Are you searching for the highlights from Milan Design Week 2025? For one magical week in April, Milan transforms into a hotbed of exciting interior design trends, often showcased in extraordinary locations. Ancient palaces and industrial warehouses open their doors to avant-garde brands and thought-provoking ideas.
But with so many events and inspirations to take in, even the most seasoned design professionals can feel overwhelmed. That’s why Dreams & Design has teamed up with interior designer Helena Brana—founder of the Southern California–based studio Brana Designs and the bespoke rug company Loominarea.
Helena is a regular at international furniture fairs and has graciously agreed to share her Milan Design Week 2025 highlights, including interior brands to keep an eye on and the best lighting designs from Euroluce 2025.
Scroll down for the full interview and exclusive photos.
Milan Design Week 2025 Highlights. Interview with Helena Brana
You describe your interior design style as Organic Contemporary. Tell us how these two words translate into Brana Designs’ aesthetic.
For me, Organic Contemporary isn’t just a style—it’s a way of living. It’s rooted in nature, in tradition, and in the tactile richness of real materials and human hands. I draw deeply from the natural world, valuing craftsmanship, simplicity, and quiet elegance—the kinds of things we’re instinctively drawn to.
At the same time, I embrace the rhythm of modern life. I incorporate technology to simplify daily routines, and I seek out one-of-a-kind pieces that bring soul into a space. Unlike many homes I see in my region—where everything looks the same and feels off-the-shelf—Brana Designs creates interiors with presence. Spaces that breathe. Spaces that reflect a contemporary mindset but remain deeply connected to nature, to human intention, and to thoughtfully sourced, often unique pieces.
That, to me, is Organic Contemporary—not just an aesthetic, but a philosophy. It can be interpreted as bold and expressive in one home, and peaceful and grounding in another.
Could you give us a glimpse into your creative process, and name both your favourite part and the most challenging one?
My process begins quietly—long before the drawings or mood boards. I observe: the architecture, the light, the way a client carries themselves. I don’t start with a style—I start with a feeling. Often, it’s a texture, a memory: linen moving with the wind, stone warmed by the sun.
From there, I gather—images, materials, references, fragments of fashion or art—and then I reduce, until what remains is the essence. My favorite moment is when everything falls into harmony, almost like a piece of music. The hardest part is protecting that clarity, making sure the original vision isn’t diluted by noise or compromise.
For a European designer based in Southern California, how important is it for you personally to attend international furniture fairs such as Salone del Mobile in Milan and Maison & Objet in Paris?
Very important. My work is rooted in sourcing rare and meaningful pieces—mostly from Europe—and these fairs are essential to that process. I discover new artisans, stay attuned to trends, materials, and technologies, and often find pieces that become centrepieces in ongoing projects.
It’s also about staying curious. Inspiration flows from all directions—sometimes not from a showroom, but from walking down a street in Milan or seeing how light hits a weathered façade in Paris. And as someone with roots in Prague, I carry a deep affection for craftsmanship—quiet, enduring, and often overlooked.
Attending these fairs allows me to bridge that heritage with a contemporary global lens.
Let’s talk about Milan Design Week 2025, which has just wrapped up. If you could pick only one event from this year’s edition that caught your discerning eye, what would it be?
Palazzo Litta and the return of Mosca Partners. The installations this year were bold, expressive, and filled with distinctive pieces I can already imagine weaving into future projects. It felt like a place where design met emotion—and scale.
Speaking of interior designers to watch from Salone 2025, are there any other brands that deserve an honourable mention?
Budri – Charme Collection by Eric Carlson: A poetic experience. You begin outside with three small windows, like jewel-box rooms carved from marble. Then, inside, you’re surrounded by the same miniatures, scaled up and resonating with jewelry pieces as furniture—elegant, emotional, and technically mind-blowing. It was a love letter to material and craft.
Fico Design – Woven Air panels (Palazzo Litta): Lace transformed into shimmering panels—subtle, emotional, and atmospheric. A gentle way to divide space and evoke feeling.
Filomena Smola (Romantic Brutalism): Her poetic glass pieces were unexpected for me—soft, sculptural, and deeply touching. Not my typical style, but something about them stayed with me.
Aline Asmar d’Amman (Rossana Orlandi): Her lavender chairs from The Power of Tenderness installation were curvy, bold, and romantic.
Casa Gessi—always a favorite. Their incredible showroom never disappoints. This year, my favorite Perle collection was showcased alongside some truly innovative pieces—including a kitchen faucet that makes coffee!
Great design is timeless. However, variety is the spice of life, and we’re always looking forward to new trends emerging from Salone del Mobile 2025. When you look back at the highlights of Milan Design Week, do you see any exciting trends that align with your design DNA?
This year’s edition felt more cerebral—less ornamental, more about ideas. Last year, “Materia Natura” gave us poetic, tactile beauty rooted in the natural world. This year’s “Connected Worlds” leaned toward philosophy and tech.
While I’m deeply aligned with the concept—blending sustainability, human experience, and innovation—I found the execution slightly underwhelming. Still, the desire to merge nature and digital life reflects something I believe in deeply.
We know you love beautiful lighting and seek bespoke solutions in each of your projects. In your opinion, what were the best lighting designs showcased at Euroluce 2025?
There was so much to admire. A few that stood out:
Ross Gardam – His Aeris chandelier was a beautiful new discovery for me—sculptural and fluid.
Lasvit – Their Soaked in Light installation was a love story to glass, while the Cipher collection was more intimate and refined.
Bomma – Always a favorite, their presence this year felt both familiar and fresh.
Sans Souci – Their installations were breathtaking—technical yet graceful.
Meystyle – Their LED wallpaper was unexpected and opened new possibilities for ambient lighting.
You value simplicity and refinement, but you also enjoy incorporating eccentric pieces like the Hortensia Armchair by Reisinger Studio or the Giraffe Lamp by Marcantonio. In what ways can these pieces elevate a modern interior? And are your clients open to collectible design?
Simplicity is a canvas. It creates the space for something poetic to emerge—a single statement that shifts the entire mood. A piece like the Hortensia chair or the Giraffe lamp adds tension, character, and a sense of joy. It humanizes the room.
One project comes to mind—“Ethereal Indulgences”—where I worked with a fashion designer as a client. She had an incredible eye, and many pieces were sourced during last year’s Milan Design Week. It became this alchemy between simplicity and the unexpected.
Clients today are more open to collectible design, especially when there’s meaning behind it. At 5 Vie Art + Design and Visteria Foundation presenting Romantic Brutalism this year, I found works that were playful yet honest—and that combination is irresistible.
You often source materials and furniture from Europe, but when it comes to rugs, you prefer to create your own custom-made designs. Is that how Loominarea came to life?
Yes, exactly. I created Loominarea because I couldn’t find rugs that met my standards—whether in material, size, or aesthetic. They were often too synthetic, too small, or simply lacked soul.
In my work, every detail must feel intentional. Rugs are foundational, and I needed more freedom. So, I began designing them exclusively for Brana Designs projects, then expanded into customizable rug collections for others. Loominarea is my way of expressing nature’s surreal beauty—through thread, texture, and form.
Thank you for sharing your insights.
Stay tuned for more updates and design trends from Milan Design Week 2025!
How to decorate a modern office?
