass by Kifu Paris
By Kifu Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Dandy Day Bench by Kifu Paris, crafted in luxurious black oak and accented with bronze patina brass, is a striking embodiment of modern elegance. The rich, dark grain of the blac...
Brass
Bench in Black Shagreen with Bronze Patina Brass Detail by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Victoria bench by R&Y Augousti, crafted in luxurious black shagreen, is a true embodiment of elegance and sophistication. Its hand-crafted black shagreen top exudes a subtle text...
Brass
Upholstered Hide Bench in Black Shagreen and Bronze Patina Brass by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Pianist Bench by R&Y Augousti is an exquisite piece that marries luxury with versatility. The frame and legs are beautifully clad in rich black shagreen, with the legs accented b...
Brass
Upholstered Black Velvet Bench with Bronze Patina Brass Detail by R&Y Augousti
By R & Y Augousti
Located in West Hollywood, CA
The Victoria Bench by R&Y Augousti is a luxurious blend of rich black velvet and warm bronze patina brass, meticulously hand-crafted to perfection. The sumptuous black velvet upholst...
Brass
Shagreen Bench with Bronze-Patina Brass Details by Kifu Paris
By Kifu Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Brass
Dandy Day Bench in Shagreen and Bronze-Patina Brass by Kifu Paris
By Kifu Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. The Dandy day bench...
Brass
Shagreen Bench with Bronze-Patina Brass Details by Kifu Paris
By Kifu Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. Inspired by the original Dandy bench...
Brass
Dandy Day Bench in Mink Shagreen and Bronze-Patina Brass by Kifu Paris
By Kifu Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. The Dandy day bench is the ultimate luxury seating. The seating area is inlaid in mink shagreen and the frame and sides of the bench are completely inlaid in bronze-patina brass. Other finish variations available see images at end of slide. A completely covered shagreen version is also available, see image at end of slide. A stool version is available, see image at end of slide. Upholstery available on request. This piece is designed by the daughter of Ria and Yiouri Augousti. The finish of the shagreen is authentic as it is hand-dyed and the designer calls the finish look: "antique mink...
Brass
Shagreen Bench with Bronze-Patina Brass Details by Kifu Paris
By Kifu Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by skilled artisans, ultimately making each piece unique, designed in Paris and produced in the Philippines. Inspired by the original Dandy Bench...
Brass
Shagreen Bench with Palmwood and Bronze-Patina Brass Details by Kifu Paris
By Kifu Augousti
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Brass
