Milano Design Week (Furniture, Kitchen & Interior Design) and Bologna's CERSAIE (Tiles and Bathroom Fair) are two International fair I never miss visiting, for the obvious reasons that there I discover the latest advancements in products and applications that will reach our Australian shores within months. Of course their Italian surroundings adds charm to the experience as it offers a taste of the many facets that form the awe inspiring Italian culture. History, Art, Architecture, Fashion, Design and of course great food and wine make each of these visits inspiring as well as unforgettable. Many colleagues have asked to join me there :) it could be fun...
I won't be traveling to the 2023 CERSAIE, though, the first time I'll miss it in a decade. Work commitments and the online and TV reveal of the renovation of my own home have forced me to stay home this month, but I'm already organising my next trip to Milano Design Week 2024, in April. With its biennal focus on Kitchens and Bathrooms I cannot let that pass, and differently from past years, this time I'll report 'live' from there on social media and will include my exploring of off-track destinations. Who wouldn't like to come along?
However, if you're going to Bologna for the first time or haven't been there for a few years (yes! COVID did get in the way) here is my recap video from last year's impressions...
We've seen florals and organic prints on tiles for many years now, but the amount of it at CERSAIE 2022 was something that really struck me. The organic digital prints were quite amazing, and interpreted in quite artistic forms, a lot of them quite simplistic in their colourways but some really bold, really tactile and playing with matte and gloss... Next direction was definitely geometrics, again nothing new. It's been around for some years, but it's a great way to play with colour, form and pattern. The other item that I really saw standing out last year was that blurring of the lines between what is a tile and what is a brick... There were tiles that are almost standalone pieces fully glazed almost like a sculptural piece, great to use as screen walls. And the really exciting thing of course is that all of the products that we see at CERSAIE are available to ship around the world in just a few months’ time...
CERSAIE is an Italian design feast, gathering tiles to Bologna from across the globe. The event rocks the city for a whole week in a whirlwind of excitement and a multitude of languages. This time it'll be my turn to be jealous of all of the beautiful images that will star on my colleagues' social media channels. Have fun, design travellers, and see you again at Milano Design Week ;)
James Treble has three decades of accumulated experience in the Building Industry, Real Estate and Interior Design and regularly shares his knowledge and experience in adding value to properties through effective design & styling. James is also an ambassador for Planet Ark and firmly believes in sensible purchasing, recycling and creative re-purposing. Watch his free videos on YouTube, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram for plenty of Design information. Most of James' knowledge is also accessible via Practical Design Online Course.
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