In part two of our Milan Design Week 2013 wrap-up we talk to Interior Designer, Lucy Marczyk from Nexus Designs, about her favourite finds, her stand out designers and in her own unique, quirky, truly Lucy style, her preferred hashtag handles to define it all.
Where did you stay and how did you start each day in preparation for the fair?
I stayed at Spadari Hotel Milano. A traditional Milan design week breakfast, 2 double espresso’s, email check, quick studio skype (Konstantin Grcic sitting to my right ), instagraming #amazingness, responding to RFI’s on site in Toorak and mapping out the day ahead. Ok, well I squeezed in ONE breakfast with a friend at Bvlgari Hotel. #moreamazingnest #antoniocitterio #tonyisthebest #champagnebreakfast #ilovemilan.
How did you unwind at the end of each day?
Unwind? From the fair it’s back to the hotel to spend a full 8 minutes to change my, Monica Cortes for Chloe’s, G-star’s for Siwy’s, P.A.M for Pucci, LeSportSac for Balenciaga. Dial 9, Taxi! Launches, cocktail parties and dinner is usually at around 10pm.
Name 3 trends from the fair?
1. Large scale patterns on table tops, floor rugs and wall graphics.
2. Patricia Urquiola for Budri was an impressive example of this. Indoor planting, vertical garden walls and pot plants continue to be a growing trend.
3. Pastel upholstery, gold and brass finishes and high gloss finishes were commonly seen throughout the fair.
Name 3 favourite designs you discovered?
1. Philippe Starck Chapeau hat lamp for Flos.
2. ‘Catch’ chair for &tradition by Jaime Hayon.
3. Tableware collection for ‘when objects work’ by John Pawson.
Most exciting new and up and coming designer?
We saw a lot of new work from Spanish born designer Jaime Hayon. Beautiful organic forms, soft colours, impressive scales in lighting.
Best collaboration?
The impressive collaboration between Kartell and Laufen, who showed their reinvention of the bathroom. Recognizing the need for further personalization and colour in the bathroom in order to make this space more desirable, they have provided an innovative integration of sanitaryware and accessories. This new range is fun but sophisticated and I thought the combination of translucent plastics and ceramic was genius. The range was launched in orange, midnight blue, gold and wash basins in Laufens revolutionary new material SaphirKeramik.
Favourite use of colour by a designer/brand?
The Danish Chromatism exhibition at the Triennale Design Museum in Milan was a brilliantly curated example of classic and contemporary Danish furniture from thirty suppliers. Any expectations I had of a mass of classic Scandinavian pale timbers and natural colours were instantly wiped out by the intense colour blocking and saturated colour that was used to tie together furniture settings in dramatic displays.
Favourite Installation or display?
The floating stone garden by Japanese design studio Nendo for Caesarstone was beautiful. The monochromatic installation was displayed in a cobblestone courtyard, within the gallery space beyond the large timber doors, the installation was shown in a stark white room.
Most exciting moment at the fair for you personally?
Milan city on design steroids, it was non-stop-excitement. #takemeback
