My Old Dutch

Exhibited at Milan Salone's new Dutch-heavy design district Lambrate, was designer Aldo Bakker's urushi series, produced by Dutch gallery Particles. Made up of stools, tables and cutlery, Bakker has coated each item with 60 layers of Urushi -a special Japanese lacquerware made from tree sap. Bakker's tableware designs (salt paddle below), available through Dutch design retailer Wannekes, are although worth a mosey.

Bowl me over

These hand-blown glasses are a dinner party talking point. Love the contrasting handles that French/Greek designer Alexis Georgacopoulos has made from colourful rope.

Miyo Wada also likes the Ecal ( Lausanne's leading design school) graduate's playful take on eating breakfast, Titled the "Milking stool" and first presented at Salone in 2003, it will make your frosties taste grrrreat!

For more information click here

Salone preview

Established and Sons have JUST released a picture of Matali Crasset's Open Room No. 1, this is still a prototype and they have got seven days to put together the final version for Salone next week. It also might come with a rug. There is an integrated light, shelves and filing cabinets that can be arranged accordingly.

New heavy-weight design brand to launch at Salone

No-one thought a cracking recession would herald one of the biggest new launches in furniture. But when Renato Preti's new design brand SKITSCH launches at Salone this year it will make big waves. It's entering the market with no expense spared and supported by big backers such as the president of MDF and 27 big name designers together with upcoming talent get ready for something exciting. Designers such as Fernando and Humberto Campanas, Maarten Baas, Front, Dovetusai, Konstantin Grcic, Xavier Lust, Bertjan Pot, Paolo Ullian and Philippe Nigro among others will unveil 45 projects at this year's Salone 2009 in the new super-brand's permanent home - a huge flagship store on Via Monte di Pieta.


Here's a preview of five of the 45 projects to be presented.

Cubist recliner by Jeffrey Bernett

Hidden Bookshelf

Table by Philippe Nigro

Chair by Konstantin Grcic

Milky bars (or stools) are (not) on me

This "Milk" stool is courtesy of Swedish Staffan Holmn. He only commissions the best craftsmen in his native country to whittle away at his pared down-Scandi creations. Everyone did such a good job he was invited to exhibit at the up-and-coming designers display section of April's Salone - Salone Satellite. It's not made of milk though so don't embarass yourself at the show and try and eat it - you'll get a nasty (wooden) shock. Via David Report



PARKY
Look forward to perching blissfully on his new park benches. Coming soon....to a park near you! (only relevant to Swedish residents - some countries have all the fun)