TKBB’s Melanie Gardener was lucky enough to travel to Milan last April to visit Salone del Mobile.Milano and explore the best of Milan Design Week.
This was her 8th visit to the show and she found plenty of inspiration around every corner!
The international community attended en masse which gave the city an electric feeling, although it did make for some crowded stands and showrooms, and much standing around in long queues. It was good to see attendee numbers rising from 2022 figures which were impacted due to the effects of the pandemic and the limitations of Russian and Chinese attendees to travel.
Exhibitor numbers were lower this year, down to 1950 from 2175 in 2022, but a new approach to stand design and layout made for a more interesting way to travel around the show. The EuroCucina and International Bathroom Exhibition halls were moved closer to the main entrance which was a very welcome change.
The Milan Design Districts were again buzzing with installations, interesting events, conceptual art and events aplenty. The addition of a new Design District – Alpha – further expanded the offering outside the fairgrounds.
The kitchen displays saw a deep dive into what it means to be “at home” with all major design houses expressing their interpretation of the theme. There was a huge focus on the idea of convivial living, where thoughtful and emotive design enhances the lived experience. Organic shapes abound with designs that highlight nature and invite the outdoors in. We harked back to the past with many nods to nostalgia and comfort. Colour and metallics played their part in the design story, as did a sense of the unexpected – gestures that surprised and delighted for textural or sensory engagement.
In the bathroom space, it was all about “wellness” in a deeper sense – taking it to the next level. With timeless concepts bringing a sense of refined luxury, we played with nostalgic themes that took inspiration from simpler times. Nature – natural forms, natural materials, natural shapes – was prevalent in the bathroom space to bring a sense of peace and calm to underscore the idea of relaxation and wellness. Plenty of customisation and personalisation meant that the bathroom could be designed as a space that functioned uniquely for the needs of the user.
The appliance halls were packed with products that focussed solely on the user experience, and how design and technology could contribute. Featuring plenty of user-drive innovation, appliances that provided precise cooking, high performance and automated controls were featured across the majority of stands. Integrated functionality was of high importance, with extraction technology being pushed as far as it can go to deliver a powerful performance.
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