Design Anatomy

Milan Design Week can look like a never-ending highlight reel, but the real story lives outside the frame. What you don’t get from Instagram is the atmosphere: the scent in a private apartment, the soundscape in an installation, the scale of a palazzo hiding behind an ordinary street door, and the way a space can hit your nervous system in an instant. We’re fresh back from Paris and Milan and ready to share the honest debrief, including the parts that are chaotic, emotional and properly joyful. We talk about why this year felt so positive, how hospitality in Paris completely challenges the “rude Parisian” myth, and why being treated like “entrepreneurs” at the Musée d'Orsay still makes us smile. Then we get nerdy about interiors and furniture design: what reads one way online but changes in person, how prototypes and production timelines make trend fatigue feel weirdly premature, and why context matters when you’re judging a piece you’ve only ever seen on a screen. If you love Salone del Mobile, Studio Pepe, Muuto, and the craft of creating a mood in a room, you’ll feel right at home. We also get practical about navigating Milan Design Week: queues, planning versus winging it, brand installations you might love (or happily skip), and how chasing a single “social media moment” can send you to the wrong side of town. To wrap it up, we share the unexpected highlights that actually linger, like an unplanned Aperol spritz after a huge fair day, a Brera dinner that turns into a singalong, and a chance encounter that opens doors you didn’t even know existed. If you’re dreaming about going one day, or you’ve been and you’re still processing it, listen along and tell us how you do Milan: tight itinerary or total spontaneity. Reachout to @design.anatomy.podcast , @bree.banfield or @sisalla_interior_design to join our waitlist for more information about The Design Anatomy Tour 2027. Subscribe, share the episode with a design friend, and leave us a quick review so more Australian interior design lovers can find the show. Bree is now offering a 90-minute online design consult to help you tackle key challenges like colour selection, furniture curation, layout, and styling. Get tailored one-on-one advice and a detailed follow-up report with actionable recommendations—all without a full-service commitment. Bookings now open - Book now Join Lauren for The Conversation Circle beginning Monday 15th June. This fortnightly small-group mentoring program is designed for interior designers, decorators and stylists who are ready to fast-track their business growth, gain clarity, and have the support and accountability to take action. To ensure everyone receives personalised guidance and mentoring, the group is intentionally limited to just 6 designers . This creates space for meaningful conversations, individual feedback, and practical support tailored to your business. For more info & application process please see below: The Conversation Circle 2026