milan design week

Red Carpet

This Week's Best Dressed

>> From Milan to Tokyo to Palm Springs, the week's events were as diverse as they were far flung — and each locale provided its fair share of style to inspire.
Best Dressed Celebrities and Models Week of April 16, 2012

>> From Milan to Tokyo to Palm Springs, the week's events were as diverse as they were far flung — and each locale provided its fair share of style to inspire. At Coachella, some of the week's major style moments were had by festivalgoers Kate Bosworth, Emma Watson, and Dree Hemingway; Bosworth and Watson each sported Mulberry, while Hemingway opted for Dolce & Gabbana. In Tokyo, at the opening of Tommy Hilfiger's store in Ometesando, Jessica Alba wore what proved to be one of the week's biggest trends: a sleek menswear-inspired suit; similar styles were seen on both Emma Roberts and Coco Rocha elsewhere during the week as well.

Stella McCartney's designs were in heavy rotation at the premiere of her father's My Valentine video series in Los Angeles; Miranda Kerr and Gwen Stefani were among those who wore looks from the designer. But perhaps no one had a chicer week than Leelee Sobieski. The statuesque star wore a flowing Boy. By Band of Outsiders gown to the premiere of her new film The Five-Year Engagement on Tuesday, then on Wednesday turned up to the Vanity Fair Tribeca Film Festival party in a dramatic Jil Sander frock — and looked majorly stunning in both.
At left, Rachel Chandler and Dree Hemingway at a dinner in honor of Repossi, hosted by Barneys New York. Photo: Greg Kessler

lamps

Before and After: David Trubridge's Massive Koura Lamp

Designer David Trubridge crafts stunning, organic lamps that reflect the flora and fauna of his beloved home country of New Zealand.

Designer David Trubridge crafts stunning, organic lamps that reflect the flora and fauna of his beloved home country of New Zealand. For Milan Design Week, he featured a stunningly supersize version of his Koura lamp.

All of Trubridge's lamps arrive unassembled and flatpacked into individual pieces, and much like a puzzle, must be pieced together. The flatpack design helps to reduce freight costs and packaging needs, thus adding to the eco cred of the lamps.

According to the designer, “Koura is the Maori name for the small fresh water shrimps that live in our rivers. They curl up in this shape. This shape is mirrored again in the similar woven traps used for catching them.” To see what the lamp looked like in the space in Milan, keep reading.

milan design week

Splashes of Color on Day Three of Milan Design Week

Salone Internazionale del Mobile — also known as Milan Design Week — is known for its delectable and overwhelming selection of interior design and home décor.
Photos From Milan Design Week

Salone Internazionale del Mobile — also known as Milan Design Week — is known for its delectable and overwhelming selection of interior design and home décor. Ginny Snook Scott, chief organization officer from California Closets, is helping us out as an on-the-scene reporter. On the first day of the fair, she saw two recurring trends, but on the second day of the event, she shared some of her favorite chair designs. Today, Ginny's focusing on the ways splashes of color are used to enliven designs. Let's take a look!

Trend Alert

Ginny's Picks For Day Two of Milan Design Week

Salone Internazionale del Mobile — also known as Milan Design Week — is known for its delectable and overwhelming selection of interior design and home décor.
Chairs at Milan Design Week

Salone Internazionale del Mobile — also known as Milan Design Week — is known for its delectable and overwhelming selection of interior design and home décor. Ginny Snook Scott (pictured here), chief organization officer from California Closets, is helping us out as an on-the-scene reporter. On the first day of the fair, she saw two recurring trends, but on the second day of the event, she had her eye on something else entirely. See what Ginny was loving when you check out the slideshow!

Trend Alert

Trend Spotting at Milan Design Week

I wish I could be in Milan this week for Salone Internazionale del Mobile — also known as Milan Design Week — for the largest decoration and furniture fair in the world.
Trends at 2011 Milan Design Week

I wish I could be in Milan this week for Salone Internazionale del Mobile — also known as Milan Design Week — for the largest decoration and furniture fair in the world. But since I can't, Ginny Snook Scott, chief organization officer from California Closets, is helping us out as an on-the-scene reporter. On the first day of the fair, she saw two recurring trends wherever she went. Find out what they were in the slideshow!

Source

Shopping

Shopping For Floating Wall Shelves

Italian furniture company Erba displayed a colorful bedroom vignette this week at the 2011 Salone Internazionale del Mobile.

Italian furniture company Erba displayed a colorful bedroom vignette this week at the 2011 Salone Internazionale del Mobile. I love the shadow box floating shelves above the headboard — they're so colorful and eye-catching. While I didn't find anything quite so color saturated, you could always add a few coats of paint to a floating wall shelf yourself. My favorite shelf at a low price point is the CB2 9-Cube Wall Shelf ($90). It would look great hung in an industrial-chic bathroom with rolled towels and handsome toiletry bottles nestled in. Or, opt for these Pair of Floating Wall Shelves ($255) from Christopher Dela Pole of SquareD furniture. This pair of shelves features sliding aluminum doors and can be ordered in a natural or dark finish. Try using them for a book shelf, media storage, or as a place to slide your collection of jewelry below your mirror in your bedroom.

interior design

Guess Where This Chair Is From?

At Milan Design Week, actress Alessia Piovan lounges on a deck chair designed by a renowned Italian company.
At Milan Design Week, actress Alessia Piovan lounges on a deck chair designed by a renowned Italian company. Can you guess the company?

Milan Design Week Cocktail Party Photos

Poll

Love It or Hate It? Corseted Chairs

During this week's Salone Internazionale del Mobile, Italian model, actress, showgirl, and fashion designer Valeria Marini took a break with Felicia Mantellassi on some corseted swivel chairs from her Valeria Marini Home Collection by Mantellassi 1926.

During this week's Salone Internazionale del Mobile, Italian model, actress, showgirl, and fashion designer Valeria Marini took a break with Felicia Mantellassi on some corseted swivel chairs from her Valeria Marini Home Collection by Mantellassi 1926. The collection of furniture was inspired in part by  Marini's fashion designs, and the influence is obvious in this pair of chairs.

Can you see these working in your home? Or in anyone's home? How about in a spa or bar?

eco living tips

Innovative Outdoor Spaces at Milan Design Week

For chic, innovative, and modern outdoor furniture, there's no better place to look this week than at Milan Design Week.

For chic, innovative, and modern outdoor furniture, there's no better place to look this week than at Milan Design Week. I'm particularly in love with Setsu and Shinobu Ito's Artcontainer, which is currently on display at "Interni Mutant Architecture and Design."

According to Shinobu and Setsu, the work showcases "how to reuse and regenerate containers at the end of their commercial life and make them able to fulfill new function[s]."

The husband and wife team of Setsu and Shinobu Ito are known for their innovative furniture and design work. You can see some examples of their work at Studio Ito Design. I'm so impressed by the way these containers have been reused and would love to see something similar in American cities. Have you seen examples of containers — be they shipping containers, railroad cars, or other structures — being reused in parks or other public spaces? How about in gardens? Tell me about it in the comments!

Home

Versace Reveals 2010 Home Collection at Milan's Design Week

Design Week in Milan saw the unveiling of Versace’s 2010 Home collection.


Design Week in Milan saw the unveiling of Versace’s 2010 Home collection. Donatella Versace's current furniture and glass home decor line is colorful, over-the-top, and exactly what you would expect from the more-is-more Milanese fashion designer. The Sunburst round table with chromed metal legs (above), ornate multicolored armchairs, and Baroque-inspired pillows will all be available in Versace stores this fall along with a blown glassware collection in collaboration with Italian brand Venini (below).