This month we were delighted to attend the Salone del Mobile in Milan – arguably the most significant event in the world’s design calendar. 2024 was particularly special for us because, in partnership with Occhio, we hosted a series of dinners with attending designers and industry leaders from around the world, inspiring conversation and debate to ignite ideas, passions and innovations.
Fostering Connections
Alongside embracing, enjoying and being enveloped in the city’s design revelry, we gathered on two evenings, starting at Occhio’s showroom on the street of light – Corso Monforte. On each occasion we brought together esteemed guests for an intimate celebration of design, fostering connections within our industry.
Revelling in Cultural Tradition
In the spirit of Italy, we joined one another in the aperitivo tradition, the cultural ritual of a pre-meal drink to open the evening’s festivities. Occhio’s showroom was the perfect location to meet and greet our guests. The world-famous brand and our much celebrated lighting partner has had an established presence in the capital of design since 2021. The space was Occhio’s first flagship store outside Germany and is widely considered the hub of lighting expertise for southern Europe.
Communing for Conversation
We then continued the merriment and discussion under the expert luminaries of Occhio themselves at Il Baretto, in one of the most coveted locations in Milan, Via della Spiga – renowned as a major destination for famous fashion brands. It’s no surprise that this fine dining establishment attracts celebrities and sartorial icons like Gigi Hadid, who come to indulge in the mouth watering dishes, expertly prepared by the head chef, Tiziano Capon.
In this enchanting trattoria we dined on traditional Milanese dishes with a cosmopolitan twist – a combination the proprietors are renowned for. As the Negronis, Aperol Spritzes and Bellinis flowed, we delighted in conversations with Jilly Harris from Colorati Interiors, Jenny Weiss, Helen Bygraves, and their amazing team from Hill House Interiors, as well as Melanie Tomlinson from Melanie Tomlinson Design.
Broadening the Mind
These collaborative conversations about who and what impressed, excited and inspired us most over the course of Salone del Mobile Milano is what we thrive on as designers. The events were a unique opportunity to generate thoughts and opinions, understand one another’s perspectives and formulate ideas about the future of design across different corners of the world.
We thank everyone who attended and look forward to sharing our insights both in our writing and in our work, seeing and celebrating what unfolds in the future of interior design.
