Foscari Interiors works with several cabinetry manufacturers, but one brand sits at the center of our Italian offering: TM Italia.
We are often asked who TM Italia is, what “made to measure” actually means in practice, and how the brand differs from other Italian kitchens. This article answers those questions, and explains what working with TM Italia looks like for a Houston project.
From a Family Carpentry Workshop to a Made-to-Measure Manufacturer
TM Italia traces its roots to 1951, when brothers Giacomo and Gabriele Tondi opened a carpentry workshop in central Italy. The business became TM Italia in 1991.
The next generation, Ares and Gianluca, reshaped the company in 1998. Their goal was to combine the flexibility of a craft workshop with the precision of industrial production. The result was a production system that lets each kitchen be built to its own dimensions and specifications, rather than assembled from a fixed catalog of sizes.
Today the company is based in the hills near Ascoli Piceno, where its factory combines traditional woodworking with automated production. TM Italia describes its supply chain for wood, marble, stone, glass and metal as entirely Italian.
What “Made to Measure” Means at TM Italia
Many cabinet companies describe their products as custom. TM Italia’s approach is specific:
- Five cabinet depths and five heights form the base system, which can be combined in an enormous number of ways.
- Dimensions are adapted to the room, rather than the room being filled with standard boxes and fillers.
- Around 350 materials, 50 wood species and more than 50 colors are offered at the factory, along with a wide selection of marbles and stones. Across TM Italia’s finish programs, Foscari clients can choose from more than 1,500 standard finishes, with custom finishes available on request.
- The system extends beyond the kitchen to living rooms, wall systems, bathrooms and technical furniture, including integrated doors, lighting, soundproofing and home automation.
In practice, this means a TM Italia kitchen can follow the architecture of a Houston home closely: matching ceiling heights, aligning with windows, wrapping around columns and continuing into the living area in the same materials.
TM Italia Kitchen Collections
TM Italia organizes its kitchens into collections. Each collection is a starting point that is then adapted to the project. Some of the collections include:
| Collection | What defines it |
|---|---|
| Rua | A reinterpretation of industrial loft style, where the kitchen blends into the living space. Rua won the ADI Compasso d’Oro in 2020, one of Italy’s most respected design awards. |
| Avignon | Built around “breaking up” space, with aggregated volumes rather than continuous runs of cabinets. |
| Miuccia | Classic archetypes reinterpreted with a neo-deco character, for homes that want warmth and personality. |
| Gola | A groove-style handle carved directly into the door, for a clean handleless look. |
| Levia | Doors just 12 mm thick, made from honeycomb aluminum, combining lightness and strength. |
| Penta | Fluted surfaces that add rhythm and depth to the cabinet fronts. |
| Quadra | Frame doors in three variants, for a more tailored, rigorous look. |
| Modula | TM Italia’s most flexible, modular collection. |
| Aera | Outdoor kitchens, engineered for exterior conditions. |
Aera is worth highlighting for Houston, where outdoor kitchens are a major part of how many families entertain. It allows the outdoor kitchen to share the same design language as the interior.
Because every project is made to measure, the collection is a design direction rather than a fixed product. Finishes, dimensions and interior fittings are chosen for each home.
Recognition and Reach
Beyond the Compasso d’Oro for Rua, TM Italia was recognized in 2019–2020 as a best performer in the circular economy among Italian small and medium-sized enterprises.
The brand works through a network of TM Italia ateliers and selected partners, with projects in cities including Rome, Naples, London, Zurich, New York and Miami. In Houston, Foscari Interiors represents TM Italia and handles design, ordering and installation locally.
Who TM Italia Is Right For
TM Italia is a mid-end to high-end brand. It tends to be the right choice when a project calls for:
- Architecture-driven kitchens where cabinetry must follow the exact dimensions of the space
- Distinctive materials, such as unusual woods, stone-faced fronts, metal or fluted finishes
- Whole-home continuity, with the same design language in the kitchen, living room, bathrooms and wall systems
- Integrated living spaces, where the kitchen opens to the living room and needs to read as furniture
- Outdoor kitchens that match the interior
For projects where budget and speed matter most, or for multi-unit developments, Foscari often recommends one of our other lines, such as Johnson or Artcraft. Our guide to Foscari’s cabinet brands compares them, and we cover developments in cabinetry for multi-unit projects.
Working With TM Italia Through Foscari
For Houston clients, Foscari is the point of contact from first meeting to installation:
- Consultation at our Richmond Avenue showroom or in your home, where we review your plans, appliances and goals.
- Design by our in-house architects and designers, who prepare plans, elevations and 3D renderings.
- Selection of collection, finishes and interior fittings, with samples reviewed in person.
- Approval and ordering once every detail is confirmed. Because each kitchen is produced for the project, orders are final once they go into production.
- Production and shipping from Italy. Lead times for Houston projects are typically 12–18 weeks, depending on specifications.
- Installation by Foscari, followed by TM Italia’s 5-year warranty.
You can browse TM Italia’s catalogs on our site, including Made-to-Measure Kitchens, Made-to-Measure Homes, Pret-a-Project and the Handbook for Designers, which architects and interior designers often find useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is TM Italia made?
TM Italia kitchens are made in Italy, at the company’s factory near Ascoli Piceno in central Italy.
Is TM Italia fully custom?
TM Italia is made to measure. Each project is built around five cabinet depths and five heights, adapted to the room, with finishes and fittings chosen for the project.
How long does a TM Italia kitchen take to arrive in Houston?
Typically 12–18 weeks after the design is approved, depending on specifications.
Does TM Italia make more than kitchens?
Yes. The system also covers living rooms, wall systems, bathrooms, technical furniture and outdoor kitchens.
Where can I see TM Italia in Houston?
At Foscari Interiors, 2226 Richmond Ave., Houston. Our team can walk you through finishes and collections and start a design for your home.
Learn more about Italian kitchen cabinets at Foscari or explore the TM Italia collection.
Foscari Interiors
2226 Richmond Ave.
Houston, TX 77098
Schedule a consultation to start your TM Italia project.
