Milano is back in finest form. Salone del Mobile 2024 and Fuorisalone 2024 were both packed – with people, furniture launches and installations in what seemed like a remarkable return to pre-COVID-19 levels. The FOMO returned as well. With so many stands to visit and events to attend, many visitors were simultaneously absorbing the sights and pounding the pavement while checking out what they were missing on each others’ Instagram feeds.

Despite all this stimulus overload, a few design trends rose to the surface at Salone del Mobile 2024 itself: soft, slouchy seating that emphasized cushions, expressive stone finishes for kitchens, luxury in art-design, jewel-tone reds and eclectic tables.

The standout installations at Fuorisalone 2024 were many: Lasvit’s incredible Porta display by Maxim Velčovský showed how the Czech glass company is supersizing its offerings with custom architectural glass; Alcova’s outside-Milan foray to two jaw-dropping villas was well worth the trip, with its room after room displays of rarified furnishings and decor; even the French artist JR took part, with his transformation of Milan’s central station into a palimpsest of past and present. To say that Milan remains the Mecca of design is an understatement: both Salone del Mobile 2024 and Fuorisalone demonstrated that any brand or creative talent wishing to go big and bold will get the attention they deserve in the Italian capital of design.

Zaha Hadid Design staged the Poesis Materiae, a sculptural installation for Iris Ceramica Group, in front of the Duomo, Milan’s central cathedral.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

1/99

Another immersive installation, this one in the Durini Design District, invited passersby to take a seat on one of 30 Spun rotating chairs by Magis.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

2/99

Salvatori’s new collection The Small Hours by Patricia Urquiola combines natural stone with stainless steel.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

3/99

Faye Toogood’s Rude Arts Club — a pop-up showcasing new designs for Tacchini and CC-Tapis — drew a stylish crowd.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

4/99

The rugs were more art than floor covering, and were displayed along with paintings that depicted their eclectic patterns.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

5/99

Artemide’s new launches included Criosfera, designed by Giulia Foscari, which takes inspiration from ice cores drilled from Arctic glaciers.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

6/99

Alambicco, designed for Artemide by Neil Poulton, is a modular suspension light that can be hung vertically or horizontally.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

7/99

L’Appartamento by Artemest filled the ornate rooms of Residenza Vignale with luxuriously crafted furniture and decor, including Roberto Cambi’s Green Bubbles Sculpture.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

8/99

Giuseppe Rivadossi’s Madia Intagliata Chest was another opulent delight presented by Artemest.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

9/99

B&B Italia’s introductions included Narinari, an armchair designed by Tiziano Guardini and Luigi Ciuffreda.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

10/99

The front area of Cassina’s showroom was anchored by Cornaro, a 1973 design by Carlo Scarpa featuring a beech frame lacquered in glossy oxblood.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

11/99

After previewing the Galaxy lamp by Charles and Ray Eames in prototype form last year, Cassina is now putting the historic design into production.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

12/99

Rounding out Cassina’s lighting collection was 3TO9, a collection by Neri&Hu that takes inspiration from kite flying.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

13/99

Debuting a new Via Durini flagship, Zanotta reintroduced the Gomma armchair by Italian design trio De Pas, D’Urbino, Lomazzi.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

14/99

Lasvit’s “Re/Creation” exhibition filled the courtyard of Palazzo Isimbardi with fused glass panels that demonstrated the company’s architectural capabilities.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

15/99

Flos returned to Palazzo Visconti — where it had once hosted its first launch by an international designer, the one and only Philippe Starck, back in 1988 — to showcase SuperWire by Formafantasma.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

16/99

Barber Osgerby expanded its Bellhop family of Flos lamps with a new suspension light and table lamp.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

17/99

Foscarini showcased Habitus, a research project involving experiments with lighting and beadwork that may one day evolve into a product…

Photo

Eric Mutrie

18/99

A closeup of the beadwork in Foscarini’s Habitus display.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

19/99

Chinese artist Jiang Qiong Er collaborated with Roche Bobois on its latest collection, the lovely Bamboo series of seating, tables, rugs and screens.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

20/99

Irish brand Orior displayed its Fearn planters — each carved from a single solid slab of stone — in the garden of Bocci’s Milan apartment.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

21/99

As part of “Design is Language; Speak for Yourself” — an exhibition exploring the personal connections we develop with objects — Rapt Studio imagined a cozy living space for a fictional couple.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

22/99

Moooi previewed its upcoming Peaks Sofa, a collaboration with Yves Béhar.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

23/99

Moooi’s next big reveal was Big George, an oversized armchair by Cristián Mohaded.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

24/99

The rest of the scene at Moooi’s magical exhibit, dubbed “A Life Extraordinary.”

Photo

Eric Mutrie

25/99

Visiting Muuto’s Brera apartment felt like stepping into a friend’s dinner party — with the Earnest extendable table by John Tree at the heart of the kitchen setup.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

26/99

Muuto’s next introduction was the screw-like Set lamp by Jamie Wolfond.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

27/99

At Poltrona Frau, Faye Toogood delivered more ultra-cushy furnishings in the form of Squash, seen here in both side table and armchair form.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

28/99

Sebastian Herkner’s graceful family of Nymph lamps for Poltrona Frau takes inspiration from mythological Greek deities.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

29/99

“Ottave,” a site-specific artwork by Daniele Papuli shown at Poltrona Frau, used cardboard strips to imitate the look of soft brushstrokes.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

30/99

The scene at Poltrona Frau’s cocktail event.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

31/99

A perennial favourite of Rossana Orlandi, Draga & Aurel presented the ultimate vanity/desk.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

32/99

Liquides Imaginaires conjured an olfactory “imaginarium” full of fragrant fruit aromas at Rossana Orlandi.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

33/99

Perhaps Rossana Orlandi’s most interesting focus was on Korean crafts.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

34/99

The Korean Craft & Design Foundation presented numerous artisan contributions, including this wall mural made of tea leaves.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

35/99

Ciffo, a company that makes silicon resemble marble, filled a room at Rossana Orlandi with massive faux-stone furnishings.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

36/99

Moving on to Salone del Mobile…

Photo

Eric Mutrie

37/99

David Lynch’s Thinking Room tucked a cerebral space behind a red velvet curtain.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

38/99

Visitors were invited to take a seat at a golden chair and draw whatever the room inspired them to think about, highlighting connections between interior design and the interior mind.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

39/99

Patricia Urquiola’s boucle-upholstered Aaland family (which includes the armchair shown as well as a larger sofa version) is based on aerial views of archipelagos.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

40/99

Poliform’s stand including its Artex Pro kitchen, released for Eurocucina.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

41/99

The Ernest collection by Jean-Marie Massaud for Poliform includes tables that come together like loose puzzle pieces and a sofa defined by cylindrical cushions (which was a bit of a trend at Salone).

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

42/99

Sebastian Herkner played up Pedrali’s penchant for soft colour combinations, an effect enhanced by a stand design care of DWA.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

43/99

The Lamorisse sofa and lounge chair by CMP Design for Pedrali.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

44/99

At Gervasoni, modular, pyramidal cushions popped up in Federica Biasi’s Semat High seating.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

45/99

Made using rotational moulding technology, Thomas Heatherwick’s In-Side collection for Magis showcases recycled polyethylene in all its multi-flaked glory.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

46/99

A “Choose your fighter” display of seating at Mattiazzi.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

47/99

Marking its 25th anniversary, the SaloneSatellite exhibition once again showcased work by an inspiring mix of up-and-comers, including Italy’s WM Metal Design, which is behind this purple chair.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

48/99

Kotaro Usugami’s stacked Moment lamp (left) was another SaloneSatellite standout.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

49/99

Under the Surface, a feature installation at Salone del Mobile, took the form of a submerged island. Designers Accurat, Design Group Italia and Emiliano Ponzi (Salotto.NYC) used projections to convey information about water resources.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

50/99

Fantini offered a first look at an upcoming collection by Vincent van Duysen.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

51/99

Designed by Stephen Burks, Dedon’s Kida lounge chair felt ever-so inviting.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

52/99

Knoll introduced its beloved Wassily armchair (as well as three other Bauhaus-era collections) in three new ultra-matte finishes: white, black and dark red.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

53/99

Knoll’s other big launch was the Perron Pillo sofa by Willo Perron — the next best thing to a pillow fort.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

54/99

Delicate reliefs in Atlas Concorde’s 3D Wall Plaster collection of tiles.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

55/99

At Cosentino’s booth, Formafantasma developed a new Silestone collection, Earthic, to make the most of recycled glass, PET, bio-resin and Dekton fragments.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

56/99

Minotti’s Nico table exemplifies a trend towards expressive table bases – as much architectural statement as functional frame.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

57/99

Arper’s Catifa Carta project reimagines the manufacturer’s Catifa chair in an innovative PaperShell material made of composite wood byproducts. At the end of its life, the chair can be reduced to biochar fertilizer, feeding a circular production cycle.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

58/99

Maruni’s quietly beautiful offerings included Shoto, a series of tables (ranging from coffee table to side table) by Cecile Manz as well as the Lightwood sofa by Jasper Morrison.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

59/99

TechnoGym encouraged us not to skip arm day.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

60/99

Nanimarquina celebrated the emotional beauty of handmade craft.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

61/99

Lapalma was one of several booths leaning into warm earth tones.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

62/99

A rotating basin display at Laufen.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

63/99

Kohler’s Yabu Pushelberg-designed booth greeted fairgoers with a swirling fish mobile.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

64/99

Admiring concrete basins by Kast.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

65/99

Kohler teamed up with Samuel Ross on a limited edition toilet.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

66/99

A mobile of fabric samples on the way into Paola Lenti’s Milan headquarters.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

67/99

Following up on its first Metamorfosi collection with the Campana brothers, Paola Lenti teamed up with Nendo for a new range of seats, tables and lights made from fabric and trim remnants.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

68/99

Paola Lenti also hosted a special exhibition by Nendo, “Whispers of Nature.” Here, translucent shelving mimics the look of hazy clouds.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

69/99

A series of textiles with patterns informed by the way that spools of thread had been dipped in black dye.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

70/99

Paola Lenti also introduced Maiolica side and coffee tables.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

71/99

Formafantasma’s Wonderglass contribution was Graft, a suspension light that rebelled against rational Modernist ideals with handcrafted Murano glass flowers.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

72/99

This year’s edition of the offsite exhibition Alcova was spread across two historic villas.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

73/99

Objects of Common Interest with Garden House, an inflatable folly that invited people to lean against its bulbous base.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

74/99

These lamps are made of 3D printed wood.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

75/99

Harry Thaler’s EconitWood collection also includes tables and seating made of repurposed sawdust.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

76/99

The scene on the stairs at Villa Bagatti Valsecchi.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

77/99

Vancouver studio A-N-D showed off a columnar installation of its luminaires, alongside a rug for CC-Tapis by Bethan Laura Wood and a sofa (with Alcova founders Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima perched atop it) by Uma Objects.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

78/99

PET Lamp is behind this ingenious series of tapestries made of post-consumer plastic bottles.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

79/99

Kickie Chudikova took inspiration from jellyfish to create Pulpopolis, a set of three Murano glass lamps.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

80/99

Heading into the subterranean realm of Alcova.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

81/99

To create the Flump stools, displayed in a colonnade of Villa Bagatti Valsecchi, Heirloom employed 3D printed ocean-derived plastics.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

82/99

Post-apocalyptic performance art by Geneva University of Art and Design.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

83/99

The lobby of Triennale di Milano, the city’s design museum.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

84/99

One exhibition commemorated 25 years of the SaloneSatellite exhibition dedicated to emerging designers. Wall displays drew attention to now-established talents who got their start in previous editions of the show.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

85/99

Giles Tettey Nartey’s Communion, made in American Hard maple by Jan Hendzel Studio, was a standout in *Wallpaper’s Class of ’24 show at the Triennale.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

86/99

Yet another Triennale exhibition honoured Alessandro Mendini.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

87/99

An Emeco employee’s Carhartt chore coat, seen in the Triennale exhibition “Emeco to Emeco.”

Photo

Eric Mutrie

88/99

Moving to the group show Capsule Plaza at Spazio Maiocchi, BD Barcelona introduced two launches by Muller van Severen: a series of geometric cabinets…

Photo

Eric Mutrie

89/99

And a sofa, Pillow.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

90/99

Another Capsule Plaza display, “Futura Akari” featured Noguchi lights hand-painted by artist Futura2000 (and available for purchase on retail platform GOAT).

Photo

Eric Mutrie

91/99

Norwegian aluminum company Hydro worked with designers Inga Sempé, Max Lamb, Andreas Engesvik, Shane Schneck, Rachel Griffin, John Tree, and Philippe Malouin to create a series of aluminum furnishings.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

92/99

Paola Navone’s Oblò pendants were the highlight at Lodes showroom.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

93/99

Cesar kitchens dialled up the luxe in its latest collections.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

94/99

A whimsical take on ubiquitous terrazzo, this kitchen concept by Dutch interiors firm i29 was just one of three systems that the studio presented at Valcucine’s showroom.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

95/99

Marsotto’s modular Ratio kitchen by David/Nicolas.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

96/99

Design studio Masquespacio sourced a range of wares from makers in the Isola Design District (rounded out by a series of Cilinder lamps by Mas Creations) to create a spectacular tablescape celebrating the neighbourhood. On Thursday, the dining environment hosted a pasta-making class led by Macaroni Event.

Photo

Eric Mutrie

97/99

10 Corso Como staged a range of experiences, including this ode to Verner Panton.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

98/99

JR took over Centrale station with his La Nascita installation, which superimposes an Alpine landscape over the architecture, connecting the site’s past to its present.

Photo

Elizabeth Pagliacolo

99/99