Last week we felt as if we had been transported to the Milan Furniture Fair, when in fact we had only made the short journey over to sunny Clerkenwell. “Blink” were lucky enough to have been invited to the opening of twentytwentyone’s “Highlights of Milan” exhibition. Whilst nibbling on premo parmesan and sipping chilled prosecco we perused their choices and daydreamed of living in a vast loft space that we could fill with all of this beautiful furniture.

Once a year the great and good of the design world gather in Milan to present their innovative and visionary new collections. This show is the place to see progressive design, spot new talents and pick up on directional new materials and techniques that will shape interiors for the year ahead. The Salone Milan 2010 certainly seems to have delivered on these expectations as designers defied the restrictions of the recession to present some really exciting and challenging new ideas.

twentytwentyone selected a collection of product that embraces a range of technologies, materials, forms and thought processes. Designs include the ‘make your own’ chair by Enzo Mari, a knitted rug by Patricia Urquiola, a milled timber chair by Sam Hecht and a new sofa family from Jasper Morrison ( a “Blink” design favourite).

The exhibition runs until 29th May at twentytwentyone’s showroom, 18c River Street EC1R 1XN so get yourself along for a design fix. We’ll also promise that you’ll come away green with envy at their fabulously un-London workspace too. We are currently working out how we can convince them to let us move in!

The view into the exhibition at twentytwentyone

'Cruiser' by Marina Bautier for Swedese

'Desiree' by Yngve Ekstrom for Swedese

'Mangas' rug by Patricia Urquiloa on the far left. 'Void' lights by Tom Dixon, hang from the ceiling. 'Chat' sofa by Carlo Colombo for Depadova.

'Spun' chair by Thomas Heatherwick for Magis

'Ten' sofa by Maichael Sodeau for Modus with 'Hang' by Established and Sons

'Store' containers by Established and Sons