It may be weeks since we returned from Milan Design Week 2017, but there’s still so much to share from this adventure. So we continue our recap with a look at 10 of the brands that stood out to us during the official Salone del Mobile furniture fair and top picks from their exhibitor booths.
Arper
Simple minimal arcs define the new Cila chair designed for Arper by Lievore Altherr, who was also part of the team behind the brand’s iconic Catifa seating series. The idea of layers of cloth enveloping the body inspired Cila and manifested in the curved plastic shell that “holds” the sitter. Suitable for both residential and contract settings, the chair comes in six colors with optional cushions or full upholstery and a choice of metal legs with or without casters, wooden legs, metal sled or trestle base.
Birkenstock
Yes, that Birkenstock. We were just as surprised as you to learn that this footwear company had gone into the sleep systems business. But, as one rep at the booth put it, the company was already an expert in comfortable and supportive foot beds. So, earlier this year, it launched actual beds that boast support conducive toward healthy and restful sleep.
First, there are three mattress types, each with three different levels of firmness: natural latex, a new kind of cold foam with natural plant-based oil and a micro-pocket spring mattress. All of them feature Birkenstock’s special support layer that consists of natural latex with granulated cork. Three different slatted bases also offer additional levels of support. For instance, the Birko Balance base sports a system of individual lily pad–like cork supports.
Finally, Birkenstock also exhibited the brand’s own bed frames and headboards, which are surprisingly handsome and draw on both classic and contemporary trends in furniture. These pieces are available in natural upholstery materials including felt and leather. Complementing pieces and accessories are also offered.
Bosa
There is not a single series that we could narrow down to our favorites from this delightfully whimsical brand of ceramic objects and décor. So instead, here’s a list of our top four (a couple of which were introduced in 2016):
Primates vases by Elena Salmistraro
Dogsai planters by Matteo Cibic
Hopebird sculptures by Jaime Hayón
Momonsters sculptures by Giovanni Motta
Dedon
You may remember that a short while ago outdoor furniture manufacturer Dedon introduced its first fully upholstered modular collection BRIXX to much applause. But while it offered repositionable bolster and back cushions, a firmer fixed-back option wasn’t available until now. New BRIXX Extensions adds the option of backrests affixed to any of four new modules in the collection via minimal cast-aluminum brackets. Additionally, the backrest modules come in three different sizes.
Hülsta
Another outdoor piece that caught our attention was this lawn/patio decoration that pulls triple-duty as an outdoor lamp and extra seat or stool. Moon Birdy is made of sturdy polyethylene, weatherproof and lit from within by LEDs in warm white or color-changing RGB.
Kartell
Always a huge draw at Salone, Kartell attracted throngs into a vibrant booth inspired by a “nation contaminated by different ideas and styles.” Thus, this year’s theme “ContamiNation” was born and displayed a variety of vignettes featuring new, recent and iconic products by the likes of Philippe Starck, Tokujin Yoshioka, Piero Lissoni, Antonio Citterio, Front and many other big names in the industry.
While all the new introductions are noteworthy, the one that caught our eye the most was Kabuki by Ferruccio Laviani. At once modern and ornate, the lighting series takes Kartell’s signature tinted polycarbonate material and applies a sophisticated injection technology to create a woven structure.
Kenneth Cobonpue
And now for something completely different: Kenneth Cobonpue debuted several playful and vibrant designs ranging from a peacock-inspired chair to a desk fashioned in the shape of Babar the elephant. One of our favorites was Limbo Chandelier, a rather acrobatic luminaire handwoven of powder-coated steel and brass and fitted with LED candelabra bulbs.
Molteni&C
As we suspected, there were many handsome displays at Molteni&C, a brand synonymous with dream closets and chic storage systems. Among this year’s highlights, the clean-lined and minimal Master Dressing walk-in closet system designed by Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen took us in with its sophisticated, mixed materials palette.
Ron Gilad’s Teorema also piqued our interest, presenting the “solid part of a void,” as the company describes it. These stackable American walnut storage units can be specified as open compartments or drawers that can be added to open furniture such as coffee tables or to form nightstands and more.
Nanimarquina
We’re fans of designer Jaime Hayón, whose designs were sprinkled not only across different exhibitors at Salone del Mobile, but also throughout the Milan design districts (such as his stunning installation for Caesarstone). For Spanish rug studio Nanimarquina — which also used Milan to mark its 30th anniversary this year — he created the dreamy humorous series Hayón x Nani. The designs, based on a sketch by Hayón, are manually pistol-injected into the hand-tufted wool rugs. Four formats are offered, the largest being 200 by 300 centimeters.
Nowy Styl Group
Mac Stopa is no stranger to playing with geometry to create intriguing surface patterns and furniture systems. At this Salone, he once again demonstrated this fondness for experimenting with shape in the modular lounge seating system Tapa. Not really seating, it’s composed of stacked poufs that can be reconfigured depending on the situation, from spontaneous staff meetings to social hours.