Inside L’Appartamento by Artemest at Milan Design Week

One of the most enchanting aspects of Milan Design Week 2025 was the opportunity to step inside the city’s hidden architectural gems—spaces usually closed to the public. This year, L’Appartamento by Artemest stood out as a must-see experience, blending old-world elegance with a modern global perspective in a breathtaking display of interior design, culture, and craftsmanship.

A Celebration of Italian Craftsmanship in the Heart of Milan

Now in its third edition, L’Appartamento has become a signature project for Artemest, the online gallery founded in 2015 by Marco Credendino and Ippolita Rostagno. Known for curating the finest Italian craftsmanship, from bespoke furniture to lighting, tableware, and fine art, Artemest used this immersive installation to mark its 10th anniversary in spectacular style.

Inside L’Appartamento by Artemest at Milan Design Week — The Grand Salon by Meyer Davis

The 2025 installation took over the Palazzo Donizetti, a 19th-century architectural masterpiece never before opened to the public. Nestled in the heart of Milan, the palazzo combines Renaissance grace, Baroque opulence, and touches of Liberty style, all preserved in its frescoed walls and a majestic elliptical staircase with an ornate wrought-iron balustrade.

Six Designers, One Historic Canvas

As in past editions, Artemest invited six internationally acclaimed interior design studios to each reimagine a room within the palazzo. The designers used carefully curated selections from Artemest’s vast catalog—representing over 180 Italian artisans and artists—to transform these historic spaces into vivid expressions of contemporary style.

The result? A layered, intercultural dialogue between past and present, tradition and innovation.

Among the featured talents was Simone Haag, the celebrated Australian designer known for her fearless compositions and thoughtful mix of vintage and modern pieces. Her interpretation of the Foyer greeted guests with bold textures, sculptural forms, and pops of color that echoed—rather than clashed with—the delicate ceiling frescoes and decorative moldings of the original room.

Also participating were Brigette Romanek, Nebras AlJoaib, and other standout creatives from across the globe, each bringing their unique vision to the project and further elevating the Italian design narrative on a world stage.

Why L’Appartamento Matters in 2025

In an age where experiential design is becoming increasingly vital, L’Appartamento proves that the most powerful interior spaces are those rooted in both story and place. By pairing centuries-old architecture with modern design, the installation captured not only the beauty of timeless Italian craftsmanship but also the importance of honoring the past while designing for the future.

From the grandeur of the Palazzo Donizetti to the artistic collaboration between designers and artisans, L’Appartamento by Artemest stood as one of the top interior design exhibitions at Milan Design Week 2025—and a stunning tribute to ten years of visionary curating.