1Designer of the Year: Objects of Common Interest
Brian W. Ferry Founders Eleni Petaloti and Leonidas Trampoukis, partners in life and work, opened their New York– and Athens-based studio in 2016. Objects of Common Interest wowed audiences with its Poikilos exhibition, showcasing a collection of chairs, tables, vases, and lamps made with transparent and iridescent resin; this material is now synonymous with the studio. “We like to experiment with the properties of the materials when it comes to our furniture and our site-specific installations,” the designers explain. Other notable pieces include Echoes, a transparent inflatable fountain designed for Alcova, and Lights On, a light sculpture designed for the GAMeC.
2Young Design Talent of the Year: Laurids Gallée
Courtesy of EDIDA In an effort to combine his interests in history and design, Austrian designer Laurids Gallée opened his studio in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in 2017 after attending the Design Academy Eindhoven. Gallée’s work focuses on mixing perception and emotions using traditional techniques such as woodworking and textile weaving, but with innovative materials including resin and LED lights. The result? Functional but modern pieces with a vital sculptural component that are aesthetically beautiful. His most recent work is the Tralucid furniture collection, which features benches, stools, and tables that cast the softest of shadows.
3Interior Designer of the Year: Dimorestudio
Stefano Gauzzi Emiliano Salci (left) and Britt Moran, partners and founders of Dimorestudio, recently celebrated 20 years together in the interior design business. Since founding their Italian firm in 2003, they have captivated the design world with their innovative contemporary interiors, all while staying true to themselves. The firm continues today as a full-service architectural and design studio that produces furnishings, lighting, and other decor elements, sold through their home brand Dimoremilano.
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4Bathroom: MA by Foster + Partners Industrial Design for Falper
Alberto Strada This bathroom is the first collaboration between Foster + Partners and Falper, the Italian manufacturer that specializes in bathroom furniture. The concept merges design and architecture into one, taking inspiration from Japanese minimalism to create a harmonious blend of textures and materials—the marble washbasin is integrated into a solid wood storage unit, and the slender, multipurpose stainless steel stem faucet can also support a mirror, hold a tray, or hang towels.
5Bedding: Esosoft Bed by Antonio Citterio for Cassina
Francesco Dolfo The Esosoft bed, designed by Italian architect Antonio Citterio, is a sleek, elegant marvel. The seamlessly upholstered headboard (which hides a sound-absorbing panel made of recycled materials) and bed frame highlights its fluid lines, while the lightweight aluminum base is easy to dismantle and reuse.
6Floor Covering: MSH by Studio Mary Lennox for JOV
Thomas De Bruyne The Berlin-based Studio Mary Lennox, founded in 2012 and specializing in floral styling and botanical design, created this one-of-a-kind abstract oyster mushroom rug for JOV. The piece is made of New Zealand wool and Lyocell, a fiber that lends the rug a natural sheen. For the final touch, the colors and also the pile height are varied in a gradient from the center to the edges, giving the rug a unique three-dimensional effect that makes it feel as if one has actually stumbled across it in the forest.
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7Furniture: Linea Collection by Alessandro Mendini for Porro
Courtesy of EDIDA This collection of two sideboards (one of which is pictured) showcases bold, vibrant colors and intersecting lines—hence the name, Linea, chosen by the Italian architect and designer Alessandro Mendini as a tribute to the striations that are found across the pieces. Originally conceived in 2015, the collection is now being manufactured for the first time by Porro, bringing to life a truly timeless design.
8Kitchen: Column by Inga Sempé for Reform
Courtesy of EDIDA French designer Inga Sempé, known for imbuing functional spaces with her own stylish aesthetic, designed this kitchen with both delicacy and durability in mind. “I decided to incorporate some unexpected detail into what was a simple design project,” she says. Column, characterized by the rounded edges on all of the surfaces, corners, and handles, successfully breaks the mold of traditional kitchen design to become something elegant and eclectic.
9Lighting: Vis à Vis by Michele Groppi for Davide Groppi
Courtesy of EDIDA The timeless appeal of the transparent Vis à Vis rechargeable lamp is what makes it stand out, as it can be easily integrated into any space. The lamp tricks the eye by emitting a glow without revealing the light source, thanks to a glass diffuser that shields the LED bulb within. The goal was to keep the design to a bare minimum and focus on only the light itself—mission accomplished.
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10Seating: Tortello by Barber and Osgerby for B&B Italia
Courtesy of EDIDA These sofas and armchairs, created by the London-based duo Barber and Osgerby for B&B Italia, are meant to embody absolute comfort. The enveloping design represents a new take on pieces from the iconic 1970s furniture brand, but this time, more elements of the Tortello collection are made with recyclable materials, showcasing the company’s dedication to responsible manufacturing practices.
11Fabrics: Untitled by Formafantasma for Kieffer
Courtesy of EDIDA Described as a celebration of natural fibers, the “name” of this collection by Formafantasma says it all: The aim is to let the textiles themselves do the talking. Launched under the creative direction of Kieffer, which was acquired by the Rubelli Group in 2001, Untitled features textiles made of wool, linen, hemp, jute, cotton, and paper; they are left undyed in their natural state, with undertones of lime, lilac, and pink.
12Sustainable Achievement: Tane Garden House by Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects for Vitra Campus
Courtesy of EDIDA Paris-based Japanese architect Tsuyoshi Tane’s latest creation, the Tane Garden House shows a keen understanding of the importance of sustainability and the impact of architecture on climate change. Built on the Vitra campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany, the structure is made of stone, wood, and rope biomaterials, representing the institution’s commitment to environmental responsibility. The house can hold up to eight people in approximately 160 square feet; it is raised above the ground to minimize its impact on the soil below.
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13Tableware: The Candy Collection by Helle Mardahl
Courtesy of EDIDA Inspired by such classic works as Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this vibrant, glossy—and sugary—tableware collection by Copenhagen-based designer Helle Mardahl is almost good enough to eat. In a range of colors that also represent fruity tastes, like cherry, pear, and plum, these bulbous confectionery-like blown-glass pieces are a genuinely sweet treat.
14Wallcovering: Carte Blanche by Christopher John Rogers for Farrow & Ball
Courtesy of EDIDA American fashion designer Christopher John Rogers, known for his signature use of bold colors and patterns in his designs for Michelle Obama and others, has brought his distinct point of view to his playfully geometric wallpaper collection, Carte Blanche, for Farrow & Ball. The line includes three wallpaper designs—a stripe, a dot, and a check—that pay homage to the German textile artist Anni Albers. Carte Blanche also features 12 new paint shades in the same tones used in the wallpapers, making it easy to pair them for oh-so-smooth transitions.
15Outdoor: Palinfrasca by Vincent Van Duysen for Molteni&C
Courtesy of EDIDA This series of outdoor furniture, designed by Belgian designer Vincent Van Duysen, is a vital component of the Landmark project, the Italian brand’s first outdoor collection. The natural teak sofas and armchairs are notably cornerless, which is all the better to show off their wraparound woven design, a strong visual reminder of their Mediterranean roots.
Sofia Quintero is the Editorial Assistant for ELLE DECOR. She helps out with all aspects of print production and is a frequent contributor to elledecor.com. She graduated from university in Paris, and is originally from Costa Rica.
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