A symbol of the new luxury

In the years of heavy economic problems everything changes - including the idea of luxury. It now shows no useless excess or pure glitter and glamour - it is subdued, but still retaining the value of beautiful craftsmanship and achievements of the past. And much more accessible, like British product and interior designer Lee Broom's  Crystal Bulb launched at this year's Milan Design Week:

“I wanted to create a light bulb as a more accessible design product and incorporating cut crystal seemed the most logical design as this has become a familiar style within my product ranges.”, explains the designer.

Kitchen trends from Milan Design Week 2012

- modularity and free standing units:

La-Cornue

I like the idea of the French brand best known for traditional ranges and stoves La Cornue with the new W collecton presented at Eurocucina in Milan from 17 to 22 April to introduce a hob and oven system that look more akin to furniture than electrical appliances.They are free standing and elegant and mix well with the rest furniture we have used to see in our living rooms. 
Design is by French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte.

A little retro look, but that is obviously also a trend, because we can see a similar approach with Diesel Social Kitchen for Scavolini:

image via designboom

 "the diesel social kitchen is made not only on the modularity of each element but also on separate modules to assemble freely with each other.
this aspect of the project is represented by the MISFITS collection, a line of non-modular freestanding objects which fit in the kitchen
such as carts, tables and storage units."source

Doesn't this picture above remind you of your grandma's kitchen dresser?


How do you like this trend? I would prefer to design my kitchen in a similar way because of the freedom to move furniture much more easily and the possibility to merge functions and entertain better in your kitchen-living room.

Poetic and sensual design at Milan Design Week 2012

I find that this is a very interesting trend - poetry and sensuality in design - which could be seen in many new products presented at the fair this April:

ILSE COLLECTION by Ilse Crawford for Georg Jensen

Istanbul Mineral Exporters Association

Girella bench by Ron Gilad

it is part of Gilad's Soft Marble Collection for Tuscan marble and stone company Salvatori.

PREMSELA, the Netherlands Institute for Design and Fashion

 

Raúl Laurí  DECAFÉ

Design for children at Milan Furniture Fair 2012

Isn't it great to have the chance to live and play in such a surrounding? I can imagine how happy the children who have this possibility are!
The video is from the Child Culture Design exhibit "Play in progress" in Milan 17-22 April, 2012 and the imaginative designs presented are by the students from the unique Swedish master's programme
Child Culture Design, HDK - School of Design and Crafts(Sweden). Find more here http://www.hdk.gu.se/en/nyheter/2012/hdk-plays-milan

And here below is also design for children - Smile collection by the Portugal company Fenabel:

A lot of Copper at Millan Design Week

In addition to the impressive Tom Dixon lighting collection there were numerous other designs with this beautiful warm material - in the last years copper becomes more and more popular. It is one of my favorite materials, too - it is soft and cozy, quite unlike metals. And at the same time it can look quite luxurious.

Nino & Svenja

25-29 by Angie Anakis for Ligne Roset

Francesco Rota, according to Domus,

 "admits to having always been quite curious or even passionate about copper as a design material ("It is an expensive but splendid material that is hugely satisfying. I find its warm pinkish colour really innovative", he explains). What fascinates him most, however, is its changing colour, the fact that it this material oxidises and changes its character, colour and appearance. "

Set of copper trays by Francesco Rota for KME

Suspended lamp in copper by Front for KME

Interesting point of view

Jasper Morrison:

Jasper Morrison, Park Life for Kettal

"Outdoor is rooming because of smoking laws in Europe, you can't smoke in a restaurant so suddenly outdoor becomes more interesting."

says he in his interview for Domus when talking about his new outdoor project for Spanish company Kettal.

 Paola Lenti (image from http://bloesem.blogs.com)

Kettal,VIEQUES, design Patricia Urquiola

Frolla,  SKITSCH

Well, I suppose he is joking, because since 2009 Outdoor is absolutely a booming trend which is current at this year's Milan furniture fair, too. The new designs of outdoor furniture not only grow in quantity, diversity and quality, but also I notice a trend of merging between indoors and outdoors (as you can see in the examples above and right) - which is great! Isn't it so comfortable to be able to use your furniture whenevere and wherever it you need it?

Ideas for your children's room from Milan Design Week 2012

Gallery Kaufmann Repetto, Lily van der Stokker

Gallery Kaufmann Repetto, Lily van der Stokker

(photos from design art news)

Kaufmann Repetto presents the solo show of Lily van der Stokker, Living Room:

"Paintings, sofas, chairs, tables and carpets are overwhelmed by a voluntary childish decoration which recalls a kindergarten and opens doors upon a subversive world made of exuberance, harmony and color. ...the artist forces the sense of welfare playing between the familiar and the inappropriate."

 As an interior designer I like the idea of including this sense of welfare in the rooms of our children - it would be good to grow in such an atmosphere, don't you think?

Chocolate on the wall

This new wallpaper is created for all of you chocolate-lovers who, like me, just need chocolate. It is part of
“I GIARDINI delle meraviglie” (“Gardens of
Wonder”) - the all-new collection of wallcoverings
produced by Giardini Wallcoverings and signed by Vincenzo Dascanio, the protagonist of the “Fuorisalone” event organised by the Milanese company in Vincenzo Dascanio’s showroom.

 The intention of the designer is to transform
living spaces into authentic sensorial experiences - wallcoverings go beyond the simple concept of finishings to become something more: they are identity, imagination, and pleasure. Inspired by the world of food, they seem to invite you not only to touch and look, but also to imagine fragrant scents and evocative tastes. Textures and hues that evoke creamy, irresistible chocolate, or the gauzy, vanilla shades of sweet cream…

I wonder - will cravings disapper if one stares everyday at this chocolate wallper ;)

The table that recycles its own packaging!

"Outside In" from Design Soil of the Kobe Design University is a table that comes flat-packed in corrugated cardboard. The packaging  can be pulled apart and stacked in sheets which are then slid into the top of the frame and clamped between two timber pieces with just four screws.
The designers explain their idea:

"Shipping containers protecting products at time of transportation becomes waste after safely shipped and unpacked. Feeling this paradox that corrugated cardboard has a short lifespan contrary to its long durability, a new life is given that to work continuously as the core of top surface of desk. The desk is stabilized with the corrugated cardboard inserted into the top surface  which is pliable without it."

 source
The table is presented at Salone Satellite during Milan design week 2012.

Patricia Urquiola for Baccarat at Milan Design Week 2012

This year at Milan Design Week we see that Patricia Urquiola continues her research in glass design. At Palazzo Morando, one of Milan’s most elegant palaces, Baccarat show their new collection of timeless glasswork part of which are Urquiola's new vases - pleated, smooth, or cut stackable pieces in clear and colored crystal.

Milan Design Week 2012 - A Cupboard with Pedals

Massimo Morozzi: Bois de Rose for Edra

Bois de Rose, designed by Morozzi is a square 120 x 120 cm storage furniture with unusual feature - pedals instead of handles! But it is far away not only the pedals that make it special - each piece is unique, because they all are wrapped in a sheet of veneer cut on the object so not even a millimetre of error can be tolerated. As Valerio Mazzei, president of Edra explains, "There is much talk about sustainability when the best form of recycling is to not produce waste"- this is what I believe the proper approach to sustainability.

The name of the cupboard comes from

Bois de Rose veneer decoration, wood applied to Louis XV chests of drawers. Ignoring the rules of cabinet making, the veneer is laid vertically, slanting or inlaid. It continues on all sides as a single panel and this makes every piece unique and has a numbered plate inside.
source: Domus

My first choice from Milan Design Week 2012

I already have my first favourite sofa from this year's Salone - Cassina's  La Mise by the Italian designer Luca Nichetto. Its upholstery looks casual and at the same time - elegant, soft, rich and slightly padded. And very comfortable, too.

Eurocucina 2012 - Snaidero

The world's biggest kitchen and appliance biennial Eurocucina is a major part of Milan design week, which started yesterday. It serves as centre stage for the launch of spectacular systems by companies like Snaidero, Scavolini, Arclinea, etc.

What I liked from the preliminary view: the compact smart kitchen by Snaidero - Mini-Code. It is an innovative small kitchen that combines muximum functionality in really tiny space which also "PROVIDES AN ANSWER TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF MODERN LIVING, RECONCILING DESIGN AND RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT"


Another interesting proposal by Snaidero - Board,  developed in collaboration with architect Pietro Arosio, also suitable for small space and studio living:

The Ola20 system (below) designed by Pininfarina is the kitchen that Brad Pitt bought for his large family, because:

“The last thing I bought for my house in Los Angeles is the Ola20 kitchen by Snaidero because:

1. The kids, Angelina and me form a tribe ,its easy to meet all together in the kitchen .There’s someone having a snack, someone listening to music, someone drawing, someone drinking fruit juice.
2. I’m a modernist, besides tecnical innovation I love the aesthtical novelties. I like the contemporary kitchens because planned to be open.”