Salone Del Mobile
I returned from Milan recently from attending the Salone Del Mobile furniture fair which is held annually and is the largest trade fair of its kind in the world. It is considered a leading venue for the display of new products by designers of furniture, lighting, and other home decor.
At the same time as the fair, “Milan Design Week” is held and all of Milan opens its showrooms to visiting designers to shop their newest products. Trips like this provide a plethora of reference and inspiration for someone like myself, bringing back ideas for new color palettes, and product inspiration both on the hard and soft side. After Milan, I spent time in the South of France, meeting with shops that specialize in artisan products, crafted locally and all around the world as well as art fairs in towns like Antibes and St Tropez.
The Scarlet Splendour Forest Collection
One of my favorite finds at 10 Corso Como [in one of my favorite stores] in Milan is “The Scarlet Splendour Forest Collection” by Marcantonio . The collection is a playful and quirky way to bring nature indoors. The collection includes multiple sculptural pieces: chairs, cabinets, sofas, dining and side tables, stools and poufs, coat hangers, mirrors, rugs, and benches. Designed by Marcantonio, but crafted by Indian artisans in mixed substrates of durable and lasting materials like nautical resin, brass, and wood, just to name a few. The playfulness of these pieces while bringing the outdoors inside with these creative and fun products made me smile as soon as I saw them!
“The Scarlet Splendour Forest Collection” by Marcantonio
Bitossi
At Salone del Mobile, one of my favorite booths was “Bitossi” because the way they represented color was truly breathtaking! Each grouping of ceramic vessels was color-coordinated in tonal pairings and varying shapes. These russet/red combinations were not only striking for their color assortment, I loved all the shapes that were merchandised together.
Artitude
One of the trends that I saw throughout my trip is something that I call "Artitude"…Art pieces for your home. These show-stopping products are not only creative in color, but their print sensibility is like having a piece of gallery art in your home. This piece by “Driage” called “ziqqurat” represents a natural dreamscape of iconic elements again bringing the outs doors inside!
The House Of Lyria
This woven wonder is from a mill in the north of Milan called “The House Of Lyria”. Probably the most creative mill I have had the pleasure of meeting because all their pieces are art inspired and original. The floating yarns create a sense of dimension that make these pieces look three-dimensional.
Duality
The duality of this mirror, which is also a light, truly sets the mood for any room in your home. I am always looking for products that do more than one thing and this marble mirror/light is of the top of my product list! The manufacturer is “Lago” and they tend to mix beautiful substrates together when creating their collections.
ART ET FLORITUDE
A new manufacturer at Salone del Mobile this season was "ART ET FLORITUDE” in the lighting hall, which happened to be one of the most creative halls at the fair! This piece “The Olive Tree” was meticulously revived by the hands of 9 artisans who carefully crafted the branches, chiseled and assembled each individual leaf, patinated the metal in gold, and added little porcelain olives!
Monstera
Art Et Floritude’s other leaf light showcased the Monstera leaf, which was the trend leaf at the show in every category. This beautiful collage of leaves and porcelain flowers worked its way up the wall and truly was an art piece as well as a lighting piece.
Form & Function
As most people know I am always on the lookout for interesting sustainable product designs, and this console was so simple yet elegant in its own right. The asymmetry of the 5 pieces of wood paired with the glass acted as an art-inspired piece as well. It’s nice to see that sustainability has taken on a new look without compromising its form or function.
Texture - Rossana Orlandi
I enjoyed roaming the streets of Milan and finding galleries and showrooms that were open to the design community! One special gallery was the Rossana Orlandi Master Gallery in San Vittore. This multi-layered glass vase was so interesting with its mix of color, substrates, and texture.
Finish - Rossana Orlandi
In the same gallery [Rossana Orlandi] these ceramic vessels had the most amazing glazes and finishes, each one stood out because of its color and design…if only my suitcase was a bit bigger.
Sleek & Inviting
Artitude strikes again…I just love this word because each piece is a true ART piece. These console and wall art pieces are modern and abstract in a beautiful and updated way. The finish on these items is sleek and inviting and the color palette is simply divine.
Hermes
Strolling in the Design District of Milan during this week was full of surprises, as I would turn another corner I would be another beautiful showroom or special exhibit…and then I found myself at a Hermes exhibit that was beyond my expectations. The earthen colors of the textiles were a favorite of mine and the fabric was incredibly cozy!
Venus
Another “Artitude” piece is from “Driage” it’s fun and kooky and is called “Venus Libreria” its a bookshelf and art piece all in one!
Bruno Tarsia
Rugs this season were ALL asymmetrical and fun. This piece is called “Unlimited” by Bruno Tarsia and I love the color and shape.
