Color Stories: Red, Milan Design Week 2026

Woven rug by @paola_lenti_official

A bit belated, but I spent a lot of time color hunting during Milan Design Week this year. Here are a few (mostly) reds that stood out.

From saturated, almost lacquered finishes to softer earth tones, reds shifted between detail and environment. They translated across materials, from textile to tile to coated and painted surfaces.

What stayed with me most was the range. Some reds felt graphic and high contrast, while others leaned mineral, faded, or almost sunbaked. The same color family moved easily between woven textiles, glossy installations, pleated paper studies, tiled surfaces, upholstery, and stitched details.

In some moments, red defined the object. In others, it became atmosphere.

There was also a material richness to many of the applications. Densely woven fibers at Paola Lenti. Glossy and sculptural moments at Kartell. Mineral and oxide tones in the tiled works from Mutina and Sara Ricciardi Studio. Even the small moments, sample boxes at Lapalma, stitch details at Living Divani, studies on the color red at Salone Satellite, felt intentional and considered.

And of course, Milan wouldn’t be Milan without a few late-night negronis at Bar Basso or my Porto Venezia favorite, Coketales.

Umbrella by @paola_lenti_official

Vignettes at @kartell_official

Vignettes at @kartell_official

Richter for @prostoria

Sofa by @cremejunaizaki for Nii

Pleated chair by @juliaesque for @sancal

Red color study at Salone Satellite

Tufted rug by @omg.home.design at @alcova.milano

Tiles by @albers_foundation for @mutinaceramics

Facade of my dreams

Tiled street furniture by @sararicciardistudio

Pouf stitch details at @livingdivani

Sample boxes at @lapalmadesign

Pleated paper studies at @isseymiyakeofficial

And one too many negronis at Bar Basso

and @coketales_milan