Photo: Aquatic Creatures
by Gaia Monfrini
They serve as powerful gateways to other worlds, talismans of the mind that enable us to envision various realities, different existences, remote universes, and fresh opportunities.
During the summer, when thoughts become gentler and the mind feels lighter, I frequently found myself drifting into daydreams, led by the objects I noticed in my surroundings.
The brass lamp my neighbour chose for his garden table transported me to the cabin of a pirate galleon, while the yellow centrepiece at my friends' dinner party whisked me away to a fragrant lemon grove in Capri. Meanwhile, the fan blades stirring the curtains in my bedroom evoked the sensation of being in Havana on a sweltering August afternoon.
Objects are the unwitting vessels of our impulses, memories and passions, forging fantastical realms more intricate and opulent than the ones we're used to inhabiting. Their captivating influence greatly enriches our lives; we label them inanimate, yet they truly encapsulate life.
In the same way, they evolve and renew themselves as time goes on, gaining fresh meanings and turning into manifestations of a shared sentiment: a trend is simply a preference that gains universal appeal.
Following a summer that I hope was filled with dreams and fantasies for all, what new trends will the items we select for our homes embody in the coming months?
In recent months, we've watched tennis and its rising stars with renewed enthusiasm, holding our breath until the very last rally.
This burgeoning collective enthusiasm swiftly permeated the realms of art, cinema, fashion and design, infiltrating our everyday lives and infusing them with the distinctive ethos of this sport.
A pioneer of this interior design movement is the Clay Court Club installation by designer Cristina Celestino, which captivated us at Milano Design Week with its subtle, sophisticated, and modern take on the aesthetic of clay courts.
The Friulian designer has temporarily transformed the historic Tennis Club Milano Bonacossa with furniture and accessories that draw inspiration from the world of tennis, aiming to infuse our homes with the essence of the sport. The collection includes chairs and tables featuring interwoven details reminiscent of nets and rackets, stylish yet functional benches that echo the classic sideline seating, a carpet that captures the iconic red of the clay courts, and geometric patterns that mirror the lines of the courts and the players' attire.
Bridging the gap between the perennially retro influences that define the tennis world and a minimalist, streamlined design that mirrors the game's purity and precision, we are offered an insightful glimpse into the quintessential tennis aesthetic – a style set to shape our home decor trends in the forthcoming months.
Perhaps it is due to the need for stability in these uncertain times, or the yearning to reconnect with our history and roots, as well as an enduring and unblemished ideal of beauty: the new classic style is evolving from mere inspiration into a genuine trend that will reshape the details of our homes.
The principles of harmony, balance and symmetry from the Greco-Roman world, along with its shapes, symbols, and myths, are revived, deconstructed, and reimagined in a modern and frequently ironic manner. We see them reflected in wallpapers, upholstery fabrics, decorative items, and the layout of spaces, all reinterpreted with a more informal and less rigorous approach.
The classical imagery is complemented by subtler and more minimalist features, which no longer dictate entire looks to prevent cluttering spaces. Instead, it manifests in the details with gentle nuances and sophisticated touches that are both playful and pop-inspired.
Stucco, mouldings, and rosettes are present, yet they feature clean, minimalist lines. The colour palette stays true to classic shades such as white, cream, and beige, but these are frequently paired with more striking contrasts.
The quintessential features of classicism, such as busts, statues, and scrolls, are reimagined in unexpected and innovative materials. The wallpaper designs draw inspiration from traditional Vedutism while being infused with a modern twist – a timeless yet fresh vocabulary that is set to endure for years to come.
We feel a need craft distinctive and genuine homes, to enrich them with items that resonate with our identity, that tell of the craftsmanship and passion of their makers, in harmony with our likes, requirements, and individual characters.
We are shifting away from reckless consumption and have lost interest in purchasing mass-produced items that render our living spaces indistinguishable and devoid of character. We are attuned to a fresh concept of beauty that is intertwined with expertise, attention to detail, and the gradual process of creation.
These new demands have fostered a fresh perspective on craftsmanship, giving rise to the “craftcore” trend that cherishes the handmade and celebrates all that is slow, natural, and authentic, embracing imperfections as part of its charm.
The revival of ancient production methods that have a lower environmental impact, centred on sustainability, along with the modern reinterpretation of traditional decorations, the excellence of natural raw materials, and the personalisation of designs, are the components that elevate this beyond a mere trend to a philosophy of life.
A declaration of love for the atmospheres, traditions and cultures of the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea: Italy, Spain, Greece and Morocco.
We might describe it as minimalism bathed in light, softened by natural materials, and made inviting with organic shapes – a trend that has become exceedingly popular in global interior design over recent years.
A cosy and radiant aesthetic deeply rooted in nature, which strips away the unnecessary to concentrate on the simplicity of shape. It favours gentle curves and utilises natural, locally-sourced materials like lime, stone, wood, and plant fibres, alongside unfinished textures and a palette of neutral, organic hues including olive green, terracotta, ochre, white, and blue. This style celebrates local craftsmanship through items such as hand-painted ceramics, wicker baskets, woven textiles, and terracotta vases, and it embraces the use of natural fabrics.
Our passion for this style arises from our eagerness to be inspired and to adopt a shared approach through which we can reconnect with our roots and communicate in a manner that is both genuine and natural.
The most acclaimed film at the Venice Film Festival, “The Brutalist”, focuses on the tale of an architect and the construction of a magnificent structure in the Brutalist style and is merely the latest indicator of the increasing fascination with this architectural aesthetic.
This trend has been corroborated by the numerous publications on the topic that have emerged in recent years, as well as by the considerable popularity it has garnered on social media. It is now broadening its reach to encompass interior design and product design.
A widespread yearning for authenticity, coupled with the minimalist trends of recent years that advocate for restrained and practical spaces, and a sense of nostalgia for the architecture of the 1950s and 1970s, prompts us to reacquaint ourselves with the hallmarks of this movement: the use of raw materials (notably exposed concrete, but also untreated wood, metal, and glass), coarse textures, bold geometric forms, functionality that allows no room for decorative excess, and a palette of neutral and grey hues.
The poetic essence of New Brutalism may well emerge as the most audacious trend in the months ahead and remains one to watch closely.
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