The founder of Upstate Art Weekend, Helen Toomer, shares her favorites from her first time visiting Milan during the design-frenzied week of Salone del Mobile.
I’ve never been before to Milan and was delighted to go to celebrate my magical friend Tiana Webb Evans’ birthday with our dear friend Lora Appleton and see what Salon de Mobile was all about. I was especially interested to see the city activated for the annual event, as I’m in planning mode for Upstate Art Weekend!
Jean Charles de Castelbajac and Pierre Frey.
Helen Toomer with Tiana Webb Evans and Lora Appleton.
I landed in Milano after the worst overnight flight of my life, but we didn’t let that stop us from a quick stop at our Airbnb in the Fashion District, then out to lunch. Lunch took hours and I had four hundred espressos at the very busy Caruso Nuovo Bistro and then hit the streets to take it in.
A First Time at Milan Design Week
Loewe’s Teapot exhibition.
Loewe’s Teapot exhibition.
I loved that there were activations EVERYWHERE. It was exciting, but also very overwhelming. First stop was Delvis (Un) Limited. And I LOVED Niki Danai’s work. Then we stumbled across Jean Charles de Castelbajac and Pierre Frey at Salone del Mobile 2025, which was fun and fresh.
Then the exhibition we really wanted to see—we had also seen so many people carrying LOEWE catalogue bags all around the city. We had to wait for a while to get in and the architecture, the journey of the space, and exhibition design was a welcome experience. So much so, we visited the LOEWE store after to bring some mementos home!
And that was it for our first day—I was exhausted and passed out at 6pm, while Tiana and Lora went out for dinner.
Alcova as the Best of Milan
Alcova with Lora Appleton and Tiana Webb Evans.
Alcova.
The next day, I was so excited, we were visiting Alcova. Now THIS MADE THE TRIP!!! I loved it. I discovered so much, and it also helped that the sun was shining. We were well rested and Alcova was a delight—full and rich with old and new design, with hundreds of people buzzing around, and sitting outside with Aperol’s. It was my idea of heaven!
We met this INCREDIBLE human and his EPIC work! David Aliperti—his lovely flower plant pieces just captured you, as did his warmth and openness in sharing with us about himself and his work.
Tiana Webb Evans with David Aliperti.
David Aliperti.
If I could have bought one thing, it would have been Portal Cabinet by Studio Graeff. I am still dreaming about this piece. Its shape, the beautiful rainbows it made when opening in the light—an actual DREAM.
I nearly put this Ready to Hang mirror in my bag! LOVE it so and then they gave me a pocket compact mirror that I’ve carried on my whole euro journey. Chic and functional—love it!
Moon Seop Seo at Alcova.
OBSEEEEESSSEDEDDDD with Moon Seop Seo. This meditative work was exactly what we needed at the end of the day – perfectly situated in a little cave which opened up at the bottom, revealing the works moving with the moods. Loved it.
Then we had an aperol in the sunshine and made new friends and spoke about how lucky we were to be on this trip! Then to cap it all off, Lora made a reservation a hundred years ago to get us into the famous Ristorante Da Giacomo.
A selfie at Ristorante Da Giacomo.
We were joined by her beautiful friends, designer Chris Wolston and photographer David Sierra. So much food and wine, and laughter was had … which we took to the famous Bar Basso afterwards. An aperol spritz at night outside,e surrounded by laughter and new and old friends, was the perfect way to end our time in Milan. N
Next stops – Lake Como, Brescia, Munich and England – see you in May friends! xxx
