Milan 2016: A Few Of Our Favourite Things

Every year in Milan, at iSalone, professional designers have a chance to see the latest furniture being launched from around the world. Here are some of the highlights for Studio Hopwood at this year’s show.

The biggest date on the world’s furniture calendar always falls on a Tuesday in April, marking the start of the annual Salone Internazionale del Mobile, a week packed with events, exhibitions and presentations, where everyone who’s anyone on the international furniture design and manufacturing scene comes together to keep up with the latest developments in the field.

The posh word for fringing and tassels is passementerie and is loved by those passionate about vintage but for others a little too last century. Mooi, daring and challenging as ever has brought back  such trimmings bang up to date by applying subtle dyed fringing to this sofa to make it feels as if it is floating. If you feel that a little humour is needed then also look their chesterfield that has been tipped onto its side and turned into a single swivel chair.

Beautiful, lightweight and comfortable is an impossible demand of an armchair but the Paulistano  from Objekto has achieved this   It was designed in 1957 by Paulo Mendes Da Rocha for the Athletic club in  Sao Paulo and is included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art of New York. It has a lovely re-assuring rocking motion and so is ideal for spending hours browsing Pinterest.

I have been following the rise to fame Sebastian Herkner, having discovered a beautiful side tables by him hidden in a small showroom three years ago in Milan. This year he is all over the main show show, with many manufacturers featuring him as their designer. Quite rightly so, with his simple subtle designs, I believe he is going to be one of the design world’s superstars. Pulpo exhibited a set of lights by him called Oda, made of handmade glass and a metal stand they have an oriental feel to them.  I particularly like the large version in amber glass, which would fill a corner nicely in a large open plan sitting room.

Here is one answer for the multiple demands of our small flats. The smart console would be an elegant understated addition to a hallway or behind a sofa but then flip the top and turns it into a smart desk for one of those “working at home” days it is also wired up for charging phones. Brilliant and made Germany too.

I can’t hide it, I have a fan of Minotti  for many years . If I show their range to a client,  it sells itself. Beautifully made and has a simple elegance that dressed up or down. Their furniture never goes out of fashion as it has been designed by evolution and so pieces from years ago will work with well with their most recent designs. This year their main launch was their incredibly versatile modular Freeman seating . With different elements and types of upholstery from classic to a duvet style of cover, it means modular seating will integrate better into a room than just having one bulky piece that dominates a space. It induces lounging.

There is something vaguely annoying about Baxter because they deftly capture a current trend and then turn it into a classic piece of furniture that you can live with for years and yet still  cool. This time they have done it with a side board called Wire Frame which is designed by Draga and Aurel. The front of the cabinet is veneered in various woods and finishes, inlayed with brass to create a piece that has energy and movement. A perfect addition.

And lastly but not least the cutest stool ever, called Café Classic. In black with daddy long legs, it has all the simplicity of Japanese furniture and an elegance that means that it could be placed in even the grandest of rooms. A useful piece of furniture that is very comfortable too, as the seat is bottom shaped.