We are back for Day 2, slightly tired but still up for our Marathon journey around Milan and the worlds biggest furniture fair! – now I know we aren’t going to get too much sympathy here, you lot are thinking Italy, Milan, fine foods and wine! Well yes that’s all true but to put this fair into some kind of perspective lets think about the NEC in Birmingham, now put 4 levels into the main hall (and I’m sure you all agree that’s a pretty big exhibition hall!) However we haven’t finished just yet, multiply that Hall by another 20 and you have just the Fairgrounds alone, if you walked constantly for 8 hours a day you might just get round the whole thing in a week!!! Its massive – then of course you have all the satellite events – so yes our feet are a bit sore but we are still determined to bring to you the best Milan has to offer!

 

Lets start with Acheo – our favourite kitchen brand and the one we have on show in Manchester, we also have a new shiny kitchen website – please check it out to see the fantastic kitchens we’ve created with this great company – www.ferriouskitchens.co.uk

 

In this picture you can see the lovely new AC86 kitchen featuring hide away doors, an uber thin  worktop and really lovely Walnut drawer fronts & worktops.

This is the new split island concept we referred to in yesterdays blog, this really caught our imagination and we think its a great concept – both aesthetically and from a practical point of view! By splitting the island into multiple sections you can create increased flow & versatility through spaces, create different work zones – prep – cook and wash and also dramatically increase the workable areas and surfaces. From the looks perspective we think its stunning!

A rather amazing sink & tap combination! These are the new  Blanco ranges and further reinforce the Acheo concept of increasing interest and detail through the introduction of new levels, materials and diverse finishes.

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A better view of the whole island composition – if you look carefully you can also see the increased finishing options cleverly displayed, the lower island sections are gloss, with the upper finish in matt lacquer – the unit spacer is also picked out in Walnut (a really lovely detail)

 

Another composition with the fascinating rebated horizontal detail – almost giving this kitchen the monolithic feeling of stonework – really fantastic! This version of the new Acheo86 also features the original ultra low profile Blanco worktop – which whilst having the practicality and ruggedness of stainless steel is finished to give the natural patina of waxed steel – its a really attractive finish which previously was always very delicate and therefore not an option for kitchen furniture – we think its a winner. This material has only recently been developed and is being shown exclusively within the Acheo showroom for Eurocucine.

A further detail showing the remarkably low profile worktop differentiated at the end with the thick timber section, above the kitchen a display of Marset Pleat box lights – Marset and Acheo now partner through the Milan showroom – a great and complimentary combination of companies.

A further detail of the timber end section also featuring the lovely new Marset  “Follow Me” light, in itself this is a great and pioneering new product – a portable LED powered light available in 3 versions with different charge lives (5,10 & 20 hours) – the light is also dimmable and we thought it was one of the best new lighting pieces we saw in this years fair.

 

Now its time for a change and we visit one of our favourite companies and a design house  becoming increasingly significant across the whole of Europe and internationally – Hay of Denmark:-

Hays lovely new clock “Analogue”

The “Beam” coat hooks by Hay are very nice too!

Bertjan Pots “Pion” lights

These lovely new Hay lights caught our eye, available in both floor and table versions and three sizes, the parchment shades compliment their shape beautifully.

Another eye catching design from Hay was this Rope Trick light by Stefan Diez, as you might imagine as well as looking great its height is adjustable by simply moving the flexible up stand.

Pinorama by Inge Sempe

We also loved this great concept by Hay of a mesh wall enabling you to endlessly re-arrange the items you choose to hang on it – what a simple idea and so effective when combined with the diverse set of complimentary accessories.

A rather lovely new Hay shelving system called “New Order” another great design by Stefan Diez.

And finally we loved the Revolver stool by Leon Ransmeier for Hay – the really ingenious aspect of this stool is that the swivel mechanism is contained within the stool’s footrest which isn’t perceptible when the upper & lower legs are aligned but creates great impact when you swivel and the legs suddenly jar out of line! We think Hays Milan show this year is full on innovation and interest.

 

Now for another giant of design – Moooi.

This years offering consolidates on previous years and fills in many of the gaps missing from their collection, the intent is simple – to be able to provide everything you may need to furnish your interior from within their one collection!

  The rather elegant Tudor low cupboards by Kiki van Eyk & Joost van Bleiswijk for Moooi

The elegant Zio series by Marcel Wanders for Moooi, this edition of dining chairs & tables with complimentary coffee table sums up very well a more considered and serious approach to design than the statement and one off pieces often associated with Moooi. Marcel Wanders brings a fantastic eye for detail and sophistication to this understated and very beautiful collection.

The pleasing Zio coffee tables.

A display showing the different Zio finishing options to full effect.

Another Marcel Wanders design – the Nut chair, available in both a dining and lounge chair version.

A more typical Moooi story – Salago pendant by Danny fang hangs over the Taffeta sofa by Alvin Tjitrowiry, the pendant continues the use of papers & resins and will be available in several sizes & colours.

The Salago pendant can be seen in front of the new Paper Desk by Studio Job

A detail of the new Taffetta sofa

The Taffeta sofa range for Moooi is another great example of a pioneering approach to materials, form and colour – this typically extravagant collection demonstrate Moooi have lost none of their characteristic boldness!!

When it comes to lighting Moooi have always been a very serious company, designs such as the mirrored Light Shade Shades and Random light have been extensively used by designers and architects throughout the world! A recent move towards LED lighting is here further strengthened by playing with the typical qualities associated with filament light sources – but using LED technology.

What is apparent here is the ambition to bridge the gap between the aesthetic properties of one with the energy saving qualities of the other!

The simple ideas are often the best – and we predict another winner for Moooi

Bertjan Pot with their fabulous Prop series.

 

And just in case any of you were really worried that Mr Wanders has grown too serious the Love Sofa and Valentine Flat should re-assure you, it reminds me vaguely of certain sheepish creations by Ross Lovegrove (but perhaps that’s a memory best forgotten!)

Finally these beauties caught our eye –

This is the collana Vase by Sebastian Herkner for Rosenthal

We feel these are a suitable high point to end on today but watch this space tomorrow for more exciting design firsts!!