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The Chicest Outdoor Furniture Debuts at Milan Design Week

From Janus et Cie’s sculptural tables by Sebastian Herkner to a whimsical looping sofa dreamed up by Elena Salmistraro for Ethimo

By Galerie editors
Modern patio with wicker chairs and large table, ocean view and greenery in the background, under a clear blue sky.
Janus et Cie: Bollaro Dining Tables by Sebastian Herkner.

At Milan Design Week, a wave of outdoor furniture debuts embraced a renewed focus on material ingenuity and adaptable living. Designers presented ultra-refined silhouettes while also enhancing performance, from sculptural seating to modular systems that can move effortlessly between one’s living room or terrace. The below debuts signal a shift toward convivial outdoor settings that foster gathering, lingering conversation, and long hours under open skies.  

Modern chaise lounge with a dark wooden frame and light upholstered cushion, set against a dark purple background.
B&B Italia: Untitled Outdoor by Vincent Van Duysen. Photo: Camille Vivier

1. B&B Italia: Untitled Outdoor by Vincent Van Duysen 

Vincent Van Duysen’s Untitled Outdoor system pairs a solid wood frame with deep, enveloping cushions, placing structure in clear conversation with comfort and exquisite design as the frame’s chamfered edge accentuates its geometry. Modular elements shift with ease across configurations, which were designed to seamlessly shift between indoor and outdoor settings. 

Modern patio with wicker chairs and large table, ocean view and greenery in the background, under a clear blue sky.
Janus et Cie: Bollaro Dining Tables by Sebastian Herkner.

2. Janus et Cie: Bollaro Dining Tables by Sebastian Herkner 

These stylish tables, designed by Sebastian Herkner, rest on contoured, vessel-like pedestal bases carved with recessed contours that provide satin-smooth, troweled textures. Cast in JANUSstone, the proprietary material offers a lighter weight with lasting durability outdoors. Alabaster and urban grey finishes ground the generously scaled, bullnose-edged tabletops.  

Modern pink abstract sculpture beneath an arched brick colonnade with greenery in the background.
Ethimo: Loop by Elena Salmistraro. Photo: Courtesy of Ethimo

3. Ethimo: Loop by Elena Salmistraro 

Elena Salmistraro’s whimsical Loop sofa gathers organic volumes into a continuous, enveloping composition that encourages open, social use from every side. The self-supporting three-seater relies on technical padding in place of a visible frame, clad in high-performance outdoor textiles. Earth-toned and sea-inspired palettes reinforce its fluid, convivial presence. 

Outdoor patio furniture set with sofas, chairs, tables, and decorative vases overlooking a scenic ocean view.
Roche Bobois: Catalina by Stephen Burks. Photo: Courtesy of Roche Bobois

4. Roche Bobois: Catalina by Stephen Burks 

The ultra-plush Catalina chair devised by Stephen Burks has a perky curve to its legs. Its cushions are available in several herringbone patterns that blend to subtlety from a distance while adding a joyful pop of color up close, especially in the rainbow-hued options. 

Modern outdoor patio set with beige sofas, a matching coffee table, patterned lanterns, and a rug on a white background.
Dedon: Tricot by Barber & Osgerby. Photo: Courtesy of Dedon

5. Dedon: Tricot by Barber & Osgerby 

The Tricot line takes its inspiration from knitting; the craft inspired the powder-coated aluminum frame and is reflected in the way the modular pieces “knit” together as well as in the work of Dedon’s master weavers. Expressing the brand’s technically advanced mastery of hand-woven fiber, designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby put it simply: “Tricot is a collection that could only exist in collaboration with Dedon.” 

Modern beige sofa with wooden frame and cushioned seats against a white background.
Gloster: Ithaca by AMDL Circle. Photo: Courtesy of Gloster

6. Gloster: Ithaca by AMDL Circle 

Ithaca, the latest outdoor collection from Gloster, finds roots in one of the world’s oldest tales: Homer’s The Odyssey. All Odysseus wanted was to return home to the namesake Ithaca, and the solid teak, ceramic, and neutral-toned outdoor fabrics in ADML Circle’s design immediately create an elegantly comfortable sense of freedom to sprawl, knowing that you’re home. 

Modern living room with beige sofas, brown pillows, a large plant, and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing lush green trees.
Exteta: Shell Sofa by Studiopepe . Photo: Courtesy of Exteta

7. Exteta: Shell Sofa by Studiopepe 

The Shell collection by Studiopepe expresses a 1970s allure, with a refined balance between comfort and formal rigor embodied in its sleek leather structure. Exteta recently expanded the collection with the Shell Modular Sofa, which pushes the boundaries of indoor-outdoor living. 

Luxurious poolside with sun loungers and umbrellas, surrounded by palm trees, overlooking the ocean.
Tuuci: Ocean Master Max Cupola Cantilever. Photo: Courtesy of Tuuci

8. Tuuci: Ocean Master Max Cupola Cantilever 

Tucci’s presentation highlighted a layered approach to outdoor living, emphasizing how to forge a sense of natural calm, joy, and lingering conversation. It introduced several luxurious new products, including the Ocean Master MAX Cupola Cantilever, a parasol with a polished and anodized marine-grade canopy structure that extends gracefully from a robust oval-shaped mast inspired by luxury sailing yachts. 

Modern living room setup with neutral-toned couches, large canopy, and potted plants in a spacious showroom.

9. Royal Botania: Archy Lounge 

One of five outdoor products introduced by Royal Botania, the Solaz x Archy Lounge formed an open arrangement that showcased the piece’s soft, sculptural lines that highlight the natural warmth and elegance of solid wood. It marked a new chapter for a collection that celebrates the beauty of rounded teak craftsmanship. 

Outdoor seating area with two orange armchairs, a beige sofa, a round coffee table, and tall grass surroundings.
Molteni&C: Soleva by Vincent Van Duysen. Photo: Courtesy of Molteni&C
Modern olive green armchair with metallic frame against a dark background.
Molteni&C: Soleva by Vincent Van Duysen. Photo: Courtesy of Molteni&C

10. Molteni&C: Soleva by Vincent Van Duysen 

Pairing a slender tubular aluminum frame with marine plywood backrests composed of vertical slats, the handsome Soleva collection brings Vincent Van Duysen’s stylistic rigor into open-air living. Powder-coated finishes in white and green support outdoor performance, while rounded lines temper its disciplined profiles.