Simply Sofas - So Fa So Good

 Milan Design Week 2026 was, as ever, a week too full and too fast. Seven days of exploring installations, districts, and exhibitions - each one offering something different, each one adding to a broader picture of where design is heading.  We were there for all of it, and this is our full roundup: the ideas, the installations, the standout moments, and the things we are still reminiscing about. SaloneSatellite: New Voices, New Ideas Now in its 27th edition and themed around Skilled Craftsmanship and Innovation, SaloneSatellite continued to spotlight the next generation of design talent, with craft and invention at its centre. The first prize this year went to Nippon, a pendant lamp made from restaurant shell waste, by Danish studio Russo Betak. The studio developed its own large-format 3D printer to turn discarded shells into a structural material. Classic Scandinavian restraint, a nod to Japanese design, and a process that did not exist before they invented it. A well-deserv...

Milan Design Week 2026 is done, and our bags are finally unpacked. Over seven days, we moved through showrooms and flagship spaces across the city, covering every label we showcase at Simply Sofas.  Here is everything we discovered and experienced, brand by brand. Brands in Focus Molteni&C  At Palazzo Molteni, the brand presented a complete, cohesive vision across living, kitchen, wardrobe, and outdoor spaces. Sculptural forms and refined proportions led the narrative, with materiality taking centre stage. Kitchens leaned into architectural clarity, while wardrobes focused on seamless, understated elegance. Pianca Pianca's showroom brought together strong design, beautiful textures, and a confident colour palette. The collection reflected a clear direction, with outdoor and storage solutions given the same attention as interiors, balancing function with a more thoughtful approach. NicolettiHome NicolettiHome focused on comfort that feels personal and immediate. Adaptabilit...

  The season of inspiration is here. Every April, Milan transforms from a bustling metropolis into the world’s most significant design laboratory, and for those of us who shape spaces - architects, designers and manufacturers alike - it is the ultimate compass for the year ahead. The central theme, "Be the Project," shifts focus from design as a finished product to design as an ongoing, breathing process. Given how much the brief has changed in recent years - for homes, workplaces, and public spaces alike - that framing feels relevant. Here's what we expect to define the week. Material intelligence Materials are becoming more thoughtful, both in how they are sourced and how they are experienced. Expect to see a continued interest in natural finishes, but interpreted with greater refinement. Woods with visible grain, stone with subtle variation, and metals that carry a softer, brushed quality. Alongside this, innovation in composites and recycled materials is expected to m...

  Every April, Milan does something no other city quite manages to pull off. For one week, the global design community makes it the centre of what's new, next and worth knowing in design, and the result is something that has to be experienced to be believed.  This year, the 64th edition of Salone del Mobile runs from 21st to 26th April at Fiera Milano Rho, with over 1,000 exhibitors from 32 countries filling a completely sold-out 169,000 square metres of exhibition space. Simply Sofas will be there, bringing you all the highlights as they happen. Before that, here is a closer look at what this year is likely to reveal. Salone del Mobile This year, the focus is expected to be firmly on fluid living. Spaces are no longer defined by rigid functions. Living rooms blend into work zones, dining areas become social hubs, and outdoor spaces feel like natural extensions of the home. Expect furniture to follow this shift, with adaptable forms, softer silhouettes, and materials that bala...