The Salone del Mobile: For many insiders, the Milan design fair is THE trend barometer

From the 17th to the 22nd of April, it was time again: The Salone del Mobile opened its doors and hosts of international buyers, designers, architects, journalists, design fans and the stars of social media stormed the Milan Exhibition Center. The fashion metropolis of Milan has long since become a design mecca, and the Salone del Mobile is regarded by industry insiders as the most important design fair worldwide. Thus it’s no wonder that alliances are being forged between the furniture and fashion industry. An absolute eye-catcher is the now expanded cooperation between the fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana and the kitchen appliance manufacturer Smeg. The colorful world of the Italian design duo pours over the entire Smeg range and colorful and wildly patterned refrigerators, electric kettles, cooker hoods come out.

The colorful world of Italian design duo Dolce & Gabbana pours over the entire Smeg range

But not only the exhibition center Rho Fiera Milano attracts attention during the Salone del Mobile. The whole city wooed by the fad of this ‘design happening’, which even calls for industries that have only little to do with design. Including the car brand Audi with a grand entrance in the middle of Milan’s city center. Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Hermès rent elegant palazzi where they present their home collections. Even classic furniture brands such as the Scandinavian label Gubi have long recognized that it enhances media attention when – instead of in one of the exhibition halls – you present your own collection in the dignified ambience of a palazzo. Bottega Veneta has been showing its home collection in the 18th-century Palazzo Gallarati Scotti on Via Borgospesso for three years now. I can only recommend a trip to this extravagant location to any Milan visitor.

Bottega Veneta has been showing its home collection in the 18th-century Palazzo Gallarati Scotti on Via Borgospesso for three years now

The special feature of these palazzi is not only the sumptuous furnishings: ceilings decorated with stucco, Baroque paintings, lavish décor, impressive Murano chandeliers are the witnesses of a bygone era, at the doors of which ordinary visitors usually knock in vain. These venues – some still privately owned or under the supervision of foundations – are often open to the public only during special events. State apartments, like the one shown here, always put me under a very special spell. With the result that they unfortunately distract one (me ;-)) from the essentials. Because something new, groundbreaking or even award worthy was not to be discovered at the exhibitors.

The Scandinavian label Gubi at the private Palazzo Serbelloni

Parallel to the Salone del Mobile, the parallel event Fuori Salone takes place in the area around Via Tortona, where international designers present their designs. Here former factory and warehouses, hidden backyards and lofts become temporary exhibition and party locations. The event has now cult status and resembles a promising contact exchange: Here, quite a few young talents have been hired by established designers right from the spot.

Appaloosa: The newest member of the luxury bed-collection by Hästens

Every two years – including 2018 – EuroCucina will be showing the latest kitchen trends. And the Salone del Bagno presented the novelties in the bathroom area. Both in the kitchen and in the bathroom – as in previous years – wood was clearly the trend material. So the solid wood kitchen is no exception. Very chic I find the relaxed look, in which wood is combined with marble or natural stone. Let’s start with EuroCucina: While German manufacturers such as Nolte and Leicht are following this trend rather hesitantly, there is no one among the predominantly Italian suppliers who work without wood. The fingerprint-absorbing glossy front does not even play a minor role. Wood is clearly the star, from which companies like Team7 or Riva1920, which have always bet on the natural material, profit. And gladly rough and haptic in the natural tone of the respective wood species. The classic marble colors black and white, but also green or brown conquer the kitchen world. And that looks mega (!!!) chic.

I found that to be an eye-catcher: Futuristic bookshelf – of course made of wood – on a rough concrete look (by Mogg)

Conclusion Salone del Mobile:

Although the 57th Salone del Mobile – with 1,841 exhibitors in 22 halls and 434,509 visitors – reported a plus of 17%, the innovative was lacking. Wood is an indispensable part of the bathroom and kitchen. Star designer Matteo Thun, who designed the ‘Icon’ table for Riva1920, told me: “Wood is the answer to the loveless minimalist design of the 90s.” I think he’s right.  BvH

At the Riva1920 stand there was a lot of traffic as in previous years. The table tops – giants from old wood roots, which are elaborately salvaged and processed – were a highlight

The new sofas

The manufacturers still rely on shades of green and velvet as material as to be seen at the both of Poliform

Curved velvet charme by Marelli

Flexform sofa design with colored piping

Italian sofa expert Baxter presented a collection of suede leather

Wrinkled designs from Laura Meroni

XXL sofa in shades of gray from Meridiani

Sofas in all shapes: Oval – here from Living Divani, curved, L-shaped or round

Classic sofa design – like this one from Gervasoni – was more the exception

Minotti showed on his 70th anniversary on large screens the diversity of its collection

In the meantime one needs a little break, out in the sun

Not much new in the Milanese design firmament

The industrial look for the kitchen…

…reinterpreted by Diesel Living

Even the modern kitchen look (by AR-TRE Cucine) does not stay without wood

Arrivederci hob: Here the hotplate is integrated directly into the marble worktop

Kitchens are gray now

The country kitchen (by Snaidero) celebrates a comeback…

…gladly in combination with natural stone such as marble (kitchen by Häcker)…

…and in shades of gray. Kitchen by Cucine Lube

Revival of the country style presented by Scavolini: I like it!

Practical: Extractors – as here from Siemens – are directly integrated in the ceramic hob

Beautiful, oval dining table with round marble base by Roche Bobois, Paris

The latest bathroom trends

The industrial look also conquers the bathroom as here from fashion designer Diesel for Scavolini

Bathroom impressions from Cielo…

…also with industrial chic

I like this oval mirrors very much…

Bathroom fittings now show their colors: Washbasins in blue-gray, pale pink, slate gray or chocolate brown (by Cielo)

I find the bidet and toilet very elegant in this stone gray

Many dream about it: The view from the bed to the bathtub

Integrated gym in the bathroom: “Gym Space” by Mattia Pareschi

Impressive exhibition stand with a green inner courtyard at Poliform

A view into the old palazzi

The Scandinavian label Gubi presented its collection in the dignified ambience of a palazzo:

The Palazzo Serbelloni…

…with a fairytale ambiance…

At the Palazzo Bovara, the Italian Elle Decor curated the exhibition “On Life – Millennials at Home” with more than 40 design partners and Google as main sponsor. The question was asked how the Generation Y of “digital natives” shapes its domestic life

In the courtyard of Palazzo Bovara, Elle Decor designed this magnificent, temporary garden

Louis Vuitton also presented the collection “Objets Nomades” in the dignified rooms of a Milanese palazzo …

…including these two seat models in wicker look

Hermès is now designing tiles and presenting a colorful range of tiles in a Moroccan look. The large tiled halls provided the background for selected pieces of the new home collection. Very cool!

Contact Salone del Mobile

salonemilano.it

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The light-flooded hall architecture of Fiera Milano is an eye catcher by itself

Each year Milano gets into a state of excitement. Exhibitors and fair visitors from around the world invade the city of fashion and Campari, the room prices of the fully booked hotels triple or even quadruple, the popular restaurants are completely over booked in advance anyhow, taxis are scarce goods and there are practically no parking spaces anywhere. Instead, the crowded pavements are full with beautiful and stylish people. Already on the evening before the official opening of the Salone del Mobile – the most important design fair in Europe – Milano is a party.

Let me touch this quickly: Is this really wood?

The noble boutiques on the Via della Spiga or Montenapolone are opened ‘till late at night to celebrate their cooperation’s with premium brands of the furniture industry. The Prosecco bottles were popping and one was drinking “una Piscina” (Prosecco on ice, one of my favorite drinks). Feverish excitement lay in the air. Everybody wants to be there, when, for example the L’Uomo Vogue together with the AD-Magazine and the kitchen manufacturer Asko invite into the newly opened luxurious hotel Mandarin Oriental, where champagne is already out after an hour.

Chic velvet Chaiselong by Fratelli Boffi

That isn’t a bad thing, I say to myself, because the other days I have to be fit for the exhibition grounds, the Fiera Milano. A day at the fair is quite exhausting. Against this madness, the Way of St. James is a refreshing stroll. The 55^th Salone del Monile awaits with thousands of exhibitors in 22 halls. Every other year – also in 2016 – the EuroCucina, the current kitchen trends are being exhibited as well. And the Salone del Bagno presents the new innovation in the bathroom division.

Trend: Marble in the kitchen …

… and in the bathroom. Here the luxury Italian brand Oasis

At the same time in the area around Via Tortona the parallel event Fuori Salone takes place, where international design newcomers present their designs. Former factories and warehouses, hidden backyards and lofts are becoming temporary exhibition- and party locations. The event has cult status by now and resembles a promising networking service: Many young talents have been employed from the spot by established designers.

My favorite design highlight at the Fuori Salone: The shelf ‘Dune’ by Roberto de Santi. www.dunecollection.it

But what is new on the design firmament? Definitely and actually trans-sectorial is the use of wood. Wood? Which is as old as the evolution, the critics amongst you may think! Right. But – as so often – it is the combination of different materials. Let’s start with the EuroCucina: There is not one kitchen manufacturer who renounces wood. The solid wood kitchen is hip. Ciao to the clean intense, fingerprint absorbing high gloss fronts – you only play a minor role at most. Wood is the clear star. Namely rough and haptic in the natural tone of the respective type of wood. Favorite partner of the wood is – you won’t believe it – marble. And that looks mega (!!!) chic. A thick worktop from marble, that’s quite something! The mere sight of it instantaneously awakens the I-want-effect in me.

A thick worktop from marble, that’s quite something! Here a kitchen by Rossana

Wood in the bathroom area is also on the rise. It goes to the extent that toilet bowls as well as bidets are offered in wood optic. Companies, who have always put their focus towards wood, for example Team7 or Riva 1920 benefit a lot from this trend. Star designer Matteo Thun has just designed the table ‘Icon’ for Riva. He told me: “Wood is the answer to the unloving, minimalistic design of the 90ies.” I think he’s right. BvH

Matteo Thun and me: the full interview with the Stardesigner coming soon on MyStylery!

Tip:

Don’t miss the full MyStylery interview with Matteo Thun coming next week!

The Walnut-Table ‘Icon’ by Riva 1920. Design: Matteo Thun

Scic cucina d’Italia in a cooperation with Fendi: Here the individual ceramic hobs are integrated directly into the marble work surfaces

The brand name says it all: Nature Design

Bath project by Edoné

The noble kitchen manufacturer Bulthaupt also focuses on wood in conjunction with marble

The tabletop of the dining table by Casamilano is – who would have thought – marble!

Beautiful kitchen by Composit made of American walnut and Emperador marble. Design: Roberto Lazzeroni

Sink and bathroom furniture made of marble

Trend materials wood and marble

For me, the most innovative brand in the furniture industry at the moment: Moroso …

… Unusual shapes combined with beautiful color combinations

The design of the German brand Rolf Benz …

… in reduced, Scandinavian-influenced appearance

The traditional manufacturer Thonet gave his chair classics a new look

Living like in a hotel?

This can happen with the furniture collection of the luxury hotel Ritz

Fashion meets Furniture

Can fashion designers also give kitchen equipment a new look? Dolce&Gabbana proof that it’s possible. Tadaaa: The new stove series from the company Smeg

The home-collections of the fashion designer. Here unmistakably Versace with the Medusa emblem …

… “cage”-seats by Roberto Cavalli

Fashion designer Matthew Williamson has created his own line of furniture. The result is a colorful eye-catching-collection. Detailed and playful it reminds of the 50s

For Mommy’s favorite: bathtubs à la “Alice in Wonderland” for demanding offsprings – by JR.

I’m a fan of Baxter and its harmonious design idiom

Tasteful luxury: sun lounger in safari style from Baxter – frame made from copper, surface made of leather

One of the most creative minds in my opinion: star designer Patricia Urquiola in an interview with an Italian TV station …

… For Kartell she designed colorful dishes. What a pity that they are plastic – like everything from Kartell

According to the motto ‘Talking Minds’ renowned designers like Fabio Novembre and Piero Lissoni have also designed for Kartell

Triple Like: White leather chairs by Midj Italy

The stand of Roda makes you want to leave

Elegant design by Munna

Always nice: the drafts of Gervasoni

The latest fabric edition of Hermès

Minotti: Not really inventive however

Impressions of the Fuori Salone

Hilfiger Island: A normal traffic island becomes a tropical gem

That’s the way it is

Both, at the Salone del Mobile and the Fuori Salone there are unusual collaborations: The recently deceased Zaha Hadid designed shoes for the brand Melissa …

… and Fiat heir Lapo Elkann created this Cinquecento for Pepsi

Very beautiful: The ‘Big Mushrooms’ lamps by Atelier Arnout Visser

Ciao, Fuori Salone & Salone del Mobile!

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