Rimadesio – the entrance
Magis and Vitra further back
Imposing sign of Thonet
Bonaldo through an aluminum curtain
Porro sign. Minimal and chic
Arflex sign detail
Knoll. Pink neon on transparent polycarbonated film
Fiam sign corner
So, I went to Salone del Mobile in Milan and it was fantastic!!! We were all the girls and the senior architect of the studio where I work occasionally. It was an spontaneous decision that went really good…imagine 6 girls crazy in Milan! It was our first time and personally I still haven’t absorb all the information… It was a huge experience for sure! We spent 2 days only at the Salone and 1,5 day in Milan but it was enough to shake us 🙂
At first the exhibition is huge…..you walk and walk and walk and you never have enough! And have in mind, in all that walking you carry so much weight of the catalogues, proper exercise!
We were so thrilled to be there and see for the first time all these big brands, touch the surfaces, sit at the couches (which it was necessary to rest our feet from time to time!) see the forefront of the interior design in general. Other than that the pavilion’s design was equally interesting or even more sometimes. Our cameras were on fire and our shoulders ended up dead!
At the first group of photos you can see some branding signs that impressed me as an exhibit and what could start better this post by some big brands themselves!
Me, Thalia, Ira and Katerina resting outdoors!
Going on the 2nd floor of Fiera…
People of design having a break at Fiera
As you can see on the top group of pictures, the people visiting the Fiera were countless! If you have agoraphobia it’s not the place for you. Outside on every corner people were sitting and resting, like us above talking about what you’ve seen until that time! Of course the same situation were happening inside, at every pavilion, especially on big ones where you should be an acrobat to take a photo!
I should warn you that this post is quite big, I couldn’t make it smaller, although I tried! This year Salone, except Furniture, had the Euroluce and Workplace section that will follow in another post. So, be patient!
At the next group of photos you can see some spare views, mostly about outdoor design. I really liked the way to depict a pool at Dedon, of course Patricia Urquiola was everywhere something special and my favorite pavilion of all: the one of De Padova! You could go there just to relax from all the fuss, so zen and calm.
Bross pavilion. Plastic separators and flowers
Alias coffee table
Roda’s beautiful pavilion, like a garden. And a discreet sitting point to share with loved ones
Dedon hanging shelters. Love the pool
Garden Layers by Patricia Urquiola for GAN. Ispired by mongol architecture she discovered in India.
Garden Layers of GAN rugs. A collection made up of rugs, mats, roll pillows and cushions that can be arranged in different ways together, with infinite possibilities for outdoor living.
The incredible pavilion of De Padova! Zen atmosphere, earthy and calm feeling, smooth low lighting and a tree on the centre!
Usually, what attracts you the most is the feeling that each pavilion brings you on and not their products. The way they designed them and what tricks they used to show the philosophy of the company. One cool technology trick was at Zanotta’s pavilion where led walls were showing people moving like if they were real users in life. Check it below.
Hola holo table by Kristalia
Moroso, of course. Whenever you want a crazy seating you should adress here!
Carl Hansen&Son chairs
dramatic hanger at Zanotta’s
Terrazzo wall at Alivar
Zanotta – dinning room with a virtual user on the back
Unfortunately I’m showing you here only the photos that were ok, without a lot of crowd but believe me there were so many more amazing stuff!!
Material palette for rugs at Kymo
Coffee tables by colored glass at Desalto
Huge coffee table by red metal sheet
Decorative wall piece by terrazzo at Arflex
Jaime Hayon’s figures at B.D pavilion
Living room design had it’s honor of course, huge spaces with large sofas, coffee table synthesis and decorations to make you drooling! I should notice that the mid-century style, marble, brass and of course high quality wood are still at the first line. And the master of all: tropical decor…palm trees, any trees, greenery everywhere! At some places you thought you were in the jungle.
Living room at Porada
Mysterious table at Porada. Like the black hole dragging you…
Coffee table synthesis
Pastel environment at Wittman. Reminded me some of Wes Anderson environments
Huge linear coffee table
Tropical environment at Lema
Walter Knoll
Walter Knoll decorative curtain and of course greenery
Luxury living, as you may notice, especially when it was about dressing rooms or boudoir and bar furniture. The detail of the design, the finesse and material quality that were used was incredible. Also, I think everybody would want these benefits at their home, don’t you!?
Decor for closets
Dressing room. If you have so much space to place also a statue!
Boudoir! Leather and cute accessories, at Poltrona Frau
Bar furniture! For any devotee… at Poltrona Frau
Sofa with leathered complements to make a living room more practical with grace
Leathered sofa with arm detail
Living room synthesis, I don’t remember from where!
On the next group of photos I have some pictures by Thonet, Vitra and Rimadesio’s pavilions. Only some sneak peaks to feel the concept. Especially at Rimadesio the crowd was unbelievable, I was lucky to take even these detail photos!
Thonet retro-modern living room
Vitra’s pavilion
Living room at Vitra
Thonet armchairs
Rimadesio. Iron grid, wooden planks and elegance!
Closet detail by Rimadesio
Shelving unit at Rimadesio
Shelving unit at Rimadesio
Object’s design and decorative vases were also something to admire, check these Egyptian style pots, I loved them! And if I should point out one designer that had his moment in Milan this year should be Jaime Hayon. He was everywhere and I loved him.
And I shouldn’t miss the 2 glass companies that impressed me a lot: Glass Italia and Fiam! Taking glass material in another level.
Amazing ceramics at Bosa
Jaime Hayon’s ceramics at Bosa
Jaime Hayon’s ceramics at B.D
Posing at GlasItalia mirrors
Glasitalia round mirrors
Glassitalia sideboard furniture by reinforced glass
Fiam’s famous ghost chair
Library at Fiam
Next you can see 2 big companies I already loved but now even more: Bonaldo and Baxter. Notably, Baxter’s pavilion was very imposing, exotic yet luxurious environment, low lighted and beautiful textures. I spent some minutes laying at the most comfortable sofa there!
Dinning table at Bonaldo
Round table at Bonaldo
Bedroom boudoir accessories at Bonaldo
Amazing terrazzo table at Baxter
Bedroom at Baxter
Exotic dinning room corner at Baxter
Living room at Baxter. I loved the coffee tables synthesis with the aligators ceramics!
Ceramics and lighting at Baxter
Another element that stood out at these interior environments were lighting fixtures! Besides Euroluce, among all the furniture etc. lighting is very important and at some examples I was more fascinated by them. So, here is a small collection to see what I’m talking about…
Lighting decoration at Tonon
Table lighting by stone
Kartell hanging lightings
Cage lightings at de Padova
2 pairs of discreet cubic lightings in dialogue
wall sconce at Arflex
floor lamp at Missoni
Linear, dramatic lights
Libraries and shelving units couldn’t be missing from this post! Only by the best. Words are needless…
Library with chair at Alias
Library by pink plexiglass at Kartell
Book end detail
Baxter
Detail of library at Poltrona Frau
Library with secret lighting at Rimadesio
Lighting shelves at Poliform
Shelving unit as a separator
Linear and super minimal shelving unit at Rimadesio
Shelving unit as an accent wall with backlit
As every single detail was studied and everything had a role, I should notice that decorative synthesis were pieces of art! Sometimes they used just material schemes to decorate a wall or table and it was admirable. Because what is more beautiful than a circle of marble?
Chickens by clay at Vitra
vases and a red parrot on the table, why not?
fluo circular plexiglass at Desalto
Decorative synthesis at Rimadesio
Simple schemes by raw materials as decor on a library at Lema
Last but not least, the people! Except from being innumerable they offered sometimes some really good snapshots! Of using the furniture, or examining and photo shooting them and posing on them. Of course I was one of them (last photo) 🙂
Man resting with the classic Salonde del Mobile stroller
inception at Michael Anastassiades installation at Flos. Next post 😉
Woman posing at Baxter
Capturing a detail
This armchair at Poltrona Frau seems really comfy!
Girls sleeping(!) at Baxter’s sofa
Me, of course, posing at a weird seating with black hair…at Ctrlzak studio crazy pavilion
More of the photos are mine and some of my friend’s Ira Papadaki.