It can never be overstated what an enormous task it is to report on the highlights from Salone del Mobile 2018. The sheer epicness of the Rho Fiera fairground is mind boggling, no matter how many times one visits. From it’s 24 halls, thousands of mega brands and their epic stands, to nearly 450,000 attendees this year – a 27% increase in visitors from last year alone – the experience is guaranteed to send anyone into a mini meltdown. There is just so much to see and take in at Salone, the experience usually comes with a side serve of nervous system damage. But luckily, any such ‘damage’ is only temporary.
Salone del Mobile remains the King of All Furniture Fairs, presenting unparalleled calibre of design gathered in one place. Salone is not only an opportunity to witness the best products and stand designs in the word – the event is also the ultimate study on Brand extension and multifaceted design expression of the highest quality.
As is always the case, the amount of attention (and money) that’s being paid towards product presentation – from stand design, all the way through to styling and branding – is quite extraordinary. And this is one of the most exciting aspects of attending Salone, hence why I like to bring you some of the finest Big Brand Furniture Stands from Salone del Mobile 2018, including our video highlights.
But once the stands get disassembled and the dust of Salone settles, what is ultimately left behind are the products which continue to tell the story of the various brands. With this in mind, we’ve combed the fair and sifted through countless press releases on your behalf, to compile our edit of the hottest new furniture released at the world’s premier furniture fair. Consider this article as a high level, scratch and sniff overview of this year’s Salone. If you’re keen to see our complete edit of the many more amazing new releases (and product updates) from both Salone and Milan Design Week 2018 at large, I suggest you get your own copy of our seriously awesome (if I say so myself) Milantrace 2018 Digital Report. Go on, you know you want to.
Valentina Armchair by Alejandra Gandia-Blasco for Diabla, new brand that launched at Salone this year.
Reff Chair by Emu.
Left: Indoor/ Outdoor collection, designed by Bodil Kjær in 1959, by Carl Hansen & Son. Right: Laslo coffee table by Philipp Mainzer for e15. Available in Australia from Living Edge.
Cabinet de Curiosite by Bonaldo.
SIGMUND Bench by Studio Asai for Arflex.
TRACING IDENTITY Metal Screen (2017) by Alessandra Baldereschi for DeCastelli.
Left: 1 INCH RECLAIMED Chair by Jasper Morrison for emeco. Right: KYO Chair by Giuliano Cappelletti for Emmemobili.
Left: MIRRORS by Studio Roso and BASKET by Benjamin Hubert. Right: CROSS PLEX Lamp (1961) by Bodil Kjær, both from Fritz Hansen.
Left: GAP Wall Cabinet by Carlo Tamborini for Porro. Right: OLI Chair by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba for Zanotta.
CARYLLON Coffee Tables by Cristina Celestino for Gebruder Thonet Vienna.
Left: LOIE Armchair by Chiara Andreatti. Right: PROMENADE Lounge Chair by Philippe Nigro, both from Gebruder Thonet Vienna.
Left: Pipe Collection by Sebastian Herkner for moroso. Right: VITRAIL Mirror by Inga Sempe for Magis.
RAYURES Screen by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Glas Italia.
L.A. SUNSET Table by Patricia Urquiola for Glas Italia.
BULE Table by Chiara Andreatti for Lema.
VIMINI Chair by Patricia Urquiola for Kettal, an homage to Nanna Ditzel’s famous design classic – Basket chair.