Known as the “drinkable city,” Milan transforms into a design mecca during its annual celebration, Milan Design Week. This extravaganza draws thousands of brands and designers worldwide, showcasing their latest offerings across the city’s events, pop-ups, and showrooms. The pinnacle is the Salone del Mobile fair, which, after two years of cancellations, returned in full force, attracting nearly a quarter of a million visitors. ELLE DECOR editors embarked on a design quest, traversing the city to unveil the freshest trends shaping interior design.
In the aftermath of pandemic-driven home cocooning, the focus has shifted. Milan Design Week 2023 emerges as a testament to the collective yearning for something beyond comfort—a desire for transcendence. Whether transporting enthusiasts to different eras, countries, or the great outdoors, this year’s trends promise an enticing journey. The vibrant tapestry of design trends witnessed ranges from evolving textures gracing upcoming sofas to the hues poised to adorn apartment walls. In the evolving landscape of design, opportunities beckon—so seize them while they’re still ablaze with innovation and creativity.
BOUCLÉ 2.0
For those battling bouclé fatigue, the good news arrives from Milan Design Week, where the venerable fabric experienced a revival, shedding its ubiquitous off-white persona. This year’s design extravaganza unveiled a spectrum of fresh bouclé interpretations, transcending the traditional and venturing into nature-inspired palettes. Arflex, the Italian design powerhouse, embraced a mossy green iteration, while Montis, a Dutch player, opted for a rustic brown. Saba, another Italian brand, dared to infuse bouclé with a touch of opulence by introducing a resplendent gold hue.
Beyond the color palette metamorphosis, Milan showcased inventive textures, expanding bouclé’s repertoire beyond the familiar loopy pile. The design landscape saw the emergence of waffle-y chenille, plush mohair, sumptuous cashmere, and tweeds reminiscent of menswear. Fratelli Boffi, an Italian design stalwart, encapsulated this transformative look at their booth. Milan Design Week proclaimed that bouclé, with its newfound colors and textures, is not just a revival but an evolution—a testament to design’s perpetual reinvention.
CARPET GLOW-UP
Prepare for a design revelation: wall-to-wall carpeting is not only back but has undergone a vibrant and daring transformation. Milan Design Week served as the stage for this unexpected resurgence, where carpets emerged brighter, bolder, and yes, shaggier. The trend made its first splash at filmmaker and designer Luca Guadagnino’s installation at Milan’s Spazio RT. Collaborating with graphic designer Nigel Peake, Guadagnino presented collagelike, primary-colored wool and silk carpets, embracing an aesthetic he dubbed “a bit rock-and-roll.”
The carpet revolution continued across town at Alcova, where designer Leo Rydell Jost unveiled exuberant carpets in super-saturated swirls of gold, violet, and crimson. But the innovation wasn’t confined to colors alone; Milan witnessed the introduction of rugs that transcended convention in both funkiness and fluffiness. Beni Rugs, showcased at Alcova, collaborated with stylist Colin King to present a shaggy collection in mustard and cream hues. CC-Tapis took the stage with a hand-knotted rug, designed by Duccio Maria Gambi, featuring a varied Himalayan wool pile resembling a plush forest moss ring. Evolution21, a Belgian company, played with pile dynamics in their handwoven carpets, featuring delightful patches of “floof,” reminiscent of soft sea anemones sprouting from the floor. Milan’s carpet renaissance signifies a departure from the ordinary, transforming functional flooring into a canvas of artistic expression and sensory delight.
LEGS FOR DAYS
In the realm of furniture design, table and chair legs have transcended their traditional role, emerging as a focal point to make a visual statement. Milan Design Week showcased this evolution, where designers transformed these supportive elements into captivating features, adding an almost-hidden layer of visual interest.
Poltrona Frau’s limited-edition Archibald seat, a collaborative creation with the Argentinian-Spanish artist Felipe Pantone, exemplified this trend. The chair boasted a striking iridescent frame, becoming an artful complement to its color-blocked leather upholstery. Meanwhile, Atelier Oï drew inspiration from the arches of a Roman palazzo for the Metropolis table’s legs at the new Fendi Casa outpost, seamlessly blending aesthetics and functionality.
SaloneSatellite, a platform spotlighting emerging designers, unveiled the creative ingenuity of Mexican duo Design VA. Their Walky series featured playful seats with anthropomorphic wooden “shoes” for feet, adding a whimsical touch to functional seating. Design Week Lagos, also showcased at Satellite, presented the work of Olufisayo Bakare, including a colorful salvaged wood stool with a leg carved into the shape of a bird—a symbolic representation of the mythical Benin bird of prophecy. Milan’s exploration of table and chair legs goes beyond mere support, transforming these elements into artistic expressions and contributing to the overall narrative of furniture design.
FAR EAST MOVEMENT
Amid a surge in global fascination with Japan’s design ethos, Milan Design Week paid homage to the country’s aesthetic finesse, even as Japan maintained restrictions on foreign visitors. The intersection of Japanese influence with international design was evident in various collaborations and limited-edition releases.
Cassina, renowned for its iconic Soriana armchair, embarked on a limited-edition journey by upholstering the chair in Japanese denim—an exquisite fusion of Italian design and Japanese textile craftsmanship.
The collaboration between AB Concept and Calico Wallpaper resulted in the “Forest of Reflection” wallcovering collection. Drawing inspiration from the ever-changing seasons of the Japanese Alps, this serene collection captured the essence of Japan’s natural beauty and tranquility.
At the fair, Duravit and designer Sebastian Herkner showcased the Zencha bathroom collection, a manifestation of Japan’s minimalist aesthetics. The collection’s standout feature, a square-shaped soaking tub, drew inspiration from the serene and ritualistic ambiance of Japanese tea ceremonies.
As Milan celebrated the allure of Japanese design, these collaborations and creations underscored the enduring global resonance of Japan’s design sensibilities, inviting the world to experience a touch of Japan’s artistic and contemplative spirit.
HIGH SHINE
Milan Design Week dazzled with an abundance of reflective elements, transforming mirrors into captivating works of art and functional design. This year’s trend showcased innovative approaches to mirror aesthetics, blending creativity and functionality.
At Nilufar Gallery, the spotlight was on French-Lebanese designer Flavie Audi’s sculptural mirrors. These mirrors not only reflected images but also incorporated vibrant resin moths within their frames, adding a touch of color and whimsy to the reflective surface.
Tom Dixon elevated the celebration of reflections at Palazzo Serbelloni during the 20th-anniversary festivities of his eponymous brand. The chromed-out Mirror Ball chandelier became a focal point, radiating light and glamour throughout the space.
Even iconic fashion house Dior took part in the reflection narrative, reintroducing its classic Medallion chair with a glossy makeover by Philippe Starck. The shiny new appearance added a contemporary twist to a timeless design.
Milan Design Week’s emphasis on reflective surfaces demonstrated a harmonious blend of artistic expression and functional design, turning mirrors into captivating pieces that not only showcased reflections but also celebrated the creativity inherent in their frames.
CUSTOMIZABLE COCKTAIL TABLES
Just as modular sofas have dominated the design scene, personalized cocktail tables are taking center stage at Salone and beyond. This growing trend sees major brands introducing diverse offerings designed to be layered together in multiple combinations, providing a customizable and dynamic touch to living spaces.
B&B Italia’s Planck line emerged as a standout, injecting color and playful aesthetics into the living room. The tables’ ability to harmonize while offering a hint of individuality contributes to the trend’s popularity.
Porada’s Callisto marble nesting tables offer a different take on personalization, resembling a captivating stone mosaic when arranged together. The tables showcase the beauty of marble and the artistry of thoughtful design.
Luca Guadagnino Studio added an architectural twist to the trend with its jigsaw puzzle-inspired cocktail tables. Crafted from red travertine and black granite, these tables create a visually engaging ensemble that transcends the ordinary.
Molteni&C contributed to the trend with the Cleo collection, introducing subtle layers through curvy designs. This collection showcases the versatility of personalized cocktail tables, proving that customization can be both sophisticated and understated.
The ascent of personalized cocktail tables reflects a shift toward more tailored and dynamic furniture arrangements, allowing individuals to curate their living spaces with a touch of personal flair.
MINTY FRESH
While the green trend has been a recurring theme, Milan Design Week showcased a nuanced sub-trend within the verdant palette, emphasizing the emergence of pale green. This delicate and faded hue, often described as conifer or alpine, is making waves, signaling a departure from the robust forest greens of recent years.
New York designer Josh Greene observed this subtle shift, noting its presence in various forms, from Luke Edward Hall’s fabrics for Rubelli to upholstered pieces at Kartell. Beyond furnishings, pale green manifested in terrazzo floors and marbles throughout Milan, indicating its pervasive influence on design elements.
The trend gained momentum with Spanish outdoor brand iSiMAR’s introduction of pale green outdoor furniture, Connubia’s seafoam seating, and Swarovski’s celadon table settings in collaboration with Rosenthal. Even Samsung’s fair booth hinted at a potential shift, featuring pale green kitchens that might challenge the dominance of forest green.
This punchier, mintier hue is not merely an aesthetic choice; it reflects a collective yearning to reconnect with nature, a sentiment echoed by Maria Porro, president of Salone del Mobile. The blurring of boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces is becoming more significant, likely influenced by the collective experiences of the past two years. Beyond aesthetics, the appeal of pale green lies in both the beauty of the design and the emotional resonance it carries.
