28.02.2011
Maison et Objet 2011 – Ooh là là !!! - from our guest blogger interior designer, Mary Middleton
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If you love design or you have a home or a business to renovate, you’ll love Maison et Objet.
The bi-annual design show set in Paris’ Parc des Expositions is design candy heaven and every year thousands of new lines and collections are launched from the eight huge halls of the Villepinte exhibition centre. Maison et Objet is a trade only event with many retailers, architects and Interior Designers attending.
The show brings together fantastic design from all over the world, although there is an emphasis on European designs and is notably high in French brands and designers. The venue is enormous and can take a while to get to grips with, as it showcases everything from luxury furniture, tableware, the newest fabrics and wallpapers to Christmas decorations.
Once ensconced though (and probably with aching feet) you will find something for everyone, whatever your style preference.
As always there was a lot to see in January and whilst Maison had created a theme of Intensity, (about turning up the volume on our senses, emotions and life in general), there were other more obvious trends continuing and emerging. Across the companies that were showcasing their new products there was a strong mix of established brands – think Ligne Roset and Ralph Lauren, as well as new emerging talent.
A relatively new brand BALTAZAR Maison-Ã -Porter (started in 2009) launched a beautiful curvy coffee table called Desert. I can imagine using this in a living room with lots of pattern and colour.
Italian company Meridiani with its contemporary design and strong cosmopolitan style really caught my eye with their use of bright colour in red and orange.
Whilst buying a sofa in a bright colour is a real commitment it would certainly make a statement in your home. They also had strong detailing on a new leather chair called Tautou that reminded me of saddlery and men’s brogues. I want to use this in a project for a bachelor’s pad – masculine styling but not a traditional colour.
New fabric house Bantie design and produce all of their fabrics in Sweden. I have to say that their stand showing wonderful pattern instantly lifted my spirits and I’ve been thinking about their Korall fabric in blue & white ever since.
Another real favourite of mine from the show though was Portugese company Branco Sombre Branco’s Etro upholstered chair. The colour, floral pattern and shape were all real big hitters with me, PLUS it was comfy. I have already shown this to client and hopefully it will be included in our redesign of her bedroom and dressing room.
The alternative seat that is being considered is La Fibule’s Kiss chair newly launched at the show. Again super comfy and with great curves and I feel there is something slightly cheeky about it.
There were some really great decorative lighting companies represented at Maison et Objet. Two of my favourites were Art et Floritude and Melograno Blu. Art et Floritude is a family-run company from the Loire that uses master craftsmen’s to create and paint porcelain and iron foliage by hand, the majority of pieces are for custom projects. My favourites from their stand were the two below, which are so delightfully ethereal and organic.
Melograno Blu also hand-manufactures entirely the glass blown structures in their Murano glass lighting pendants and chandeliers. Their striking luxurious lamp collection would work well in both residential and commercial projects, as these decorative globes create sparkle and interest. The stand was a huge hit at Maison et Objet pulling quite a crowd.
I also had a soft spot for a floor light shown at Baxter, the knotted self supported base brought a smile to my lips – although I wasn’t necessarily convinced about the lamp shade. I actually want this one for my own home.
The key colour’s at the show
- Grey still seems to be a popular choice with Farrow & Ball launching new shades Manor House Grey no.265, Plummett no.272, Mizzle no.266 and the slightly mauve coloured grey’s Calluna no.270 and Brassica no.271
- Crisp black and white was big news and often seen as a backdrop to striking colours or to bolder pieces of furniture
- Bursts of bright colour including vibrant orange (see Meridiani sofa above and Ligne Roset and Sentou below) and a cool refreshing royal blue (see Mariage Freres stand and Eno studio below)
- Two of my favourite accents though were the hot pink and grass green seen at Deans Flowers and Alki (below).
However there was one trend that made me want to run for the hills – the continuing inclusion of taxidermy in interiors.
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