Baxter juxtaposes colour, materiality and form for Salone del Mobile 2023

Soft, organic shapes paired with vibrant colour accents and bold material contrasts, curate the mood board for the Italian brand Baxter’s new collection, which will be showcased at the Salone del Mobile 2023. Assembled from multiple sources of inspiration—right from the irreverence of pop art to the iconic design of the 70s with hints of Majorelle blue that bewitched Yves Saint Laurent and the shimmering atmosphere of Studio 54—the collection is the result of accurate research on colours and materials, consolidating existing collaborations and reinventing the identity of existing products in the brand’s catalogue.

Evocative, unusual, and refined—these three characteristics define the Baxter lifestyle and are physically manifested in the three setups for Salone del Mobile, Milan. Vibrant pops of colour juxtaposed with an intriguing material palette give each setup its individuality and reconstruct the observer’s idea of elegance. The first palette is a declaration of love for electric blue combined with Grand Antique marble, brass and yellow onyx, casting warm reflections, inspired by Majorelle blue which also inspired Yves Saint Laurent. A plunge into aquamarine in the second mood strikes a contrast with the concrete and black-stained solid ash inspired by pop culture. The third palette surrenders to the reassuring effect of powder pink, illuminated by the opulence of silver travertine inspired by Studio 54 in New York.

A captivating sensation of comfort and informality inspires designer Christophe Delcourt's new designs for the setup—reflected in the softness of the Jodie and Ellie seats, the multiple configurations of the modular Juliette sofa, and the wide surface of the Kate table—whose base seems to give marble the lightness of the fabric. The 1970s aesthetic shapes the Jo upholstered furniture collection as well as the Dune coffee table and bookcase, both by Italian designers Draga & Aurel, together with the So Far chair and So Good armchair designed by the Italy-based studio, Studiopepe, characterised by the oversized chromed tubular structure

There are echoes of faraway places in the Wave lighting design project by designer Federico Peri, inspired by the weightless and harmonious aesthetics of Tibetan bridges, as well as in the Miss Rope chair and Mr Hide separè by Studiopepe, owing to the evocative and artisanal value of paper rope weaving. There is Roberto Lazzeroni's decisive yet light line of great formal mastery that characterises both the Isamu table and the Clotilde chair.

To enrich the spaces, the three Aran carpets were designed in-house and handmade in Nepal—a weave of hemp and viscose with a strong tactile and visual value—with the design seemingly evoking the unravelling of a river.

Find Baxter at Salone del Mobile, Milano, Fiera Milano Rho, Hall 5, Booth H01, H11, L08, L10, L08.

STIR’s coverage of Milan Design Week 2023 showcases the best exhibitions, studios, designers, installations, brands, and special projects to look out for. Explore Euroluce 2023 and all the design districts—5Vie Art and Design, Brera Design District, Fuorisalone, Isola Design District, Tortona District, and Milano Design District—with us.

Text by Ria Jha.