The Design Files' Lucy Feagins on the hottest trends from Milan Design Week

Salone Del Mobile in Milan is the world’s biggest and most prestigious design fair, attracting more than 400,000 attendees each year, from 188 countries. Launched in 1961, this design showcase has become a pilgrimage for designers, architects, stylists, photographers, media, retail buyers and trend forecasters.

Originally conceived as a furniture fair, the Salone Del Mobile of today is a melting pot of creative ideas and trends for the year ahead, showcasing furniture, lighting, floor coverings, homewares, kitchen and bathroom design. Beyond the commercial fair, there is a public program of more than 1300 satellite events and installations known as Fuorisalone (literally meaning “outside the fair”).

Trend / Colour

Yellow

This year’s standout was bold yellow. From egg-yolk to green-tinged citrine, yellow was favoured at Vitra’s Typecasting exhibit, and at Hemma, the Swedish Design Exhibit. Expect to see it filtering into Australian homes during the next 12 to 18 months. It is a powerful accent and an easy addition to white and neutral schemes.

The new pink

Millennial pink has not yet retired but exhibitors pointed towards richer, warmer versions of the hue, most noticeably a distinctive brick pink. Warm and comforting, this was seen alongside a palette of similar autumnal hues – orange, deep reds, plums and caramels.

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Burgundy

Last year was a big year for 1970s-style interiors – with terracotta leading the way. Looking ahead, terracotta, rust and nutmeg tones are still very much on trend, but are broadening to incorporate a richer, pigment-heavy burgundy. A dilapidated Milanese apartment with deep maroon interiors served as a backdrop for contemporary Australian design, hosting the Local Milan exhibit, a showcase of contemporary furniture and lighting by 26 Australian designers.

Mauve

After Pantone naming the eye-arresting Ultra Violet as Colour Of The Year 2018, various shades of purple made an appearance across the fair, although in more muted forms. Dusty lilac tones were prominent for surface coverings and upholstery. At Moroso’s exhibit, deep mauve walls were paired with glossy red accents, with spectacular results.

Trend / Materials

Fluted glass

Screens in translucent mauve and gold fluted glass gave a sparkling, contemporary touch to the Hay x WeWork x Sonos installation at the Palazzo Clerici. Meanwhile, at the Club Unseen, created by Italian design duo Studiopepe, fluted clear glass provided the backdrop for a mixology performance, with drinks served by bar staff behind fluted glass screens, with only white-gloved hands visible.

Travertine

Classic Carrara marble is taking a rest this year in favour of more textured, imperfect stone surfaces in beige and brown tones. Various travertine finishes were seen across tabletops, seating and occasional furniture, and a new range of sculptural objects by Australian designer Henry Wilson.

Terrazzo

This composite material has been creeping into interiors during the past two years. In Milan, a standout was the Radical Fake desk by Patricia Urquiola for Cappellini, created using a new “faux” terrazzo, designed for longevity.

Trend / Pattern

Grid

Grid-like patterns were across various exhibits, but none quite so impressively as the Hermes exhibit at the Museo Della Permanente, with homewares collections, textiles and wallpaper in a maze of towering, tiled structures, entirely clad in small square earthenware tiles.

Lucy Feagins travelled to Milan Design Week 2018 with Dulux.