Interior design: the expressive power of color

Text by

Marilena Pitino

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wittmann, romanut, color, salone milano, design

Wittmann at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2023, ph. Mattia Romanut

Seats, padded furnishings, carpets and tables flood the home with color, creating a sense of optimism and dynamism

Color was one of the protagonists of the last Salone del Mobile. It is a characterizing and vital trait, which floods the home with a vibrant explosion of colors, while also defining its playful and fun character.

Emotional waves

Inspired by the rich history of Bitossi's archives, Sottsass's iconic vases and Aldo Londi's fascinating shades of blue, Muller Van Severen has created the Onda family of vases, in different colors, expressing pure poetry in motion. The project stemmed from the dimensions of an A4 sheet with cutouts, and all the vases are interconnected, creating a harmony that fluidly relates craftsmanship to visual art. So the vases evoke emotions, stimulate the senses and inspire the imagination, creating a unique experience that transcends design and becomes a true work of art.

Animal scenarios

The famous TAPIZOO collection by Amini, designed in 1970 by Gabetti & Isola for the residential apartments of Olivetti employees in Ivrea, made a strong visual impact. More than fifty years later, the iconic tapestry carpets are being reissued in a new version. The line ironically represents four different animal subjects: the orange leopard (Tapipardo) on a blue ground; the ochre-colored lion (Tapileo) on a yellow ground; the white bear (Tapiorso) on an ivory ground and the green dragon (Tapidrago) on a white ground. In fact, thanks to an important research project, the company has managed to retrace the technical processes of the time as well as the yarns and type of wool originally used, creating works of the highest quality revised in a modern key, but without distorting the original project.

amini, carpets, color, salone milano, design — Amini at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2023, ph. Daniele de Carolis

Fantastic worlds

Illulian showcases its fantastic universe, rich in colors, shapes and creativity. The Blast rug, belonging to the Design Collection, interprets the spirit of the company and mixes orange and red in a skillful mélange, which then fades towards pink and yellow as well as the darker tones of electric blue. The sinuous shapes and the imperceptible gradations of shades are made possible by the company’s craft skills, so creating a marbled effect with pop tones.

Enveloping sensations

The Blue Velvet armchair by Edra, designed by Fernando and Humberto Campana, is completely upholstered with padded and quilted velvet, while the structure is made of wood painted an ebony shade. Soft as a duvet and enveloping as a hug, it has been designed to adapt to any context. In fact, Edra offers innovative and at the same time classic elements that naturally furnish contemporary interiors or historic buildings, country homes and apartments in the city.

Minimalist elegance

Color is the protagonist of the iconic Moulin Lounge armchairs, designed in 1958 by designer Pierre Paulin for Artifort, which this year enriches the family with the introduction of the CM190 model. Moulin Lounge is a minimalist, elegant and comfortable armchair. It is recognizable by the slender steel frame uniting the shell of the seat, the backrest and the optional armrests. The padded parts have an organic shape reminiscent of a wave, with seat, backrest and curved armrests flowing into each other.

frag, furniture, color, salone milano, design — Frag at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2023, ph. courtesy

Dynamic interactions

Ipno designed by Finemateria for Campeggi evokes a mythological figure: Hypnos, the god of sleep and son of Night. It is an armchair with a bright red color that opens and takes on new life, and like a guiding spirit embraces us and leads us to sleep. Interaction with this element is strictly physical, transforming from armchair to mattress. In addition, the lining accommodates and warms the sleeper with a soft quilt. Thanks to the use of 100% recycled polyester with micro ripstop weave, Campeggi presents the first product with Majotech registered fabrics, a research and avant-garde brand in the production of innovative and extremely high-performance fabrics.

Vibrant surfaces

The Romeo dining table from Annibale Colombo, designed by the architect Carlo Bimbi, celebrates green. It is notable for the treatment of the curved bases, with a set of 34 slats in solid Canaletto walnut, which ensure great solidity and at the same time lightness, while the top is in marble. An element that gives a strong personality to any setting, adapted to both classic and contemporary contexts.

Perfect balance

Frag also lavishes its attention on the theme of color in the Caruso chaise-longue, designed by Dainelli Studio. A project that embodies the balance between geometric purity and comfort. The design creates a dialogue between a slender rigid body upholstered in leather, folded to contain the cushion and headrest, with the special thin tubular steel frame painted matt black and almost invisible. The mattress and headrest can be upholstered with all the leathers and fabrics available in the catalogue.

paolo castelli, chair, color, salone milano, design — Paolo Castelli at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2023, ph. courtesy

Fluid shapes

The Adagio collection by Wittmann, created by Note designers, in a range of bright colors, is inspired by the world of music. The sense of serenity guided the designers to create a series of benches and poufs with a sculptural aesthetic, conveying a feeling of relaxation and fluidity. The character of the collection is defined by curved graphics, where the wavy pattern is quilted into the fabric of the upholstery through a soft layer of foam. Available in two different lengths.

Unexpected dynamism

A new lilac color for the AMA Bergère armchair by Paolo Castelli. It expresses a sense of welcome with its generous padding and sophisticated details that soften the geometries. Ama also stands out for the asymmetries created by the different heights and depths of the compositional elements. In this way any interior will enlivened by an unexpectedly scenic dynamism.