A Tribute to Californian Modernism in Milan

WORDS Megan Rawson

Italian furniture house Baxter unveiled its new collection, West Coast Aesthetics—a refined exploration of 1960s Californian design.

Produced in partnership with SPACE Furniture.

Blending modernist elegance with bold materiality, the latest furniture collection from Baxter pays homage to the free-spirited yet sophisticated sensibility of the American West Coast, reinterpreting mid-century forms through sculptural silhouettes, flowing geometries, and innovative finishes.

The Fluid mirror by Federico Peri reflects the ochre-toned walls, while the softly hued aquamarine Inga chair by Roberto Lazzeroni and the textured Nepal chair by Paola Navone — upholstered in hand-finished Mongolian fur — pair elegantly with Lazzeroni’s Isamu Stone table in the dining space.

Key highlights included sculpted tables, detailed leather seating, and chrome-framed lighting, all designed to echo the effortless harmony between interior and exterior found in Californian homes of the era. The collection was underpinned by three distinctive colour palettes—earthy browns and lush greens evocative of the desert, a soft blend of sandy tones and muted purples, and a retro-inspired mix of ochre and soft magenta inspired by coastal sunset and the creative energy of the 1960s.

The narrative unfolded simultaneously across Baxter’s Milan experiences including an immersive redesign of the Baxter Cinema. A decade after its original transformation, the space was reimagined with Venetian-finished floors, suspended architectural elements, and delicate partitions inspired by Carlo Scarpa’s poetic materiality. Visitors were invited to move through a light-filled environment where surfaces and shadows shaped a renewed spatial rhythm.

The jewel-toned Marilyn chair by Draga & Aurel, in muted purple leather, makes a bold, sculptural statement with a nod to 1960s design.

Housed in the same building, the iconic Baxter Bar in Largo Augusto became a living installation, celebrating the evolution of the brand’s outdoor collection. Reflective of the city’s rhythm, pieces crafted from natural stone, leather, and technical fabrics mirrored Baxter’s commitment to craftsmanship, comfort, and atmosphere—all in an open-air setting.

Cast from polished antique steel, the Y25 table by Pietro Russo introduces a striking architectural presence, while the Marilyn dining chairs by Draga & Aurel provide a contrasting softness with their sculptural curves. Overhead, the Nube Blanca pendant by Studiopepe evokes the ethereal and ever-shifting nature of clouds.

Across town, Baxter reimagined Ristorante Alto as a temporary design installation suspended above Milan. Taking in views of the famed Duomo, the space featured sculptural forms, rich textures, and a palette that moved between refined neutrals and soft, moody tones. Baxter invited guests to experience design—not only as an aesthetic offering, but as a sensorial journey grounded in connection, memory, and material innovation.

A study in bold forms and rich finishes, the high-gloss mustard lacquered Aegates desk by Baxter P is complemented by the low-slung So Soft ottoman with tubular chrome detailing.

Set along the serene shores of Lake Como, La Casa sul Lago reinterpreted Baxter’s latest collection within the iconic villa’s curated interiors and against a backdrop of the three distinctive colour palettes. Roberto Lazzeroni’s INGA chairs bring sculptural clarity and tactile refinement, while Paola Navone’s NEPAL chair introduces bold, textural contrast in hand-finished Mongolian fur. At the centre of the study, the AEGATES desk in mustard lacquer stands as a focal point. The modular LLOYD bookcase by Baxter P. blurs the line between storage and sculpture, while the abstract NOOR A rug grounds the space in tonal depth and geometric rhythm.

Discover the Baxter range.