Last week was a great week design wise. Did you get the chance to follow me and fellow interior stylist Linda Dekkers aka @liveloudgirl on our European adventures? If you missed any of the action, I’ve saved the Instagram stories to the highlights in my profile. We had the amazing opportunity to attend a VIP press trip with AXOR Middle East and have co-written this post to tell you all about it. AXOR is the premium bathroom collection of the Hansgrohe brand, a luxury label in the world of bathroom fittings with an impressive list of renowned designers behind the products.

We started the trip with a visit to the Hansgrohe HQ in the picturesque town of Schiltach in Germany’s Black Forest region. We thoroughly enjoyed a hilarious trip down the memory lane of all things bathroom in the shower museum at the company’s Aquademie facility, where you can also experience all the products in their Showerworld! From there we travelled on to Milan to visit the Salone Del Mobile show and join in the celebration of AXOR’s 25th anniversary. At the Hansgrohe/AXOR exhibition we got a glimpse of AXOR’s latest product release – AXOR MyEdition, a luxurious tap that can be customised to your own specifications. We also learned that the Hansgrohe brand is stepping into the kitchen arena with a line of granite sinks that are firmly on the wish list.

Linda and I both share the philosophy that investing in a few good design pieces and then combining them with other (affordable) brands is the best way to create a space that you will love. The same goes for your bathroom. A beautifully designed rain shower as a statement piece, ideally in one of the more exciting finishes like bronze or black, can really change your bathroom, your shower experience and quite frankly your whole day!

While we were there, we also had the chance to explore the design universe that is Salone Del Mobile and the various design districts that epitomise “Fuorisalone” – the term used to define the events and exhibitions that animate the entire city of Milan during #MilanDesignWeek.  This is where the action is at – where you see the city in it’s full design glory.

Here’s our take on what’s coming in hot, and what’s not, for the season ahead:

Yellow is having it’s moment. It was already in the cards last year yet we can see that it is definitely on the radar now.

Curves are in. It seems that harsh angles and sharp corners are making way for smooth, curvy edges in everything from the corners of headboards to the silhouettes of armchairs. Round is the new square!

Rich textures are taking centre stage. And we’re talking major textural situations here. We even spotted a few eye-openers like carpeted walls. True story. We may not be on board just yet, but you heard it here first!

Retro floral prints are in full bloom. Oh yes, we saw big, bold florals on sun loungers, sofas and armchairs. Not to mention that some of us have recently used oversized floral wallpapers in projects too. So I guess this one is really happening.

Velvet may be vanishing. It’s enjoyed a meteoric resurrection over the past few years but there was little to be seen around Milan this past week. Let’s see what the future holds for this one.

A big thank you goes out to the AXOR team who took amazing care of us. From being able to travel to the Black Forest, walking the AXOR factory floor and witnessing where design comes to life, to visiting Salone Del Mobile and having traditional Italian cuisine in some of the most iconic restaurants of the city. All of these experiences made it an unforgettable trip for both of us.