Fantasy and magic are the liet motiv of the installation designed by Marcel Wanders for Barovier&Toso at the FuoriSalone in Milan last week.

Puppets and dancers made of glass bodies and ceramic faces transformed the Basilica of San Simpliciano in a theatrical spectacle where the protagonists are rotating chandeliers and inverted pendulums.

Light has been on stage with Barovier&Toso for over seven hundred years. It was a big responsibility for the extraordinary designer Marcel Wanders presenting the company at the FuoriSalone. He commented: “It is our responsibility to be magicians, to be jesters, to be alchemists, to create hope where there is only illusion, to create reality where there are only dreams”.

He definitely succeeded: the event was one of the most exciting at the FuoriSalone 2014.

Marni presents Animal House, a place where giraffes, ostriches, rabbits, ducks, donkeys and flamingos made of metal wire and bright colored PVC join the furniture products of the new limited edition charity project.

After the successful collaboration with Columbian prisoners last year, Marni has cooperated with a group of Colombian women on a special project for the Milan Design Week 2014 to create new handmade unique pieces: chairs and armchairs modular together with benches and small tables. Chaise longues and rocking chairs complete the collection.

The collaboration reaffirms Marni’s commitment to charity initiatives: part of the revenues will be donated to Associazione Sogni Onlus, an association helping terminally ill children.

#milandesignweek #milanfurniturefair #salonedelmobile #fuorisalone #interni

Salone 2014: check. We came, we saw, we conquered cappuccinos each morning, as we embarked on the relentless tour of design duty that is Salone. On our last day in Milan, we bring you snapshots of just some of the inspiring moments, monuments, and people we encountered.

Above: We lost all sense of time at CITIZEN’s spellbinding installation at the Triennale. Paris-based architect Tsuyoshi Tane and CITIZEN’s in-house design team tackled the theme of “light is time” with the suspension of 80,000 plates — the main movement plate that forms the foundation of all watches.

Above: Boffi’s wonderfully light outdoor kitchen at the Triennale.

Above: Lea Ceramiche’s Enrico Guazzi and Elisa Bellucci win our Cute Couple award.

 Above: A Salone visitor inspects one of Effeti’s elegant kitchen systems.

Above: Alessandro Mendini (left) at Refin, who along with his brother Francesco, launched a new ceramic tile collection called FILO for Refin.

Above: The Belgian design show “As A Glimpse In The Mirror” at the Triennale featured mirrors and reflective surfaces by Belgian designers.

Above: Axor’s Philippe Grohe introduces Philippe Starck’s new faucet, a clearly progressive design.

Above: Staged at the Università degli Studi of Milan, the Interni exhibition Feeding New Ideas for the City included works by artists, designers, and architects, and served as a thematic introduction to next year’s Milan Expo.

Above: A rare moment to sit at Zona Tortona: Design-Calendar’s Cherie and Chris with Sergio Barberini of ceramic tile company Tagina. Possibly the most coordinated portrait at this year’s Salone.

After a brief hiatus,  the New York designer talks series Product Placement is back this month with another scintillating evening of inspiration and insight—plus wine and nibbles—curated by co-founders Julie Taraska and Kimberly Oliver. Designing with Metal is the theme of Product Placement 5.1, with four designers giving five-minute talks on the inspiration behind one of his or her products. The multi-talented line-up includes: Brad Ascalon, a product, packaging, and furniture designer; Darcy Miro, a jeweler and sculptor; Anna Rabinowicz, a designer whose work is inspired by biomimicry and nature; and Rodger Stevens, a wire artist, sculptor, and product designer. Held once again at Rockwell Group, the event is free—and popular—but seats are limited, so RSVP to save yours.

Product Placement 5.1: Designing with Metal

Wednesday, April 23, 6:30 – 8:30 PM. Presentations begin at 7PM

Venue: Rockwell Group, 5 Union Square West, 8th Floor, NYC

RSVP with your name and number in your party to thisisproductplacement@gmail.com

(Due to demand, only those who receive a confirmation will be able to attend.)

thisisproductplacement.com

Milan Design Week has officially started!
One of the most exciting events in the design industry, Milan is the place to be to discover new designers, learn about new products and network with the right people

In the next few days, you (like us) will probably be walking around the fair all day long, and when you are not at the fair, you’ll be running around the city to check out the coolest Fuorisalone events: we are sure you are going to get extremely hungry (we do!), and that’s why we made a list of our favorite restaurants and bars of Milan.

ALFRESCO

Located in the heart of the Tortona district, in via Savona 50, Al Fresco is the perfect place for a nice, quiet lunch. Set inside an old warehouse, renovated by landscape architect Emanuele Bortolotti, Al Fresco is much more than a restaurant. It is, as its owners call it, an “urban refuge”, a meeting place surrounded by cherry trees, wisteria and honeysuckle.

What to order: their maccheroni with fresh tomato sauce, basil and stracciatella cheese.

CIRCLE

Head to Circle for a fancy dinner after walking all day at Fuorisalone. Located inside the Diesel building in the Tortona district, in via Stendhal 36, Circle is a lounge bar and restaurant where fashion and design meet good food. The vintage furniture was hand picked by the Diesel Creative Team and the chandelier over the bar is an installation of more than 8300 light bulbs, all of different dimensions.

What to order: try their tuna tartare!

TERRAZZA APEROL

Italians love their aperitivo: a drink and some small bites, right before dinner. So why don’t you embrace this lovely tradition and head to Terrazza Aperol and order an authentic Aperol Spritz (3 parts of Prosecco, 2 parts of Aperol and 1 splash of soda). Salute (cheers in italian) !

GIACOMO ARENGARIO

The view from this restaurant, inside the Museo Del Novento, can’t be beat: it overlooks Piazza del Duomo, the heart of Milan. The décor of restaurant pays homage to the Deco period, while the menu takes inspiration from the Milanese tradition giving it a new spin.

What to order: we are hearing that the brunch here is pretty good!

LA LIBERA

This charming trattoria opened more than 30 years ago but is still very popular. Make sure to make a reservation because most of the time it’s fully booked!
Located in the Brera district, it’s the perfect place if you want to have a casual dinner and eat earthy, wholesome food.

What to order: their Cotoletta, the traditional Milanese veal breaded cutlet.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Located in the Porta Venezia area, Nottingham Forest is one of the 50 best bars of the world. Owner Dario Comini is a respected bartender with years of experience, coming from a chemistry background: if you’re interested in innovative, exciting drinks, this is a place you want to visit.

What to order: difficult to say, there are too many good drinks to decide!

RISTORANTE 13 GIUGNO

The story of this restaurant revolves around the number 13, but don’t be superstitious, only good things will happen if you come here. This Sicilian restaurant offers fine Italian seafood, delicious dessert and a vast selection of wine. And if you are lucky, the owner of the restaurant will entertain you by playing Italian classics at the piano. We promise that after coming here you will love the number 13!

What to order: Lobster Linguine with baby tomatoes and capers

Enjoy!

FLEXIBLE ARCHITECTURE by S+ARCK is not just a simple collection designed by Philippe Starck for Ceramica Sant’Agostino, but a real architectonic system that, thanks to the wide combination of different thickness, surfaces, joints, finishes and colors offers the designer endless composition possibilities.

The new press campaign of FLEXIBLE ARCHITECTURE by S+ARCK combines the multi-year experience of Ceramica Sant’Agostino, with the creative genius of Philippe Starck and the visionary intuition of the photographer James Bort.  It merges design with art. The result is an outstanding video… something you have never seen in the ceramic field before.

The visual impact and the graph of the video is outstanding. The movie-set is neat and the clothes by Lanvin worn by the two models confirm the high quality of the Sant’Agostino products.

Filippo Manuzzi, Brand Manager of Ceramica Sant’Agostino, commented “The visual interpretation of FLEXIBLE ARCHITECTURE by S+ARCK by James Bort and Philippe Starck is extraordinary, fresh and innovative. Through the images used, they have managed to transmit the revolution this collection has brought to the world of ceramics. We are very satisfied with the result.”

FLEXIBLE ARCHITECTURE by S+ARCK was officially selected by ADI for the Compasso d’Oro 2014 Awards.

Check out the collection and campaign at the Milan Furniture Fair (April 8-13), Hall 24, E14-E18.

We had high expectations for this year’s DIFFA’S Dining by Design, and we weren’t disappointed!
All of the 45 table installations were so stunning it’s hard to decide which ones were our favorites.
From minimal tables like the ones of 3M, Calvin Klein Home, Axor and Interior Design Magazine, to the extravagant installations of Knoll, Arteriors and the New York Design Center, the exhibition, which was co-located with the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, was a must-see.

Ralph Lauren Home ( Photo by Marion Curtis, StarPix )

Ralph Lauren table was elegant and sophisticated. It featured pieces from this years’ Ralph Lauren Home collection and had a very “parisienne” atmosphere. We are pretty sure that the scenery reproduced in those windows was Paris!

Axor, one of the few bathroom manufacturers to participate, partnered with Slade Architecture to create a visually stimulating dining environment. If you look at it carefully, the wallpaper was created from aggregated and arranged AXOR fixtures.

Axor (Photo by Marion Curtis, StarPix.)

Designed by Kati Curtis, the New York Design Center’s installation portrayed the concept of masculine/feminine and featured two eye-catching portraits by Ulric Colette from her “Genetic” series.

New York Design Center (Photo by Marion Curtis, StarPix.)

Beacon Hill teamed up with design duo 2Michaels to transport the viewer into a different time and space. Previewing the oriental inspired “Floating World” silk collection, we could imagine ourselves taking part in a tea ceremony. Arigato!

Beacon Hill (Photo by Marion Curtis, StarPix.)

The Calvin Klein Home table had an oriental feel too: the kotatsu-like table, the minimal setting and the recessed lighting radiated a very zen vibe that made us calm and relaxed.

Calvin Klein Home (Photo by Marion Curtis, StarPix.)

Fashion Institute of Technology table was…inside a whale?
It was like a big fish swallowed a ship and everything, from the lights to the chairs, had a very marine feeling.

Fashion Institute of Technology (Photo by Marion Curtis, StarPix.)

Several tablescapes really drove home DIFFA’s core message – to provide treatment and direct care services for people living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS, offer preventative education programs targeted to populations at risk of infection and support public policy initiatives. Turkish designer Ali Tayar partnered with Interior Design Magazine to “target” the end of AIDS.

3M Architectural Markets, with architect Lauren Rottet of Rottet Studio, also set out to make a statement. The table was split in two to symbolize the breakdown in communication between those with HIV/AIDS and those in the outside world.

3M Architechtural Markets (Photo by Marion Curtis, StarPix.)

We are very grateful to be at DIFFA’s Dining by Design also this year. It is a great moment where the design industries get together and create some amazing installations to contribute to a very important cause: the fight against AIDS.

The second in a series of pre-show conversations organized by WantedDesign, “Designing + Making: Traditional Skills in the Contemporary Environment” at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) will feature a discussion between designers and manufacturers who are using traditional methods to create products in and for a contemporary design environment. Speakers include Coleman Gutshall (Bernhardt Design), Joseph Kent (FruitSuper Design), Steven Haulenbeek (designer), Laura Kirar (interior designer and product designer), and Alan Indursky (ILEX). The conversation moderator is design writer and photographer Paul Clemence.

We’re particularly excited to hear designer Laura Kirar and ILEX President Alan Indursky discuss their collaboration for The Portfolio, a new lighting collection launching this spring at Wanted Design—hopefully, we’ll get a sneak peak of what they, and the other presenters, have on the horizon for us!

Event details are are follows:

Designing + Making: Traditional Skills in the Contemporary Environment
The Theater at MAD
2 Columbus Circle, NYC
Thursday, March 27, 2014
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Free with Pay-What-You-Wish Admission

Seating is limited, so please click HERE to RSVP (required).

Pop-up shop alert! Manufacturer of luxury home furnishings and accessories Lorena Gaxiola will have a temporary base at 69 Leonard Street (at Church Street) during New York Home Fashions Market Week, March 24 – 28, 2014. The shop will be open to the public from 10 AM – 6 PM daily, showcasing items from Lorena Gaxiola’s debut collections, Soft Rocks Glassware, Lorena Gaxiola Bedding Collection, and La Loteria Dinnerware, as well as new introductions from the Agua and La Vida Dinnerware collections and the Angel and Buho Bedding collections. Bedding and accessories are a great way to add a breath of fresh air to your home for the spring season, so be sure to stop by! If you shop ’til you drop, the Lorena Gaxiola team will ship your items to your home free of charge.

This post is brought to you by our extern Amelia Edwards.

Final preparations are underway as the 13^th Annual Architectural Digest (AD) Home Design Show gets set to open up its doors to interior designers, architects, and the general public from March 20^th-23^rd at Pier 94 (55^th Street at Twelfth Avenue in New York City).

This year, the show promises to have an exciting array of exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in both indoor and outdoor home design with over 300 brands in attendance. There is also an invigorating series of seminars and talks that will feature today’s influential designers in the industry and current trend makers. These talks and exhibits are sure to set loose the designer within you and provide great inspiration for your own design pursuits!

This year’s highlights include a reFRESH pavilion where over 100 kitchen and bath brands will be showcasing their new products and partnering with top chefs who will be cooking up some delicious tastings. These culinary demonstrations are definitely going to be delicious, highlighting the possibilities that could take place in wonderfully designed kitchens.

The MADE section is another must-see at the show. Among this curated selection of products you will find limited edition, one-of-a-kind fine art, furnishings, and lighting. Today’s up and coming design talents, many of whom are based in Brooklyn, are producing all of these carefully crafted products.

Also, take a look at the table installations at DIFFA’s Dining By Design NY. There will be 45 different table installations that promise to be over-the-top and inspiring, combining both internationally famous designers and local talents. These tables are designed in support of gaining awareness for DIFFA’s mission to raise funds for organizations that fight HIV/AIDS. Past designers of DIFFA tables have been a variety of people from top architects and fashions designers to floral and landscape artists. As this is their 30^th anniversary, we cannot wait to see who is designing this year and the masterpieces they come up with.

Before you leave the show do not forget to stop by the debut of the Shops at the AD Home Design Show. There, products are available for immediate purchase and will allow you to take a piece of the show home with you!

So get your ticket today so you do not miss out on one of the design events of the year in New York. The show is open from March 21-23 to the public. Tickets are available for $30 online and $40 at the door. Check out the schedule of events for more information to plan your day at the show.