A Salone del Mobile visit would not be complete without seeing the new products from major companies like Kartell. The first of the products is the Masters Chair. This piece was originally shown at last year’s show; however, the actual product is now ready for sale around the end of the month. If you haven’t seen it before, it is a true fusion of styles between three pieces of furniture from Eero Saarinen (Tulip), Arne Jacobsen (Series 7) and Charles Eames (Eiffel), all icons of contemporary design. The outlines of each piece is then taken and meshed into this chair that you see below.

Moving on… the Audrey Chairs by Piero Lissoni is actually made from aluminum, which is a first for Kartell. The piece is versatile in that customers may choose various finishes and color.

Here’s an “updated” version of the classic Windsor Chair called the Comback Chair. With this updated version you can select from a range colors. So your grandmother’s chair no longer has to look “old”…

These Magic Hole Chairs are outdoor pieces with two armchairs and a sofa (sofa not shown below). What’s interesting about this is that this is all done with a single mold — even with the pocket “holes” that are on either side of the chair or armrest. This is still in prototype stage, so there are still changes pending. When we know more we will keep you updated. Stay tuned.

All images above are taken and used with permission from Kartell, do not use without permission.

In less than a month, the Salone del Mobile (aka the Milan Furniture Fair) will open. After a year’s hiatus, we will be back in Milan reporting on what’s hot and new in design when the whole city is turned into a big design showcase. Before we begin our coverage on the ground in Milan, we’d like to share some of the items that will be displayed at this year’s shows, including the Fuori Salone events, which is concurrent with the actual main show.

We’d like to start with Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka, who has several works and installations during the shows. The first is a chair called Memory for Moroso which is made of a special fabric with recycled aluminum by Yoshioka. There seems to be a little mystery as to how the chair takes its shape, but it’s definitely one I will be trying out during the shows. Please note that the photos are concept only.

Yoshioka’s installation will also be featured at the Swarovski Crystal Palace with a 1m globe (diameter) with Swarovski crystals and lit from within by LEDs. There will also be an accompanying piece that will feature another globe suspended in a tank, on which crystals will be growing naturally.

“What is important to me is not just designing another new chandelier with crystal, but to create a star which shines in the viewer’s heart,” Yoshioka explains. His approach was to “incorporate the element of beauty born of coincidence” into his piece, adding that “it was technically challenging because the unpredictable element found in nature had to be accurately expressed by human design.”

Lastly, he will be showcasing his “Invisible” series of products with Kartell. More to come later on this.

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