Stepping into the Museo Bagatti Valsecchi is a real feast for the senses. Tucked between Via Santo Spirito and Via Gesù in the centre of Milan, this late 19th-century neo-Renaissance palazzo opened it’s doors as a museum in 1994. As though this museum wasn’t spectacular enough, the recent intervention by two Ladies – Goga Ashkenazi – billionaires, oil-magnate and serial entrepreneur, and Rossana Orlandi – highly respected art and design curator – takes the experience of visiting Bagatti Valsecchi to a whole new level…

Tucked away in the back corner of the gigantically enormous RHO Fiera and it’s 24 epic halls, Salone Satellite 2013 brought together the most promising young designers from around the world. This year I found the show to be of the highest standard I’ve seen to date. Not only did I discover quite a few examples of outstanding work, the event itself seemed more impressive than usual. Here are my top pics of new designers and products on show at Salone Satellite 2013…

Unexpected Welcome was precisely as the name suggests. A world unto itself dreamed up by Moooi and their long term collaborator Erwin Olaf. A series of hyper-real dramatically lit sets were accompanied by super-sized backdrops of stunning images by the master Dutch photographer. Each setting provided an escape and told it’s own story. There was a beautiful tension created by the irreverent, sometimes flirtatious styling of the furniture, props and lighting, while the haunting and enigmatic backdrops provided a real sense of grandeur and drama…

And so my obsession with thin black lines continues. Much to my delight, I’ve been noticing a number of wardrobes, clothes racks & valets that have been stripped back to a single black line. These minimalist design pieces are like traces of sketches brought to life. Devoid of any superfluous decoration, they play with our perceptions of the second and the third dimension…

Once again it’s Yellowtrace Spotlight time! In our April edition I’d like to share a whole bunch of design news including two new projects in Melbourne by Zwei Interior Architecture and Davidov Partners; exciting Dulux collaboration with L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival; new design exhibition by Broached Commissions amongst other things…