9 Trends Spotted at the 2016 Milan Furniture Fair
At this year's furniture design fair in Milan, exciting trends from around the world were unearthed for you to take inspiration from
The Milan furniture fair, also known as the Salone del Mobile, is one of the most visited and important design fairs of the year. Individual designers and large international companies alike exhibit their new products at the fair, which is located in Rho, close to Milan in northern Italy. Meanwhile, the whole city of Milan becomes an open design stage in an event called FuoriSalone (meaning ‘outside the main fair’). Here, theatrical stages are created to showase designers and their products in old villas and parks around the city, for professionals and design lovers alike to enjoy.
With 370,000 people attending this year, and 2,400 designers exhibiting their work, there really isn’t a better place to look for the latest interior design trends that sooner or later will wend their way into our homes. If you want to discover the hottest and most creative ideas that came to the surface during the fair, then read on.
With 370,000 people attending this year, and 2,400 designers exhibiting their work, there really isn’t a better place to look for the latest interior design trends that sooner or later will wend their way into our homes. If you want to discover the hottest and most creative ideas that came to the surface during the fair, then read on.
Included at the Casa Vitra exhibit at FuoriSalone, these products include the Slow Chair armchair from Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec (bottom), the Polder sofa by Hella Jongerius (middle) and the new Soft Modular Sofa designed by Jasper Morrison for Vitra.
2. The hidden kitchen
This kitchen – featured as an installation at the fair – can flatten itself down, reduce in size and hide away, becoming a multi-functional work surface that appears only when needed. It features integrated induction plates and materials that create continuity between work surfaces, the sink and the kitchen itself.
This project, The Restaurant, is a temporary restaurant created by Tom Dixon and Caesarstone, in the Rotonda della Besana in Milan, during FuoriSalone 2016.
This kitchen – featured as an installation at the fair – can flatten itself down, reduce in size and hide away, becoming a multi-functional work surface that appears only when needed. It features integrated induction plates and materials that create continuity between work surfaces, the sink and the kitchen itself.
This project, The Restaurant, is a temporary restaurant created by Tom Dixon and Caesarstone, in the Rotonda della Besana in Milan, during FuoriSalone 2016.
Senegal-O Chair: Tord Boontje for Moroso
3. Woven fibres
Whether it’s a nod to memories of the wicker basket, or a reworking in ethnic-pop style doesn’t matter. Chairs, tables and lamps are incorporating woven fibres in unusual indoor and outdoor designs.
Armchair with high back from the Ahnda collection: Stephen Burks for Dedon
Whether it’s a nod to memories of the wicker basket, or a reworking in ethnic-pop style doesn’t matter. Chairs, tables and lamps are incorporating woven fibres in unusual indoor and outdoor designs.
Armchair with high back from the Ahnda collection: Stephen Burks for Dedon
The Pet Lamp collection: Rossana Orlandi
4. A new generation of mirrors
Their purpose is no longer just to reflect light and enable you to check out your hair. These new mirrors instead play with textures, colours and optical effects. In some cases, it’s advisable not to do your makeup in them, since positive results can’t be guaranteed!
Deadline, a series of artistic mirrors with architectural aspects, were designed by Ron Gilad for Cassina.
Their purpose is no longer just to reflect light and enable you to check out your hair. These new mirrors instead play with textures, colours and optical effects. In some cases, it’s advisable not to do your makeup in them, since positive results can’t be guaranteed!
Deadline, a series of artistic mirrors with architectural aspects, were designed by Ron Gilad for Cassina.
Here is a mirror from the Framed series, a collection of mirrors with sculptural forms designed by the Norwegians Anderssen & Voll, for Muuto.
This is the Ren collection,
a hybrid multi-functional collection of objects, designed by the Shanghai’s Neru & Hu studio for Poltrona Frau.
a hybrid multi-functional collection of objects, designed by the Shanghai’s Neru & Hu studio for Poltrona Frau.
5. Reviving the past
Especially in Italy, where the past is still a source of great inspiration, companies do not simply gloss over time gone by, but instead they redesign it, taking inspiration from it and integrating it into modern houses, where the styles then mesh together. The effect is that of a softly folded future with remnants of the past, or better yet, one which holds onto past memories.
Bathroom decor inspired by the city of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas, created by Lago.
Especially in Italy, where the past is still a source of great inspiration, companies do not simply gloss over time gone by, but instead they redesign it, taking inspiration from it and integrating it into modern houses, where the styles then mesh together. The effect is that of a softly folded future with remnants of the past, or better yet, one which holds onto past memories.
Bathroom decor inspired by the city of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas, created by Lago.
Reinterpreting a trademarked armchair? Sometimes the best way to create personality in a living room is to dare to establish some sense of imagination, and definitely not to be monochromatic. Here, for example, this variation was designed by the artist Bertjan Pot for the Utrecht armchair from 1935, produced by Cassina.
An innovative fabric is used, called the Boxblocks fabric. This was used to cover 270 limited editions of the historic armchair.
An innovative fabric is used, called the Boxblocks fabric. This was used to cover 270 limited editions of the historic armchair.
The exhibition ‘Before Design: Classic’, created by Cq Studio in Milan, looked at traditions and at the past, presenting them alongside contemporary interpretations, such as plastic the coating lining an 18th century armchair, or layering fluorescent colours on top of traditional pantry. The project is explained also through a short film, directed by the Italian director Matteo Garrone, who is also the author of the film, Gomorra, shot in the Archeological Museum in Naples.
6. XXL sofa
The new generation of sofas concentrate on comfort, or rather extreme comfort, with a depth of at least 100 centimetres. An all-encompassing blueprint designed not to be a ‘hit and run’, short break sort of a chair.
Sister Ray: Diesel for Moroso
The new generation of sofas concentrate on comfort, or rather extreme comfort, with a depth of at least 100 centimetres. An all-encompassing blueprint designed not to be a ‘hit and run’, short break sort of a chair.
Sister Ray: Diesel for Moroso
Photo by Marco Covi
7. Objects for a nomadic lifestyle
Whether it’s a small table that can be hidden away if necessary, or a guest bed that is always available for use, design companies strive to make everything convertible to so that, while our homes are becoming increasingly smaller, we don’t miss out on anything, And for those who have no fixed abode and have made their world their oyster.
Yop side table: Lievore Altherr Molina for Arper
7. Objects for a nomadic lifestyle
Whether it’s a small table that can be hidden away if necessary, or a guest bed that is always available for use, design companies strive to make everything convertible to so that, while our homes are becoming increasingly smaller, we don’t miss out on anything, And for those who have no fixed abode and have made their world their oyster.
Yop side table: Lievore Altherr Molina for Arper
Ca.Mia is a guest bed which guarantees privacy, designed by Denis Santachiara, for Campeggi.
8. Angles away
From chairs to tables, the geometric angle gives way to rounded and blunt corners, which in turn create a less rigid and more pliable-looking form.
Babila chair: Odo Fioravanti for Pedrali
From chairs to tables, the geometric angle gives way to rounded and blunt corners, which in turn create a less rigid and more pliable-looking form.
Babila chair: Odo Fioravanti for Pedrali
Wooden Side Table: Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra
Nabucco table: Roberto Lazzeroni for Poltrona Frau
9. Flowers
So long as they are large and bold, floral patterns can now be seen again in many decorative projects, from wallpapers to carpets. This carpet, Eden Queen, printed from the Liquid Birch image by Broersen and Lukàcs, is part of the new Moooi Carpets collection.
So long as they are large and bold, floral patterns can now be seen again in many decorative projects, from wallpapers to carpets. This carpet, Eden Queen, printed from the Liquid Birch image by Broersen and Lukàcs, is part of the new Moooi Carpets collection.
Furnishings: Moooi; carpet: Tricia Guild
TELL US
What trends are you seeing so far in 2016, and which ones would you like to adopt for your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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TELL US
What trends are you seeing so far in 2016, and which ones would you like to adopt for your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
MORE
What Interior Trends are Predicted for 2016?
Defining Style: Contemporary vs Modern Furniture
Italian Houzz: The (Very) Creative Space of a Milan-Based Designer
Why would you choose a dull colour when you could attract attention with a bold, mustard yellow? If vivid colours are this year’s mantra, the mustard yellow stands out above all others. This shade was visible all over at the fair, and chosen by many companies as a standout, including Vitra and Muuto. Will you fall in love with it, or will you already be tired of it before it’s in your living room?
Rest sofa: Anderssen & Voll for Muuto