FIVE STAR ATTRACTIONS FROM THE MILAN 2019 DESIGN DISTRICTS

Our second round-up from Milan’s Il Salone del Mobile 2019 covers five of the many star attractions located outside the official exhibition within the Milan design districts.

Our eyes and ears on the ground this year belonged to align team member and designer Tania Mateos, who made the following highlights selection for us:

1. With her usual Art Deco inspirations re-imagined via a thoroughly contemporary treatment, designer Lara Bohinc brought us this great selection of ‘Sun to the Moon’ rugs and wall-hangings, with strong geometries calmed by a subtle and mostly neutral palette.

2. Sometimes a piece of furniture really sets your imagination going and that was the case with this brilliant circular enclosed bench, that somehow manages to be classic and futuristic at the same time – Compasso Bench by Gustavo Martini and Testi at the Wallpaper HandMade X exhibition.

3. A challenge to the norm came from Italian brand Latoxlato in the form of this unusual angled credenza. Sometimes different can mean wacky-but-unusable but sometimes, like here, it reminds you how refreshing a new take can be – Fourmosa Credenza by Virginia Valentini & Francesco Breganze.

4. There was some great new feature pendant lighting this year from the Tala stand, including the interplanetary Magma and Sphere lights and the dramatic Oval Ceiling Light.  

5. We’ve saved our absolute favourite from the whole show – including the official exhibition AND the design districts – till last. It’s from none other than design superstars Mooi. The ‘Party Singing Chandelier’ combined lighting design with music in any number of imaginative permutations. The smile-factor or element of surprise really can’t be beaten and Mooi yet again wins that challenge.