Header: Courtesy of Lithos Design
Lithos Design made a big impression at this year’s Salone del Mobile.Milano, showing off their deep understanding of marble and how to shape it in exciting new ways. Their exhibition space was all about the latest creations from designer Raffaello Galiotto, putting the spotlight on the natural beauty and versatility of stone. Visitors got a real feel for the material, seeing firsthand how Lithos Design plays with marble, light, and form.
Tables taking centre stage
The stars of the show were four new table designs, each telling a different story through marble.
Ananta table
This Ananta table grabs your attention with its base shaped like the number “eight,” the symbol for infinity. Designer Raffaello Galiotto cleverly crafted each of the two looping legs from a single block of marble, minimizing waste. The name “Ananta” means “infinity” in Sanskrit, connecting it to the shape and the long-lasting nature of marble. A warm bronze glass top lets you clearly see the sculptural base beneath, making the marble the hero.
Hanabira table
Made entirely from the dramatic Nero Marquina marble (known for its deep black color and white lines), Hanabira has a clean, modern look. Its rectangular top has soft, rounded corners. The table stands on four legs shaped subtly like petals – “Hanabira” is Japanese for “petal.” It’s a sophisticated piece designed to make a statement in high-end homes.
Odette Family
This isn’t just one table, but a whole collection including a dining table, console, coffee table, and accent table. Named after the swan princess Odette from Swan Lake, the designs aim for a feeling of grace and lightness. The shared feature is a base that looks like pleated fabric, similar to a ballerina’s tutu. Made from Caldia Nimbo marble, which has an ivory white background and soft, cloud-like patterns, the base curves gently, narrowing and widening slightly, giving it an elegant shape inspired by classical columns.
Oike table
Inspired by ancient Greek columns and the word “oikos” (meaning home or family), the base of the Oike table is made of three distinct parts, all cut from the same block of marble. This approach is smart for reducing waste and also tells a story of shared origins, like a family. The three elements stand together to support the square bronze glass table top, which allows a clear view of the marble structure and its natural patterns.
Walls that wow
Beyond tables, Lithos Design showed how marble can transform walls as well. Pietre chiaroscuro backlit walls are designed to play with light. Two layers of marble are used, similar to old sgraffito methods. The top, non-translucent layer is carefully cut away in patterns, allowing light to shine through the translucent marble layer beneath. This creates amazing visual effects. The collection comes in two patterns: Tweed, with crossing lines and squares, and Stripes, with vertical bands. There are four different marble combinations available (Liquirizia, Smeraldo, Caramello, Greige), each creating a unique mood when lit.
Part of the Pietre Incise collection, Plissé makes marble look like flowing, pleated fabric. Using advanced cutting techniques, the stone surface is sculpted with lines that catch light and create shadows, giving walls a sense of movement and texture. It’s shown in different marbles, including a deep green Jadore quartzite with bold lines like a rainforest, and the classic white Italian Arabescato Vagli marble with grey and gold patterns.
Quinte modular divider: Dividing space with style
Acting as an eye-catching backdrop at the show, Quinte is a clever system for dividing spaces. It uses a thin metal frame that holds marble tiles (just 3 cm thick). Because the frame provides support, the marble can be thinner and lighter, making installation easier – it doesn’t always need a professional. You can arrange the 60×60 cm marble tiles in various ways, choosing from plain tiles or patterned ones like Palmanova (hexagonal shapes with round holes) or Papiro (inspired by ancient Egyptian papyrus weaves with square holes). Available in three marble types coordinated with the frame color, it offers lots of creative freedom.
Lithos Design continues to push boundaries, using technology and a deep respect for marble to create pieces that are both beautiful and smart. Their focus on revealing the stone’s natural character, often using sustainable methods that minimize waste, results in truly special designs made in Italy for the world stage.
