Every year, Milan’s epic design fair, Salone del Mobile, offers unmatched inspiration and discovery in the world of interior and industrial design. Local duo Falken Reynolds were in attendance, capturing highlights for MONTECRISTO on Instagram, and returning with a forecast of trends to watch for in the coming year.
LED
Since the last Euroluce (the bi-annual focus on lighting at the Salone del Mobile) in 2013, there have been incredible advancements in the use of LED in lighting fixtures. The quality of light is getting better, both in the colour (closer to what we are used to with incandescent bulbs), as well as how the tiny diodes are diffused through lenses. Flos demonstrated the cleanliness that can be achieved with both its Clara fixture by Piero Lissoni and with the Superloon by Jasper Morrison. The good news in all of this is that prices for quality LED fixtures will start to be within reach for more people, and with higher quality, designers will finally be willing to use them more widely in projects.
Mixed Metals
Brass and copper overtook chrome a few years ago and now we are seeing it used in unexpected ways, mixed with the richness of blackened steel and gun metals. The richness and warmth is used quite differently than it was in the 80s—now the use is more reserved and combined with contrasting colour, textures, and finishes. We take note of much more than just the products themselves, but also how they are presented by the manufacturers and creators. The brass Cypris Mirror from ClassiCon on a rich blue wall; painted & blackened metal consoles from Moroso’s Diesel Living line; the Copycat table lamp by Michael Anastassiades for Flos.
Colour
Hues are getting bolder and richer, and there is more combination of muted pastels and saturated accents. The Dimore Gallery, an apartment by Dimore Studio, is a study in the colours and patterns of the year ahead: rich blues, muted greens, and powdery pinks combined with brassy yellows and black.
Sophistication
With the improved economy in Europe comes a turn from the super raw emphasis on craft we’ve experienced over the past few years. The forms and feeling of furnishings are still warm and friendly, but the finishing and detailing are more refined. B&B Italia introduced two new chairs that somehow merry a sense of casualness with incredibly resolved craftsmanship. Lee Broom’s Crystal Tube Light in Carrara marble. Roll & Hill showed a more American take on casual elegance—new light fixtures show a sensibility influenced by a raw industrial and hand crafted tradition, but the detailing is so resolved that they convey a level of luxury that feels a bit tighter and intent than years past. Take for example Shape Up by Ladies & Gendlemen Studio for Roll & Hill, Mini Farrago – Pendant 01 by Jason Miller, Seed Chandelier 04 by Bec Brittain, and Eclipse wall sconce by Philippe Malouin. Manufacturers were focused on updating materials and finishes and even improving the mechanics of how products are made. B&B Italia introduced new cushion cores to all of their sofas—not something you see but definitely improving the comfort level. The key word here is “better.”
