Salone Scene Report

And a bid to normalize the jumbo sized spritz

Ciao! I’m sending an air kiss from Milan, where I’ve landed for the week to cover Salone del Mobile, the international interior design fair also known as Milan Design Week. This is my fifth year in the running, and like any city you’ve grown accustomed to traveling to for work, it feels comforting to have a sharpened sense of wits navigating Milan during the Salone spiral. First there are some customary traditions: A spring time walk along the Villa Necchi gardens, to an emergency lunch break at A Santa Lucia, to ordering a jumbo sized Sbagliato during aperitivo at Bar Basso. This yearly trip to Milan always feels like the first marker of spring, with the first spot of warm weather and seemingly endless social celebrations in tow.

Wearing Sezane Auguste Jacket, Casa Ayllon Tassel Necklace

What I look forward to most about this week is the energy: Design friends from all corners of the world convening over cocktails, the long, family style dinners at a cozy trattoria, and the hundreds if not thousands of exhibitions spread throughout the city showcasing the most innovative trends at the intersection of art, culture and design.

It’s only been a day and we’ve already hit the ground running. Here’s a scene report of what we’ve seen and saved so far:

SUNDAY:

11 am — Nilufar Gallery

Few places capture the intersection of art and design quite like Nilufar Gallery. Founded by Nina Yashar in the heart of Milan, it’s a treasure trove where 20th-century masterworks mingle effortlessly with cutting-edge contemporary pieces. Yashar’s curatorial eye is both razor-sharp and instinctive, drawing collectors, tastemakers, and design-world darlings into her orbit. Every piece feels like a conversation—one that’s as intellectual as it is visually arresting. During Salone, Nilufar becomes a gravitational force, proving once again that Milan isn’t just the epicenter of design, but a state of mind.

Neo-art deco desk by Studio Daniel K

1 pm — Villa Borsani Press Preview

Villa Borsani is a love letter to Italian modernism—equal parts architectural masterpiece and deeply personal family home. Designed in 1945 by Osvaldo Borsani, the villa is a study in quiet elegance, where rationalist geometry meets exquisite craftsmanship. This year, Alcova extends its exhibition spaces into the famous Villa, featuring contemporary exhibitions from galleries and studios such as Completed Works.

Recycled glassware by London-based designer Completed Works

3 pm — Alcova Opening and Press Preview

For those weary of the polished spectacle of Salone, Alcova is where design feels thrillingly untamed. Alcova isn’t just an art fair—it’s an experience, a pilgrimage for those who crave design at its most raw and radical. Each year, this roving exhibition takes over an unexpected, often slightly crumbling location on the outskirts of Milan, transforming abandoned spaces into a stage for the avant-garde.

Left: Ananas Ananas ‘Trace’ Exhibition at Villa Bagatti, Right: Sten Studio Sculptures at Alcova

The curation leans conceptual, spotlighting emerging designers and independent studios who challenge the boundaries between art, architecture, and function. Think experimental materials, biomorphic furniture, and installations that feel more like fever dreams than showroom pieces.

Wearing Completed Works Dollop Earrings, Tory Burch dress, Maison Alaïa Belt

7 pm — Cocktails and Dinner at Casa Cipriani

Last but not least, we ended the night with a dinner hosted by the Casa Cipriani family and Meyer Davis, a semi-formal affair that constituted a night of bellinis, martinis, and several classic courses impeccably executed by the Italian institution.

Grazie per avermi sintonizzato.