At CESAR, the kitchen continued its evolution beyond a purely functional space. Unveiled within its redesigned Milan flagship, the Italian brand’s latest collections explored what it calls a “material multiverse”, where stone, wood, glass, and terrazzo come together in sophisticated layers. The kitchen is no longer conceived as a standalone object, but as an open and adaptable system that extends naturally into living and dining spaces, blurring the boundaries between architecture and daily life.
THE NEW LANGUAGE OF LIVING
The New Language of Living: Home As Sanctuary
by Portfolio Magazine
27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026
Craft, comfort, and timelessness defined Milan Design Week 2026, as the brands represented by XTRA explored a new language of quiet luxury.
Amid the spectacle and sensory overload that have defined Milan Design Week, this year’s edition revealed a subtler side. Across showrooms, apartments, and immersive installations, luxury appeared less concerned with making statements and more focused on creating spaces that invite comfort, connection, and longevity. For the brands represented by XTRA, this softer mood found expression through craftsmanship, materiality, as well as an increasingly fluid understanding of the home.
Meanwhile, Carl Hansen & Søn offered an intimate tribute to Hans J. Wegner through an apartment exhibition that felt more like stepping into a home than a showroom. Presented within an authentic Milanese residence, the setting underscored the enduring relevance of Danish craftsmanship and the timeless appeal of furniture designed to be lived with for generations.
(Related: Inside XTRA's world of Nordic design)
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The same sense of emotional resonance could be found in nanimarquina’s collaboration with the Eames Office. Drawing from original artworks by Lucia Eames, the collection transformed her whimsical motifs of birds, butterflies, and abstract organic forms into tactile rugs crafted from natural fibres. Produced by artisan communities using hand-knotting, tufting, and embroidery techniques, the pieces celebrated not only material richness, but also the joy and optimism that design can bring into everyday spaces.
At Muuto, the notion of home became the central theme. Its Milan Apartment, aptly titled The Art of Belonging, explored how colour, light, and form shape daily life. Designed to feel warm and unpolished, the spaces embraced imperfection and individuality, while the new Coltre Modular Sofa by Studiopepe brought softness and flexibility to contemporary living through its quilted, cocoon-like form.
Even Tom Dixon’s latest presentation reflected this desire for familiarity and comfort. Rather than a conventional exhibition, the British designer transformed a 12-room boutique property into the Mua Mua Hotel, presenting his latest furniture and lighting collections within spaces designed for sleeping, working, dining, and unwinding. More than a showcase, it was an exploration of hospitality and placemaking, reinforcing the idea of the hotel as a home away from home.
Together, these presentations pointed to a common thread emerging from Milan. In a fast-paced world, luxury is no longer defined by excess. Instead, it lies in thoughtful details, honest materials, and spaces designed to nurture everyday life. Today’s notion of luxury, it seems, is ultimately about creating homes that feel timeless, personal, and deeply human.
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