I have been going to Salone del Mobile in Milan for many years. In 2025, I loved the Buccellati installation of their Naturalia collection where they presented ‘furry’ animals (in brushed silver) of different sizes. Some, life size, were placed in natural habitats built for the occasion with real moss, ferns and shells. It showed the Italian craftsmanship of jewellery-making at its best. On the theme of nature, and again making use of creature comforts, FormaFantasma curated an impressive performance for Cassina to celebrate the brand’s 60th anniversary – with real actors, fake life-size animals and some of the iconic Cassina pieces by Charlotte Perriand at Teatro Lirico in Milano.
Elsewhere, the Dedar installation showcased their new fabrics; a collaboration with Anni Albers set in a kind of industrial office, with vintage design desks and metal containers, on the 16th floor of the newly refurbished Torre Velasca, one of the landmarks of Milano architecture. Industrial touches were also seen in the installation of Paolo Castellani for Rubelli, showing the reversible new fabrics collection designed by Peter Marino, which fitted well with the exterior scaffolding. Margherita Maccapani Missoni presented a collection of stools and furniture all airbrushed in pop colours; the fruit holders by Peter Shrine at Galleria Luisa delle Piane’s were made with industrial surplus, and a marble installation of Hannes Peer for Margraf rounded out these marvels of manufacturing.
Keeping on track with the industrial revolution, I also loved exploring Arlecchino, the Gio Ponti-designed train, thanks to Prada Frames talks, where poems were read while guests sat in the original 1951 carriages. The Estate vignette at Palazzo Ralph Lauren also impressed. In it, a room of a stately English country house had been designed and decorated with some beautiful fabrics of floral patterns in faded tones, brocades and archival paisleys. ‘La Garçonniere’, a romantic room designed by young Giuseppe Porcelli, had something equally cinematic and sexy about it. The fabrics were by Rubelli, the artwork by Duncan Grant and Alex Foxton.
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Bamboo was big this year, as seen at the big Gucci design exhibition; at the Osanna Visconti installation with Hosoo with Dimorestudio; and sprouting up at Giuseppe Porcelli’s Garconniere installation – he designed a bamboo-framed chair and a mirror, the fabrics being Fortuny Venezia; Etro Home four poster bed; Armani Casa table with metal bamboo stand; Erina Caldeira. In fact, an Eastern revival was ubiquitous: the new pieces from Armani Casa were embroidered with dragons and snakes, plus their new collaboration with de Gournay for sofas and armchairs; there was a Japanese tea room designed by Christophe Pillet Studio for Ceccotti; an installation by Studio Outte in a kind of zen-style like a Ryokan; and chinoiserie wallpapers at Virginie Droulers house (Studio Droulers).
Hungry for more stories from Salone? You are in luck. Our crack team of decoration investigators have microfibred their microscopes; loupes poised over all the most important details of design’s headline event. Do you agree with their musings from Milano? Read more about Milan Design Week from decoration associate David Lipton and digital editor Alice Inggs.
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