#28 w report HAS DESIGNS ON MILAN
Wondering why everyone seems to be in Milan this week? It's SALONE DEL MOBILE! And just in time the Ws have collected some insider-y addresses from several fabulous movers and makers - ANDIAMO!
The Salone Internazionale del Mobile —as important to the design world as the Paris shows are to fashion— happens every spring in Milan. It galvanizes and transforms the whole city; in fact over the years the furniture fair has shaped Milan itself, attracting young designers, inspiring city planning and giving it an important edge. This year unfortunately neither W could make it—Gisela is going to Egypt and Antje is headed soon to China—so they asked a few design savvy friends for a few of their Milan diamonds . If you happen to be in town and don’t have a invitation to the endless events happening all over the city, never mind! There are no closed doors in Milano—just dress to impress. (Cool shoes! Sunglasses! Attitude!) Exude a positive vibe, drop a few Italian words and enter the event like you already belong. No questions asked. (Except for maybe at the T Magazine party).
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INSIDERS-including JJ Martin and Tina Lutz- SHARE THEIR SECRETS
CHRISTOPHE DE LA FONTAINE aka TOTO knows Milan like the back of his hand. He worked there as a studio manager for design star Patricia Urquiola for years before he founded his own furniture label DANTE Goods and Bads in 2013 , together with his wife Aylin Langreuther. They now live at Schloss Haggn in the Bavarian Forest (Antje taped a fun podcast episode of Our House with the couple) but Christophe considers Milan his second home. The Dante Goods and Bads furniture collection is made in Italy and of course will be exhibiting at Salone del Mobile, this year at the FuoriSalone. They will unveil their collection (dubbed ON AIR) in the form of a dynamic sound installation under the open sky at Convey. Toto is not only half of the creative team, but the driver, booth builder, press officer and sales agent, so it's only logical that he has to eat well in between. And, as a native Luxembourger, he attaches great importance to good cuisine. Here are his Milan favorites:
PRINCI: I stopped drinking coffee, but I still come for the custard Brioche. My favorite Princi is the one on Corso Como.
MARCHESI 1824: It’s an iconic spot, now owned by the Prada Group. If I still drank espresso, I would drink it here. It’s just so pretty.
DONGIÒ: Ideal for a quick, affordable Pranzo (lunch) i would even say Dongiò is one of the best value-for-money restaurants in Milan, especially if you enjoy Calabrian cuisine. Just a short stroll from Porta Romana, inside, the space is divided into two cosy, warmly-lit nooks where tables covered in pristine white linen jostle with dark mahogany chairs. Classy.
LA BRISA: Stuck in time in the best possible way, snobby waiters, but I love the interior and the courtyard. It’s a classic and will never go out of fashion.
CANTINE ISOLA: One of Milan's oldest wine bars, it has been around-in Chinatown- since 1896. Small and cozy, with an excellent selection of wines and snacks. Open 7 days a week, 10am-10pm. If you want to meet designers, go to Bar Basso (the later you go, the cooler the crowd) preferably after midnight.
BENJAMIN FROWEIN aka BENNI who, after almost a decade, recently stepped down as CEO of the textile brand F. Schumacher & Co. He’ll remain active as an adviser ( he’ll never stop loving textiles!) and he also took on the role as a Contributing Editor for Frederic Magazine. This Salone he’ll be celebrating the latest collection of his partner Antonin Hautefort, Co-Founder of Atelier Pendhapa, which will be presented inside of one the architect Piero Portaluppi’s most iconic buildings (which just happens to be the home of Benni & Antonin). There will be a private dinner (it might be tricky to sneak yourself into this one) but normally you can find Benni dining at these three places:
AL BARETTO SON MARCO: Chic and small. Worth a visit for their white Negroni alone. Try the Risotto with Gambero Rosso shrimp.
TRATTORIA DEL CIUMBIA: Absolute eye-catcher and the new place to be in the Brera neighborhood. Dimorestudio was commissioned to design the interior with the idea that it be inspired by the spirit of the artistic avant-garde of the 1960s. And voila - they succeeded with flying colors. The colors, the shapes, the materials, everything is on point. Wood-lined stairs lead down to a disco club in the basement for anyone who wants to dance after dinner. Of course, the gastronomy should not go unmentioned; it remains true to its Italian roots. The menu offers marinated sardines, risotto Milanese and all kinds of antipasti, primi and secondi piatti.
YAPA: Asian-Latin Amercian fusion in a cool, dimly-lit restaurant. Minimal interior, maximal pleasure for both the mouth and eye.
WHERE TO STAY (NOTE: hotels during the furniture fair book out so far in advance —and are sometimes five times the price!-so reserve a room already for next year)
VMaison Brera: a small boutique hotel with wallpapered rooms and spacious bathroom - close to the buzz, around 350 Euro a night
Grand Hotel de Milan is often overshadowed by the newer five star hotels, but I love the well aged ambience of the place. Rooms are around 600 Euro per night
Urban Hive, it’s young and fresh with great prices (starts at 194 Euro a night) with parquet floor in the rooms and white tiled bathrooms.
JJ MARTIN. If you could point to one person who has singlehandedly made Milan a lot more fun, it would no doubt be the fashion designer JJ Martin, who has been based in the city for more than two decades. She has never stopped being an enthusiastic cheerleader of the city, promoting not just Milan itself, but other women who live and work there. She even recently wrote a book about her love affair with the place: Mamma Milano. Here are her three top tips:
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