Seventeen years in business, and I had never been.
Milan Design Week has sat on my bucket list since Danny and I started Few & Far in 2009. For years, I watched from afar, but this year was different. This was my moment.
I arrived with a plan, but I abandoned it almost immediately. In a world obsessed with being the first to "capture" the content or define the top five trends, I realised I didn't want to be a spectator behind a screen. I wanted to be immersed. I wanted to forget I had my phone and instead, pay attention to how I felt when I walked into a space.
What I found in Milan wasn't just design—it was a reminder of why we do what we do.
The joy of almost nothing.
One of the most profound moments of the trip was, in reality, almost nothing at all.
It was the simple act of stumbling across a bakery with a beautiful display of pastries and focaccia and deciding, “Why not?” No agenda. Just a relaxed Americano, a croissant, and the feeling of being exactly where I was meant to be.
I’ve always aimed to buy at least one memento from my travels—something where I can look at it years later and say, “I bought that there.” In the winding streets of Bellagio, it was a pair of Italian leather moccasins. Later that afternoon, we sat under a grapevine overlooking Lake Como.
For me, water provides clarity; it always has. In that stillness, the inspiration started to settle in.
Engaging the Senses: Design Beyond the Visual
I love design because of the creative thought process that goes into every detail, but more importantly, how those details make you feel. The exhibitions that stayed with me weren't just visual—they were the ones that engaged every sense: sound, scent, light, and touch.
These spaces reminded me that a beautiful room is never just about what you see; it’s about the atmosphere you breathe in.
The Aesop Wave.
This experience didn’t wait for you to enter; it reached out to meet you at the door. Black umbrellas offered against the Mediterranean sun, gold-coated almonds, the cool mist of a facial spray. Inside, thousands of recycled brown glass bottles were suspended upside down, forming a vast, undulating wave. It was a whimsical transformation—taking the insignificant, the discarded, and turning it into something transcendent.
The Kelly Wearstler Sculpture.
In the Kelly Wearstler collaboration, the room was a living dialogue. As soon as you stepped in, the music dictated your pulse. She had taken a simple wooden chair—an object so everyday it’s often ignored—and reimagined it as sculpture. I watched the way the Venetian blinds filtered the Italian sun, creating a shadow play on the floor that felt like a secret language. It was a reminder that lighting isn't just a utility; it’s an atmosphere.
The Styled vs. The Soul.
People often ask me: What is the difference between a styled room and a soulful one?
For me, the answer is found in the missing pieces.
A styled room is an achievement of aesthetics. Everything is perfectly selected; every colour "speaks" to its neighbour. It is beautiful, balanced, and technically correct.
But a soulful interior? That is a room with a pulse. A feeling.
A soulful home is built on moments of conversation and pieces collected over time. It isn't a snapshot; it’s a biography. It shows the personality of the person who lives there—the treasures gathered on a humid afternoon in India, the shoes bought in Bellagio, the books with dog-eared pages. When you add pieces that carry a story, you create an impact that lingers long after you leave the room.
I didn't come back with a list of 'The Top 5 Trends of 2026.' I came back with a feeling.
Travel reminds us that beauty is not reserved for the grand and the monumental. It is found in the morning coffee, the unhurried pastry, and the weathered object found in a far-off place.
A home shouldn't be a showcase of perfect things; it should be a space of meaningful ones. It should tell the world where you’ve been, what you’ve noticed, and what you’ve chosen to keep close.
— Tara, Founder
Drawing from years of experience in homewares and design, we celebrate conscious buying, artisanal craftsmanship, and are driven by the belief that every space should be a collection of pieces that tell stories from past and present and make ways for the narrative to continue in the future. Our mission is to inspire, guide, and help you weave a unique and meaningful story within your own walls.
