The flagship of Milanese design

Word to the wise: For Alessi style at a fraction of the price, visit the factory store at Omegna above Lake Orta; there are vast reductions on seconds and ends-of-line.

Only the Milanese could make an orange plastic kettle look chic – a visit to Alessi’s mammoth showroom, newly created by Catalan designer Martí Guixé, may uncover the secret and offer further ideas for the colourful transformation of a kitchen or bathroom. With a loud red and grey floor and stark block lighting, the store is part museum of Alessi’s landmark designs and part gallery highlighting new products as fresh collections are unveiled.

Top-selling Alessi gadgets include parrot-shaped corkscrews and sleek polished-steel crockery; other artists showcased here include Finland’s Eero Aarnio, creator of the iconic 1960s Ball Chair, and Austrian silversmith Karin Santorso.