Russ Diamond on Lake Orta, en route to Casa Fantini

We’re still celebrating Salone del Mobile and this week we’ve asked our own Russ Diamond to share his thoughts on the show and on our exclusive roster of special events.

What were some of the most interesting finds this year? “Zerobody—a dry floating bed that’s new to the wellness realm. What’s brilliant is that it’s a spa-like experience but you don’t have to get out of your clothes, so it’s great for offices or sports facilities, or for relaxation at home. It’s a collaboration between spa company Starpool, Italian designer Cristiano Mino and a brain research firm called Neocogita. You just lie down on the bed, which is much like a heated waterbed but it creates the sensation of floating. The integrated NuRelax app offers meditations that amplify the zero-gravity effect you feel. 

Another great find were magnetic walls with different finishes and different hookup accessories by Ronda Design. The collection is called Magnetika and can be ordered in a number of premade designs or it can be completely customized. It’s a great idea for kitchens and baths but also living rooms, or any room in the house.”

Did you notice any emerging trends that we might see coming stateside? “Definitely more customization options, especially from wellness firms like Effegibi, as people start to embrace the wellness concepts for their homes and have more and more specific requirements or needs. But I also saw a lot more natural finishes and fixtures. There continues to be a trend for combining earth elements like stone—I saw a lot of marble—and wood, not only for design purposes but for practical purposes, too." [Below is the DeKauri bath credenza from architect Daniel Germani, Spanish surfaces purveyor Cosentino, and Italian furniture maker Riva 1920. The freestanding vanity uses antique wood, a Cosentino sink with a Fantini faucet, and lighting by Juniper Design.] 

"A lot of companies are really continuing to explore technology, too – how to incorporate it for kitchen and bath, especially with sensor and voice-activated devices. It probably won’t hit the market for another year yet but Miele’s exploring new technologies with RF cooking. Their Dialog oven uses radio frequency—the same as your mobile phone—to heat food in a way that monitors how much energy the food absorbs and requires for cooking.” 

(To see more on the tech items at Salone, check out this post from AD India.)

What were some of the highlights of the Snyder Diamond trip for you? “Definitely the Fantini trip and spending time at Casa Fantini. I’d only seen it in construction, so it was great to see it completed and spend the night. We had coffee there before a factory tour, then we returned for lunch and went to see San Giulio island and the town of Orta. But throughout the whole trip, it was just really nice to see everyone’s amazement at seeing the sites. We had a few Salone del Mobile first-timers, so it was fun to see them experience the magnitude of the show but also to see them find creative inspiration in the city. I heard a lot of them commenting on that. There’s so much going on that it can be overwhelming, so I think it’s really great that we were able to curate events and behind-the-scenes access to different place. The city was on display in all its splendor and the weather was great. Walking the Brera design district was a really enjoyable time too. And I made my first visit to Lake Cuomo—Kreoo took us there! We had drinks on the late and dinner. Just an amazing location.” 

 On Lake Como, left to right: Edel Legaspi, Russ, Wendy Haworth, Chris Courts, Anthony Davani of Kreoo, and Ames Ingham

Your thoughts for next year’s trip? “Well, kitchen and bath is every other year, so 2019 will be just for fun! During the off years, I’m not as obligated to do the shows, so I always feel like I have time to just enjoy more of the city.” 

Over the coming months, we’ll be bringing you more on our plans for Salone del Mobile 2019 via our blog and other social media platforms.