This year's Milan Design Week (April 9-14) was a spectacle of excellence in all things interior. Here's my take on what to look out for in the coming year.
Milan is to design what Monacco is to racing, or Cannes is to film. It's the largest and most prestigious furnishing and interiors event in the world, showcasing talent from around the world as well as trends that are picked up as fast as they land. It's heaven for home decor with inspiring ideas for timeless modern styling.
Earthy and organic
The colours and textures We've been living through big, bold metallics and strong contrasts in the form of thick black lines and features for almost a decade. Starting with chromes, moving into yellow golds and most recently rose hues, designers have gone back to nature with earth tones that coincide with a heightened awareness of our environmental impact. Pink and copper give way to terracotta and burnt umber for a softer finish.
Lightening up with gold
Gold is still around and contrasts with the high craftsmanship of carved timbers and glass in all its forms: coloured, mirrored and fashioned light fittings take out the weightiness of gold and create a brilliant counterpoint to the organic shapes and colours of focal pieces.
Dante (very) Goods
My favourite designer of the show is Dante Goods and Bads. This artist and industrial designer duo from Luxembourg demonstrated the trends in the clearest possible way, paring slick glass and gold with the organic forms that were the highlight of the show.
Standout pieces
Mirrored Tables by Petite Friture, designed by Constance Guisset
"Minima Moralia" Room Divider by Dante Goods & Bads
"Bavaresk" Round Dining Table by Dante Goods & Bads
"Ozz Lamp" by Miniforms - Lighting Design Highlight with build in (Ash-)Tray
Inspiration
Click through to my top insights from the fair and this year's key furnishing trends