As an interiors blogger, a lover of beautiful designs and interiors and the owner of an interiors concept store for 10 years in a previous life, I have found Ambiente a goldmine of inspiration. I was really impressed by the attention paid to the styling of some stands and several brands and designers, made me stop in my tracks more than once.
Having written a Trend Report on Textures and Shapes on the Bodie and Fou blog, I now want to focus on the beautiful and inspiring things I spotted around dining and table settings.
When you’re used to visiting major trade fairs like Ambiente, it’s hugely refreshing, inspiring and difficult at the same time to find new designs and brands that will surprise you in a positive way. It was the work of German Ceramic Designers Kaas + Heger, a husband and wife team that caught my eye. Inspired by the Bauhaus movement, they have created a warm, beautiful and inviting tableware collection, using one local clay and natural pigments to achieve these beautiful, complementary earthy hues. A ceramic collection that will add warmth and textures to the most minimalist interiors.
White tableware has a timeless appeal but I noticed that this year, dark colours were largely dominating table settings at Ambiente and contributed to creating more intimates and soothing dining experiences.
Stoneware tableware in earthy colours (brown, beige, grey and black) was often mixed with stonewashed linen napkins and runners that added softness and textures to the table setting.
Handmade wooden boards and wooden bowls also added warmth and a sense of people coming closer together.
A trend that clearly reflects a collective consciousness to head towards a more natural home with homemade, organic food, handmade products and a return to human values based on sharing and connecting with each other.
This trend was spotted on the large and beautifully styled stands of lifestyle companies such as House Doctor, Hübsch, Nordal and IB Laursen.
Some brands enhanced the handmade, earthy vibes by having stoneware ceramics with a matte finish and also carried the trend on outdoor tableware.
Danish company Stelton was one iconic design brand that also exhibited grey and black tableware with its Danish Modern 2.0 collection designed by Sebastian Holmbäck and Ulrik Nordentoft.
Within the same trend, the stand of RO, an independent Danish company that prefers craftmanship over mass-market production, exuded a very calming and welcoming feel.
While a lot of the companies mentioned above were from Scandinavia, the trend for dark, handmade tableware and kitchen accessories was also spotted on the stand of Russian company Fuga which displayed a beautiful range of handmade wooden bowls, wooden chopping boards and serving trays.
