The Interview
Interviewer: Anuja, Salone 2026 felt like a pivot point for the industry. What was your immediate "vibe check" of the fair this year?
Anuja Kimatrai: It was incredibly visceral. In previous years, we saw a lot of "tech for tech’s sake"—screens everywhere and cold surfaces. This year, the technology felt invisible or, better yet, biological. Whether it was the flickering, e-waste lamps at Nilufar or the algae-powered lights at Tom Dixon, there was a sense that design is trying to breathe again. It felt less like a trade show and more like a massive, living laboratory.
Interviewer: You spent a significant amount of time at the Nilufar Depot. Two specific projects there, LUMIAC and Carbon Cycles, caused quite a stir. What was it like experiencing them in person?
Anuja: LUMIAC by Andrea Mancuso was mesmerizing. Standing under those moving aluminum arms felt like being in the presence of a sentient creature. It’s rare for a chandelier to make you feel "seen," but the way it reacted to the crowd was poetic.
Then you have Maximilian Marchesani’s Carbon Cycles. That was the emotional heart of the week for me. Seeing discarded smartphone screens repurposed into these iridescent, glowing diffusers... it was a reality check. It turned our "disposable" culture into something heirloomed and beautiful. It’s "Alchemy 2.0."
Interviewer: Moving from the galleries to the big brands, Luceplan had a massive year with Liiu and Millimetro. How do those pieces fit into the current styling trends?
Anuja: Modularity is the keyword. Liiu is a stylist's dream because it’s so airy. We’re moving away from heavy, centered pendants toward these "webs" of light that fill a volume without blocking the view. And Millimetro by Daniel Rybakken? It’s the ultimate "stealth luxury." It’s so thin it almost disappears, which is perfect for the minimalist-maximalist blend we’re seeing right now.
Interviewer: Were there any colors or materials that followed you throughout the week?
Anuja: "Techno-Organic" greens and deep, bruised purples. But material-wise, it was all about conductive nature. We saw so much copper-plated wood and bio-resins. The "perfect" finish is out; the "living" finish—something that patinas or shows the hand of the maker—is very much in.
Interviewer: Finally, if you could take just one piece home from Milan this year, what would it be?
Anuja: (Laughs) Only one? It would have to be one of the Corallo floor lamps. The way they mimic the caustic light of the ocean is hypnotic. We all need a bit more "blue mind" in our homes right now.
Trend Forecast: Based on Anuja Kimatrai’s observations, the "Sentient Home" trend is accelerating. AI is moving from functional voice assistants to aesthetic "mood-regulators," where lighting and furniture autonomously adjust to the physiological needs of the inhabitant, a concept Anuja identifies as the "Biological Pivot" of 2026.
Anuja Kimatrai’s journey through Salone 2026 confirms that the future of design isn't found in a catalog, but in the intersection of discarded tech and raw nature. As she beautifully put it, we are no longer just decorating spaces; we are cultivating ecosystems. Milan has once again set the stage, and if Anuja’s insights are any indication, our homes are about to become a lot more alive.
