The highlight of any kitchen, bedroom and bathroom designer’s calendar, from April 15th to 21st the Milanese city is buzzing with excitement and awash with inspiration. Sammy and I were lucky enough to travel there and experience the city’s annual ‘Design Week’ and ‘Salone Del Mobile’ trade fair for ourselves.
Day 1
After an early start, we arrived in the city with a full day of exploration ahead of us. Heading straight to the ‘Design District’, our first stop was the ‘Unlimited Design Orchestra’ hosted by 5VIE Design Week in the beautifully historic Palazzo Litta. We were greeted by a breathtaking installation in collaboration with Italian extractor manufacturer Elica before making our way inside and winding through the traditionally Milanese rooms in contrast with the modern furniture design installations.
Following lunch in Piazza del Duomo we visited ‘The Art of Dreams’ exhibition. Inspired by Porsche’s 1960’s ‘peptia’ houndstooth pattern, design collective Numen created an expansive monochromatic netted installation that evoked themes of geometry, symmetry rhythm and repetition. Visitors were encouraged to climb inside and ‘investigate the suspended landscape’ (harder than it looked!).
In the evening we were invited to a SieMatic VIP event hosted at their stunning flagship showroom in the city centre. We were treated to bespoke cocktails, magic tricks and sumptuous SieMatic displays showcasing the brand’s latest in luxury finishes and design innovations.
Day 2
As you approach the entrance of the Fiera Milano you are greeted by an undulating glass canopy that leads you down the main concourse, a buzz of anticipation and excitement in the air…welcome to the Salone Del Mobile trade fair, the largest of its kind in the world!
We head straight to the EuroCucina hall, home to all kitchen related exhibitors. It’s a great opportunity to meet with our existing suppliers, discover the latest products and innovations and most importantly, get valuable inspiration for our own designs.
Later that evening we were hosted by Sub-Zero Wolf at Radio Rooftop Milan for an exclusive evening of cocktails, music, good company, and breathtaking views across the city - it is always a pleasure to meet with like-minded dealers from across the globe, sharing design inspiration and exchanging ideas.
The sunset from Radio Rooftop Milan
Day 3
Sammy and I journeyed back to the Rho Fiera, this time with our focus on furniture design. A number of exhibitor halls featured the latest and greatest from around the world, but our main focus was Sangiacomo – our own supplier of luxury Italian wardrobes and furniture. Their impressive stand showcased several new features and finishes such as four new textured melamine finishes and on-trend champagne toned metal details which we look forward to incorporating in future designs,
Luxurious design on the Sagiacomo stand
Inspiring furniture design at the Salone Del Mobile
To round off our trip we returned to the city’s ‘Design District’ to visit the ‘Gravity of Light’ exhibition. Situated in the picturesque Palazzo Landriani, they present the kitchen as an ‘independent sculpture’, enriching the atmosphere of a room beyond its functional purpose. We also called in at the V-Zug flagship studio, designed by Elisa Ossino where the poetic simplicity of the interior’s furniture pieces perfectly balance with the simple contemporary design of the appliances.
The ‘Gravity of Light’ exhibition
The V-Zug Italian flagship studio as designed by Elisa Ossino
Sammy and I would like to express our warmest gratitude to SieMatic and SubZero Wolf for the evenings’ entertainment along with all the suppliers and dealers we spoke with on our trip. We have returned to the design office with renewed enthusiasm and brimming with creative ideas for future designs so please do get in touch if you have an upcoming project you would like to discuss.
