Trend Review: Salone del Mobile 2019
Find out the latest design news, trends and highlights from Salone del Mobile 2019...
The emporium of interior delight that is Salone del Mobile 2019, came to an end last week after a gloriously brilliant week of design. The exhibition, just like last year, did not disappoint and our design team weaved their way through the halls to bring you the latest news, trends and exclusives from the shows.
Wendy Clark, Creative Director at Houseology said of the event; “Salone del Mobile is the must attend show for any designer, a delectable assault on the senses 2019 showcased world class design across the entire city. Italy is the original home of beautiful luxury furniture & the perfect setting for one of the world’s largest trade fairs."
MODERN MEMPHIS
One of the shortest design trends in history is back and better than ever. Memphis design dominated the world for just six years from 1981-1987, but its impact was profound, powerful and unlike anything the industry had seen before. A style that helped defined 80’s pop culture, Memphis design evolved thanks to Italian designer Ettore Sottasass and his group of creatives known as the Memphis Group. With Bob Dylan’s “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again” playing upon the group’s first meeting, it was decided that this unforgettable design movement would indeed be called “Memphis”.
A refreshing break from the dark, dull and heavy aesthetic of the era before, Memphis design was quirky, playful and vibrant. Adventurous and unapologetic, the Memphis movement pushed the boundaries and challenged the traditional norms of design with its odd arrangements, bold colour clashing and graphic prints. Think Miami Vice meets Saved by The Bell.
Debuting at Salone del Mobile in 1981, the Memphis Group created shock waves in a New Wave era with their Art Deco and Art Pop influenced designs and so the Memphis movement began. Nearly 40 years later, Memphis design is having a moment - again, but we couldn’t be happier to see geometric shapes, primary colours, plastic and laminate all over again.
Mad about Memphis? Get the look with designs from Moooi, Kartell, Muuto and more at Houseology.com
THE MANZONI RESTAURANT BY TOM DIXON
Tom Dixon returned to Salone del Mobile this year after a brief hiatus, announcing that Milan will be the permanent location for his second restaurant-come-showroom, The Manzoni. Serving decadent Italian inspired dishes in style, The Manzoni features a bar & lounge, dining room, formal dining area and tropical jungle. As part of Milan’s iconic Fuorisalone (which encompasses all design shows across the city), The Manzoni unites interior design with fine dining once again, just as Tom Dixon’s Coal Office does back in London.
From the 9th – 14th April, attendees of Salone del Mobile were granted exclusive access to the restaurant/showroom before it opened to diners shortly after. With a monastic theme throughout, the waiters served delicate canapes to discerning diners while dressed in black monk-like robes and a large cork dining table remained at the centre, reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”.
A true icon of interior excellence, Tom Dixon reinforces the idea of human beings having short attention spans and how food can slow the pace down, allowing people to truly experience the moment they are in. Featuring marble made from the quarries of Verona and pendant lights and illuminate the space with a gentle glow, the Manzoni is the perfect place to sit back, relax and embrace your surroundings.
Visit the Manzoni at Via Alessandro Manzoni, 5, 520121 Milano or get the Manzoni look at home with our collection of Tom Dixon
EUROLUCE EXHIBITION
International Lighting Exhibition, Euroluce, illuminated the city of Milan in style. Showcasing over 420 exhibitors, Euroluce is the global benchmark for innovative lighting solutions. Showcasing every two years, the exhibition is a cocktail of tech, design and culture, displaying a plethora of goods, Euroluce is the most avantgarde trade fair in the field of sustainability and energy saving lighting.
This year celebrated the 30th edition of Euroluce and brought together lighting from multiple areas including industrial lighting, event/show lighting, special-purpose lighting and indoor and outdoor lighting. One of the most notable exhibitions within Euroluce was the awe-inspiring interactive lighting installation by Preciosa, in which the chiming of guest champagne classes would trigger the installation to glimmer and glow in sync.
If you missed Euroluce, don’t worry because we’ve got plenty of designs from Tala, Chelsom, Pieter Adam, Heathfield & Co, Louis Poulsen and more exhibitors on Houseology.com.
ITALIAN LUXURY
The Mecca of Italian luxury, Salone del Mobile delivered chic, timeless and truly luxurious creations this year. There were no gimmicks, no flashy designs or any sense of pretentiousness, Italian inspired designs were refined, classy and understated all the while remaining effortlessly stylish.
Featuring a colour palette of neutrals, sand and chocolate, Italian luxury is sophisticated with modern minimalism at its core. A mix of textures including velvet and leather with accents of metal and wood finishing, Italian luxury is grown up with understated glamour that is heavily influential throughout the industry, with B&B Italia teaming up with Flos and Louis Poulsen to become "Design Holding", bringing the three luxury companies together creates the ultimate Italian powerhouse of contemporary interior design.
