Market

edited by Karen D. Singh -- Interior Design, 6/1/2005 12:00:00 AM

Milan: In Living Color

From April 12 to 18, the Salone Internazionale del Mobile took over the city of Milan. Among our many favorites was Gaetano Pesce's vivid La Michetta seating collection by Meritalia. Pesce, who seems to be having a food moment, named the tufted-cotton pieces after Milan's most common bread. (His Pesce for Lunch sculpture, made entirely of Italian ingredients such as mozzarella, prosciutto, and polenta, occupied a corner of Pier 92 at i Saloni Worldwide in New York in mid–May.) The La Michetta line comes in six sizes—ranging from 28 to 83 inches long, 15 to 18 inches wide, and 15 to 49 inches high—and six colors: red, dark gray, acid green, orange, purple, and brown (dark green not available). 25/27 Via Durini, 20122 Milan, Italy; 39-027-631-7226; meritalia.com. circle 333

B&B Italia

Patricia Urquiola raises the art of loafing to new heights with her Lazy stool. The shiny chrome frame is fitted with a saddlelike thermoformed plastic seat that's easily removed by means of a zipper and Velcro. The seat's polyurethane cover comes solid, in two contrasting colors, and custom, and the stool is offered in 26- and 30-inch heights. 150 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10155; 800-872-1697; bebitalia.it. circle 334

Artemide

With the dimmable, fluorescent Lost, dark light optics are directed downward; indirect light is thrown up. The slim 2-inch-wide fixture accepts T 16 lamping and comes in 54- and 80-inch lengths; its aluminum shell comes in polished or satin finishes. 1980 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY 11735; 631-694-9292; artemide.us. circle 335

Sawaya & Moroni

Meaning "resurrected beauty," the Bella Rifatta stacking armchair is the product of William Sawaya's three-year experiment with reused plastics and injection-molded technology. Offered in five colors as well as clear, the transparent chair's polycarbonate body is an admixture of eco-friendly polyethylene terephthalate (PET), fiberglass, and French chalk. A recycled-plastic version in a choice of three opaques is also available. 11 Via Manzoni, 20121 Milan, Italy; 39-02-86-39-5200; sawayamoroni.com. circle 338

Belux

Tissuelike layers of tear-free, flame-resistant polyester are stacked one atop the other in Steve Lechot's dimmable, fluorescent One by One lamp. With four steel posts and a steel base, the 11-inch-square lamp is available in either a standard 14- or 59-inch height or custom. 20 Klünenfeldstrasse, CH-4127 Birsfelden, Switzerland; 41-61-316-7401; belux.com. circle 336

Frighetto

Karim Rashid updates the Victorian bourne with Rosetta. Unlike its 19th-century predecessor, his modular piece takes on a number of configurations. Supported by a chrome-steel frame, the fireproof-foam seats have removable covers that can be upholstered in any of Frighetto's leathers or standard fabrics, including Rashid's Blue and Flo. 29 Via dell'Industria, 36071 Arziganno, Italy; 39-044-447-1717; frighetto.com. circle 337

Rotaliana

Receiving the Excellent Swedish Design Award, Camilla Diedrich's oversize BPL pendant gets its form and texture from polyester fabric that's been tied to a wood structure and baked until it bubbles. Illuminated by either 75- or 150-watt incandescents, the bubbles diffuse and redirect the light. Offered in 15- and 26-inch diameters. Via Della Rupe 35 38017 Mezzolombardo, Trento, Italy; 39-46-160-2376; Rotaliana.it. circle 339

Label

This armchair's name, Kaza, is Swahili for "embrace." You'll sure feel cozy surrounded by its textured leather. Label also offers the chair in numerous fabrics, including a selection of bright wools, as well as custom. The matte-chromium sled base provides just the right amount of flex. P.O. Box 5790, 4801 ED Breda, The Netherlands; 31-76–572-2450; label.nl. circle 340

Gervasoni

The Slim 01 lounge chair is handwoven from a natural mixed rattan core and is offered unfinished or stained in four colors: natural, turquoise, white, and coffee. Cushion fill options are different densities of polyurethane foams, Dacron, and down. It measures 39 inches wide by 26 inches high. Two-, three-, and four-seat sofas, a slipper chair, lamps, and three bed styles complete the collection. Zona Industriale Udinese, 33050 Pavia di Undine, Italy; 39-043-265-6611; gervasoni1882.com. circle 343

Monna Lisa

Translucent white bone china is the substance behind the spinelike Nexflex T rotating lamp. Standing 15 inches high with a 6-inch-diameter base, it takes a 1-by-49 GP lamp. 170 Via Monte Maddalena, 25075 Nave Brescia, Italy; 39-25-38378; monnalisadesign.com. circle 341

Cappellini

A high-style perch on chilly winter nights, Ola Rune's Igloo lounge chair may have you settling in until spring. Foamed polyurethane housed within a stiff shell keeps the cushions plump, and the 30-inch-high chair stands on a chromium-plated steel base. It can be upholstered in Cappellini's standard leathers or fabrics in such colors as magnolia, sun, cherry, and mango. 35 Via Marconi, 22060 Arosio, Italy; 39-031-75911; cappellini.it. circle 342

Baleri Italia

Like a carved-ice swan at a high June wedding, Marcel Wanders's Ballerina chair is rich in sentiment and sweetness. A spin on the traditional bistro chair, the heart-shape iron back is offered in three finishes; the skirt comes in black, white, and, of course, red. 8 Via Cavallotti, 20122 Milan, Italy; 39-02-7602-3954; baleri-italia.com. circle 345

Armani Casa

Chinoiserie of the 1930's melds with 1920's surrealism in the Rachimaninoff armchair. Part of a 40-piece collection, the chair can be covered in this unique cotton print (produced specially for the fair) as well as in a choice of five fabrics, leather, and custom. It's 34 inches wide by 37 inches deep by 25 inches high. 97 Greene Street, New York, NY 10012; 212-334-1271; armanicasa.com. circle 344

Ferlea

Unlike the swimsuit, the Bikini chair module flatters any room. This origami-esque system starts with a single square pouf that flips and folds to create myriad seating arrangements. Elastic straps link the components. The unit's pine frame is padded with stress-resistant foam polyurethane and polyester fibers, and the cotton cover is removable. Colle Val d'Elsa, Zona Ind. Le. S. Marziale, 53034 Siena, Italy; 39-05-77-92-9400; ferlea.com. circle 348

Giorgetti

The CEO-worthy Selectus wingback sits atop a castered base, has a gas-spring adjustable-height seat, fixed arms, and a tilting mechanism that can be fixed. It's available in Giorgetti's 140 fabrics and leathers, and in COMs. The Glenpointe-Centre East, 300 FW Burr Boulevard, Teaneck, NJ 07666; 201-836-9100; giorgettiusa.com. circle 347

Kundalini

Helen Kontouris's La La lamp is one tall drink of water. Standing either 53 or 71 inches high, its red or white plastic body has a shade of opaline-coated fabric. The fixture features a noiseless dimmer and takes 60-, 100-, and 150-watt incandescent lamping. Through Imoderni, 210 71st Street, Suite 307, Miami Beach, FL 33141; 305-865-8577; kundalini.it. circle 346

Yamagiwa

Set to be introduced to the U.S. market in spring 2006, Ross Lovegrove's SystemX light fixture combines two curved 21-watt fluorescent lamps that are infintely linkable by means of rubber connectors to cover large expanses. Made of plastic and aluminum, the modules may be altered in color temperature so different zones of illumination can be created. 31340 Via Colinas, Unit 106, Westlake Village, CA 91362; 888-879-8611; yamagiwausa.com. circle 350

Gufram

Designed in 1974 by Ceretti, Derossi, Rosso, the Wimbledon unit chair recalls the texture of a neatly shorn grass court. The 37-inch-square base has a removable moquette cover and 29-inch-high chrome-steel legs that unscrew. The polyurethane-foam back cushion sports a rose-printed cotton and can be detached for use on its own. 27 Via Fraschetti, 10070 Balangero, Italy; 39-12-334-6910; gufram.com. circle 351

Zanotta

In rotation-molded plastic, Ludovica and Roberto Palomba's Dora armchair is suitable for use both indoors and out. The engraved floral body is available glossy or matte in beige, black, aluminum, and white; a plain lacquer version comes in black, brown, red, and white. 57 Via Vittorio Veneto, 20054 Nova Milanese, Italy; 39-36-24981; zanotta.it. circle 349

Maxdesign

Like Sawaya's Bella Rifatta, Marco Maran's X3 chair embodies two of the fair's top trends: transparency and color. A chrome-steel frame supports the single-piece bi-injection molded polycarbonate seat and back; together the chair meets ANSI and BIFMA X5.1 standards. It's offered with stackable sled or post legs, as an armchair, and in five metallized colors: blue, gray, green, gold, and orange. 75 Via dei Banduzzi, 33050 Bagnaria Arsa, Udine, Italy; 39-0432-996412; maxdesign.it. circle 352

Casamania

Dry your clothes outdoors (or in) with style on the Alberto Clotheshorse. Part of the Happiness in the Garden collection, the product is the result of a team of young designers pulled together by Casamania and dedicated to the use of simple, lightweight plastics to create useful and pleasing outdoor items. Offered in blue, white, yellow, green, and orange with four laundry lines, it measures 79 inches high by 47 inches wide. 3 Via S. Elena, 31040 Signoressa di Trevigano, Italy; 39-42-36753; casamania.it. circle 353