milan design week report :: part two
Last month, we updated you on our favourite aspects of the I Salone fair as part of our Milan Design Week Review. While the fair is the main drawcard for many of the visitors to Milan for Design Week, the design events showcased around the city of Milan are an amazing way to see some of the latest trends and newest products, while totally immersing yourself in the culture and amazing design sense that Milan instinctively holds. As a part of Milan Design Week, showrooms for interior products hold special events, design districts such as Brera, Lambrate and Tortona create pop up style showrooms to exhibit new products, while the whole city comes alive with music festivals and other social events.
Printed tiles creating a wall art piece for Via Tortona – design street.
A perfect example of some of the fantastic visual merchandising seen in many of the displays during design week. Fantastic wall shelving as part of a kitchen display within the Rosanna Showroom.
One of the many new designs created by Patricia Urquiola that was showcased this year. This sofa manufactured by B&B Italia was super comfortable, came in two colour ways and had a gorgeous matching occasional chair that featured a soft tan leather back. Another beautiful design from our design hero!
Colour, texture and visual interest found while passing by a wine bar in the streets in Milan.
The juxtaposition of the ultra thin sleek stainless steel bench tops and the super textured timber really works within this Boffi display. The island range hood is wrapped in matching stainless steel, while the sink and cooktop are seamlessly recessed into the bench top. Beautiful.
Textural timber, natural stone and different levels within the kitchen were again stand out trends throughout design week and showcased by Boffi. We also loved the curved panelled windows!
Warm ochre terracotta, teamed with timber, patterned textured bench tops, and powder coated matt or brushed metals summarises not only this kitchen display, but a large part of kitchen styling within the whole fair. As usual Boffi did not disappoint and was at the forefront of the newest trends.
This oiled parquetry floor and timber wall really made this space for us. We loved the (almost) unfinished looking, warm timber teamed with the ultra sleek white bathroom fittings. Also check out the freestanding powder coated bathroom accessories for towel hanging.
A feature wall leading the passer by into the Lea Tiles showroom – the bright colour on this wall was beautiful, and we loved the way they had created this textural wall from their lovely matt tiles!
Oversized lighting and interesting island bench details were features seen in many kitchen designs this year. This was the main kitchen display within the Poliform showroom.
Softness found within the colour, texture and lines of this kitchen display within the Bulthaup showroom. This showroom was very impressive overall with three levels featuring small stand alone functional kitchen units, and interesting details throughout.
One of the moments we can’t really describe in pictures or words. Within a beautiful garden, surrounded by gorgeous old buildings, finishes and exterior furniture was showcase with the backdrop of soft music and birds singing. The perfect place for us to pause and rest for a moment…
This was an interesting one. On first sight, this unit looks like a fairly standard shelving unit, but on closer inspection, it is a little more complex. The coloured fabric flaps concertina up and down, so that you can easily change which portion of the shelving unit is open for display from day to day! Another creation found within the Lambrate Design District.
Found within the Lambrate Design District, this ultra minimal, vanity solution integrates storage shelf and hanging for towels. The white tapware is the perfect addition to the pared back timber and white matt finishes.
One of the pop up showrooms within the Lambrate Design District. The whole space was wrapped with reflective silver lining to create a focus on the featured products. We loved these hanging plants, and the dining table beneath was detailed beautifully (although unfortunately the photo doesn’t do it justice!).
One of our favourite pieces found in the Lambrate District. The polished copper frame is right on trend, and we love the aqua colour of the aged copper as a contrast.
These exposed, unfinished bricks formed the backdrop for a few of Gessi’s displays. Ultimate texture teamed with greenery, glass, timber and brushed or rusted metals. This variation of textural surface from smooth to rough was everywhere.
This vanity design showcasing the Gessi product range instantly transports us back to our Morocco trip as part of our design week pilgrimage two years ago. The timber, texture and colour really works and is totally on trend.
Colour, texture, touch. Gessi’s merchandising takes us back to Morocco again…
These basins!! We loved them teamed with elegant curved outlets. The polished basins against textural timber really works within this Gessi display.
Just writing this post has stirred a second dose of inspiration, and makes us crave the next Milan Design Week that we will attend. It truly is one of those amazing events that can’t really be described with words and photos, the feeling that you have while there is something to be experienced for yourself. If you are in the industry, or truly passionate about design, then this is one thing that you must do at least once in your life! We hope you enjoyed reading our post and viewing some of our favourite pics out of the thousands that we took during the week.
