Above: Kettal’s outdoor collection 

Kettal

On the eve of its fiftieth birthday, the Barcelona-based company is a wonderful reminder that maturity need not come at the price of innovation and energy. This combination of expertise and enthusiasm was evident in the new releases at the fair, with highlights including the expanded Pavilions, the Roll chair by Patricia Urquiola and and the Kettal Village by Jasper Morisson.

Roll chair by Patricia Urquiola

Village Chair by Jasper Morisson

Kettal is available in Australia from DeDeCe and Mobilia

BD Barcelona Design

BD Barcelona Design delivered dynamic and slightly whimsical new products this year, with stand outs being Doshi Levien’s ‘Shanty’ cabinet and Jaime Hayon’s ‘Gardenia’s Indoor’ collection.

Jaime Hayon’s Gardenia’s Indoor chair

Doshi Levien’s ‘Shanty’ cabinet 

BD Barcelona Design are available in Australia from Ke-Zu

Vondom

Characteristically slick and sinuous, the Valencian company’s new releases would be perfectly suited to the home of an elegant Bond villain. Particularly striking is the ‘Wing’ collection, with its dramatic curves and fluid volumes.

‘Wing’ collection chair

Vondom are available in Australia from Ke-Zu and Mobilia

Punt Mobles

Punt make for a pleasing counterpoint to their more flamboyant compatriots, producing beautifully considered, understated timber furniture and accessories. Borja Garcia’s Ernest/Ernesta writing/dressing desks and Mario Ruiz’s Stockholm console are perfect examples of this, marrying sophistication and artisanship.

Mario Ruiz’s Stockholm console

Borja Garcia’s Ernest writing table

Punt Mobles are available in Australia from Mobilia and AJAR

Gandia Blasco

With a mediterranean expertise for all things al fresco, Gandia Blasco unveiled the Jian collection of outdoor furniture by Shanghai-based studio Neri & Hu. Light, clean and accommodating, the collection affords pared back elegance to external situations.

Jian outdoor sofa by Neri & Hu

Gandia Blasco is available in Australia from Parterre and Hub Furniture.

Nanimarquina

Taking centre-stage at Nanimarquina’s stand was the new ‘Rabari’ rug collection by Doshi Levien. Inspired by the tradition of Indian embroidery (a craft close to the heart of designer Nipa Doshi, whose aunt had an embroidery workshop in Ahmedabad), the rugs reference the unfinished embroideries like studies of different techniques in progress, as they gradually emerge over time.

Rabari by Doshi Levien

Nanimarquina is available in Australia from Ke-Zu and Mobilia

Inclass

Yonoh Studio returned to the Inclass stand with the Arc Table this year – a complement to last year’s Arc Chair. Maintaining the chair’s elegant, organic form, the Arc Table’s simple pairing of steel rod structure and moulded plywood is beautifully simple.

Arc Table by Studio Yonoh

Inclass is available in Australia from Mobilia and AJAR

For more indesignlive coverage of the 2014 Milan design fair visit: indesignlive.com/category/articles/in-review/milan-14