OUR HISTORY
We first opened our doors in 1984. Our Founder and CEO Michael Wilkov had just returned from a trip to Italy not long after relocating to Dallas. There, he discovered the incredible beauty of artisan-made modern Italian furnishings. Realizing that Texans, and most in the U.S., lacked access to such high-quality, cutting-edge pieces, the 26-year old South African native decided to bring the best in modern design – furnishings and accessories never before seen – to his new city. It was a bold venture – but he believed in a place so dynamic and diverse, there had to be a demand for a fresh point of view.
Michael met with artisans, family factory owners and iconic design houses and transported their pieces – and stories – stateside. While his modern vision didn’t sway the town overnight (this was in the era of staunchly traditional furnishings, after all), his modest 4,500-square-foot showroom soon amassed a devoted following. And when Wilkov again took a risk – hiring design consultants in lieu of salespeople – Cantoni became a place people buzzed about. A showroom where they could find a thoughtfully curated selection of luxury pieces and access personal design services, all in one convenient place.
Cantoni is now recognized as one of the nation’s leaders in modern furnishings and interior design with six locations across the U.S., and a hand in the design of private residences and commercial projects from Dubai to Shanghai, New York to Nairobi. Over the past thirty years, Michael’s vision has endured and propelled our success as our commitment to our clients and our passion for modern design has remained at the core of everything we do. To this day, we continue to take a bold, forward-thinking approach by seeking out the best in modern and contemporary design from artisans and makers worldwide, and unceasingly serving our clients through an unmatched turnkey design experience.
