Milan mobilises
This year, again, inspiring installations and the pursuit of novelties have drawn more than 300,000 visitors to the design hotspot in Lombardy. For six days, while the furniture fair took place, an entire industry turned its attention to Milan. These were the most striking trends:Clear white dominates furniture colours. Mud tones in various shades and materials offer fresh input. The 1980s classics turquoise and lilac make a comeback. Velvet has emerged as a new trend for upholstery furniture and beds. In the category of woods, grained veneers, such as walnut, continue to dominate the market. A new trend is high-gloss surfaces in the office. Another recurrent theme was glass in a wide selection of colours.
The dernier cri are however lavish ornaments – running the gamut from Asian to Arabic, from traditional to ostentatious and newly interpreted designs, all of which yield wild combinations with a psychedelic effect. Three-dimensional grid and mesh structures signal a clear trend toward patterns.
White – the sum of all colours,…
…the base colour for all designs? A trend that was born a few years ago has further intensified in Milan. Now, the soothing and clear non-colour is also used for designing consistent monochrome objects. Kitchen and bathroom furniture aside, white can also be spotted for home and office furnishing. Many exhibitors showcased offices all in white.
Strong accents and contrasts
White is an ideal base colour, allowing for the use of bright accents and contrasts, such as in combination with black. Bright colours – like an intensive green – accentuate design arrangements. A budding trend also for kitchen furniture. Bucking the trend, however, many exhibiting companies displayed colourful arrangements.
Fabrics and wallpaper emblazoned with intensive patterns from all periods
Arabic and Asian influences were one of the biggest talking points of the fair. On the other hand, 1980s new wave designs, such as those pioneered by design luminary Karim Rashid, stood out. Moroso showcased luxurious and exclusive fabrics. For the innovative upholstery furniture manufacturer, XXX Van Vliet designed covers with beautifully stitched coral Koi fish and Asian cherry blossoms. Lavish brocades for sofas by Mooi were the work of Marcel Wanders. Vivienne Westwood, the eccentric queen of fashion, designed striking prints for Molteni & C. Moroso and Bla Station (e.g. "Fellow" sofa) featured deliberately random pattern combinations.
Grid and mesh structures and ornaments
Not only fabric patterns or prints, but also three-dimensional forms in structured materials were a recurrent theme. Poltrona Frau enclosed its "Tricot" seating within a leather mesh. The "Paroq" lamp by Belgian manufacturer Dark curves as a decorative element along the wall. The new plastic cantilever chair "Myto", inspired by design icon Verner Panton‘s shapes designed forty years ago, reflects this trend with a mesh seating and backrest. "Myto", designed by acclaimed designer Konstantin Grcic, was one of the most notable products of the fair. The "Skin" sofa by Jean Nouvel for Molteni & C makes for a unique sitting experience on real leather: The structural look is also a necessary construction feature, ensuring durability of the leather.
Inspiring installations
The highlight of the fair, however, was yet again the impressive innovations on display. Swarovski presented a new collection by internationally renowned designers, including the likes of Zaha Hadid, Marcel Wanders and Piero Lissoni. Marcel Wanders, a popular figure in the industry, reveals his sense of humour by showcasing the fairy tale installation "My House of Dreams" for Poliform. Another highlight was Mooi‘s extravagant take on baroque patterns, featuring surreal pumpkins and horse heads as an analogy to the lamps. Moroso sprinkled artificial rain on the black furniture displayed in its showroom.
Drowning in over-supply
It is almost impossible to keep track of all the latest trends. One is driven by the constant urge to see all there is to see, paired with the feeling of having missed the best pieces.
And yet: The industry is starting a new year, enriched by many new impressions. For after Milan is also prior to Milan - and next year will be even better!
Nicole Schemerl-Streben
