Milan Design Week 18

Milan Design week is often regarded as the pinnacle of the interior design industry calendar. Whilst Maison de Objet in Paris - which happens every January and September - is great for product updates, Milan offers an altogether more in-depth experience, and on a larger scale.

There are installations and concepts that you don not find elsewhere. Milan is, therefor, the place to be during April for any interior designer. Before we go any further make no mistake, whilst it is a whole lot of fun seeking out inspiration at the shows and whilst there are elements of glam, it is also a hectic and hot week of hitting the pavements of Italy's much cosseted fashion capital. Without further ado, here are the highlights from the 2018 show.

1. Dimore

The Milanese design house created three separate installations. The rather lengthy queue Dimore always command - that this year spiralled up to its third floor offices in the city's Brera district - is rightly earned.

Set up by designers Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran, Dimore has gained quite the following. Their work strikes a delicate mix of vintage objects from far-away worlds and, by contrast, materials which are distinctly fresh and contemporary such as alloys and glossy lacquers. The results are unique.

The second gallery space, named 'Perfettamente Imperfetto', showcased a contemporary furniture collection with a space-like entrance corridor made of triangulated foam shapes. Each furniture piece was displayed in a room of its own with billowing white plastic walls. The outcome? a serene and slightly Barbarella-esque space.

2. Caeserstone X Snarkitecture

Quartz manufacturer Caesarstone returned to Milan with 'Altered States'. Its materials are commonly used for kitchen and bathroom projects, so what better starting point than to base its showpiece for Milan on the kitchen island.

Ceasarstone teamed up with New York-based design practice Snarkitecture, and the result was a collection of intricately layered stone surfaces fused with steam, ice and liquid.

Caesarstone based the installation in a faded and very grand building - Palazzo dell'Ufficio Eletralle di Porta Romana - opened to the public especially for this event.

3. 'The Diner' by Rockwell Group

Serving up a distinctly retro take on American diner-style, group founder David Rockwell redesigned an old Milanese railway arch and created a space for visitors to eat. Split into four differently designed dining zones, Rockwell showcased: East Coast, Midwest, West Coast and roadside diner styles. Rock 'n' roll baby.

4. Hay, Sonos and WeWork

Set in a jaw-droppingly impressive palace, Hay teamed up with sound experts Sonos and WeWork - the shared workspace company - to unveil a vision of future live/work spaces. The decadently detailed baroque rooms of the Clerici Palace, situated in central Milan, were transformed via a series of contemporary installations.

Kitchen areas, living rooms, bedrooms and study environments were set up using a combination of the latest Hay, Sonos and WeWork products. The outcome? This trio have successfully turned up the volume on interiors of the future. This might be the sleekest future work/live concept that the interiors industry have seen so far.

5. Eponimo

Eponimo presented 'Spring Variations', an apartment space designed by architect Giovanni Cagnato to suit the spring season. His focus was to bring a series of suggestive rooms, each with a distinctive identity, via a strong use of colour.

The bedroom area is kept warm and cosy with thanks to the earthen red wall colour. This otherwise awkward-shaped room is turned into a welcoming small space thanks to the idea of tying the room together by painting the walls, ceiling and woodwork in the same radiant red colour.

Feature: Rory Robertson

Image credits: Dimore Studio/ HAY.dk/ Eponimo/ Rockwell/ Caeserston