Highlights from the Maison & Objet 2019 Design Fair
Blue is out, curves are in... We’ve got you covered with the top takeaways from one of Europe’s biggest trade fairs
Agnès Carpentier
12 September 2019
Since 1995, the Maison & Objet trade fair, held twice a year in Paris, has been the international meeting point for professionals in lifestyle, interiors and design. It brings together more than 3,000 exhibiting brands and nearly 90,000 visitors, half of whom come from other countries. Houzz France’s editorial team was on the scene at the latest edition (6-10 September, 2019) to report on the highlights of the fair, the trends of tomorrow, and talent on the rise.
Photos from the Houzz archives unless otherwise indicated.
Workspaces
With the theme of Work!, this autumn’s edition of Maison & Objet established itself as a laboratory for new workspace ideas. As societal changes also affect our relationship to work, the office is being reinvented. Co-working spaces, especially, are being developed, with designs focused on fostering collaboration.
In this context, manufacturers and space planners have also turned to the home office, thinking of ways to make it more convivial and interactive, and transforming it into a rich and varied living space that can be personalised for the individual or dedicated to the whole family.
Workspaces
With the theme of Work!, this autumn’s edition of Maison & Objet established itself as a laboratory for new workspace ideas. As societal changes also affect our relationship to work, the office is being reinvented. Co-working spaces, especially, are being developed, with designs focused on fostering collaboration.
In this context, manufacturers and space planners have also turned to the home office, thinking of ways to make it more convivial and interactive, and transforming it into a rich and varied living space that can be personalised for the individual or dedicated to the whole family.
Photo © AETHION
Prominent at this year’s fair were new layouts for workspaces, which are now brighter and more open and allow people to focus, get inspired and re-energise. The What’s New? space (pictured here), designed by Philippe Boisselier, featured pieces selected by Chantal Hamaide, which included small furniture, objects and accessories that contribute to the character of a new layout.
Prominent at this year’s fair were new layouts for workspaces, which are now brighter and more open and allow people to focus, get inspired and re-energise. The What’s New? space (pictured here), designed by Philippe Boisselier, featured pieces selected by Chantal Hamaide, which included small furniture, objects and accessories that contribute to the character of a new layout.
Photo © Ambroise Tezenas
Designer of the Year, Laura Gonzalez
Having founded her agency, Pravda Arkitect, in 2008, this architect and designer has added a number of huge accomplishments to her CV, having designed the Lapérouse restaurant, the Relais Christine hotel, the 86Champs concept-store, the Noto restaurant in the Salle Pleyel concert hall, Cartier shops in Paris, Stockholm and Zurich, and so on.
Taking inspiration from the classics and the decorative arts, she works in a revisited classical style, mixing different materials, eras and motifs. This can be seen in the former Passy-La-Muette train station, where she designed a 10,765 sq ft (1,000 sq m) restaurant with a Colonial look.
Read more about Laura Gonzalès and her work.
Designer of the Year, Laura Gonzalez
Having founded her agency, Pravda Arkitect, in 2008, this architect and designer has added a number of huge accomplishments to her CV, having designed the Lapérouse restaurant, the Relais Christine hotel, the 86Champs concept-store, the Noto restaurant in the Salle Pleyel concert hall, Cartier shops in Paris, Stockholm and Zurich, and so on.
Taking inspiration from the classics and the decorative arts, she works in a revisited classical style, mixing different materials, eras and motifs. This can be seen in the former Passy-La-Muette train station, where she designed a 10,765 sq ft (1,000 sq m) restaurant with a Colonial look.
Read more about Laura Gonzalès and her work.
Photo © Jérôme Galland
This year, she was named Designer of the Year at Maison & Objet, where she created a display (pictured here) that’s all her, showing her style and furniture. She told us, “I work on intuition a lot. Patterns are also an essential element for me. I love when there is life and spirit in a place.”
This year, she was named Designer of the Year at Maison & Objet, where she created a display (pictured here) that’s all her, showing her style and furniture. She told us, “I work on intuition a lot. Patterns are also an essential element for me. I love when there is life and spirit in a place.”
Colour trend highlights
The colours of the year remain muted, earthy and close to nature, with green continuing to be in the spotlight. If fir green, the big colour of 2019, is still present here and there, the new green of the year to come is tinged with yellow and tends towards khaki or olive for a warmer hue.
Likewise, a number of warm colours – powder pink, peach, coral, terracotta, blood red, wine red, burnt orange, ocher, amber, sienna and nutmeg – bring warmth to interiors this year. Blue is in decline, though International Klein Blue and denim are still popular shades.
The colours of the year remain muted, earthy and close to nature, with green continuing to be in the spotlight. If fir green, the big colour of 2019, is still present here and there, the new green of the year to come is tinged with yellow and tends towards khaki or olive for a warmer hue.
Likewise, a number of warm colours – powder pink, peach, coral, terracotta, blood red, wine red, burnt orange, ocher, amber, sienna and nutmeg – bring warmth to interiors this year. Blue is in decline, though International Klein Blue and denim are still popular shades.
While interior design has tended towards safer monochrome in the past few years, now harmonies and contrasts of several colours are key, playing with primary and secondary tones and balancing dark and light.
Particularly noteworthy combinations at this autumn edition were: khaki, sienna and powder pink; yellow-green, denim and burnt orange; and peach, nutmeg and linden.
8 colour trends from Maison & Objet fair to look out for in 2020.
Particularly noteworthy combinations at this autumn edition were: khaki, sienna and powder pink; yellow-green, denim and burnt orange; and peach, nutmeg and linden.
8 colour trends from Maison & Objet fair to look out for in 2020.
Photo © AETHION
Focus on young talent from the US
At each Maison & Objet, the Rising Talent Awards highlight the excellence of emerging designers from one particular country. Previous editions have focused on the creativity of the UK, Italy, Lebanon and China. At this edition, design from the US was in the spotlight, and the jury selected six promising American companies and individuals.
We fell in love with the work of Kira de Paola, 38, and Joseph Vidich, 41, who founded the Kin & Company design studio. Their work focuses on metalworking, and at this edition of the fair they exhibited metal folded into architectural forms inspired by Art Deco style (pictured).
Focus on young talent from the US
At each Maison & Objet, the Rising Talent Awards highlight the excellence of emerging designers from one particular country. Previous editions have focused on the creativity of the UK, Italy, Lebanon and China. At this edition, design from the US was in the spotlight, and the jury selected six promising American companies and individuals.
We fell in love with the work of Kira de Paola, 38, and Joseph Vidich, 41, who founded the Kin & Company design studio. Their work focuses on metalworking, and at this edition of the fair they exhibited metal folded into architectural forms inspired by Art Deco style (pictured).
Furniture rounds its edges
Straight lines give way to rounded shapes, and the circle could be seen on everything from lamps and rugs to mirrors and furniture.
Semicircles, for example in the case of arches, are drawing new frames in the house, while the circle is taking on more organic ovoid contours, as seen in mirrors and soap-bubble-shaped lamps. The sofas and chairs of the year have curved lines, giving interiors a soft feeling.
Straight lines give way to rounded shapes, and the circle could be seen on everything from lamps and rugs to mirrors and furniture.
Semicircles, for example in the case of arches, are drawing new frames in the house, while the circle is taking on more organic ovoid contours, as seen in mirrors and soap-bubble-shaped lamps. The sofas and chairs of the year have curved lines, giving interiors a soft feeling.
Preferred materials
Interiors continue to revolve around raw wood, usually light-coloured oak or darker walnut, while thin legs in powder-coated or galvanized black metal continue their momentum.
Terrazzo and light-coloured, woven rattan are essentials, while sophisticated notes dot interiors in the form of brass details and marble finishes. Armchairs and sofas are upholstered in short-pile velvet or curly wool coverings.
Interiors continue to revolve around raw wood, usually light-coloured oak or darker walnut, while thin legs in powder-coated or galvanized black metal continue their momentum.
Terrazzo and light-coloured, woven rattan are essentials, while sophisticated notes dot interiors in the form of brass details and marble finishes. Armchairs and sofas are upholstered in short-pile velvet or curly wool coverings.
We also saw that glass is making a comeback, especially gridded, textured or iridescent glass.
Patterns: Nature and geometry
Straight-lined geometric patterns – circles, herringbone, stripes and small chequered designs – match floral motifs well. Speckled patterns also continue to rise to the occasion.
The turning point of the year lies in the evolution of floral decoration into less exotic but equally refreshing patterns based on both large flower designs and tiny, Liberty-style prints.
1930s patterns continue to be trendy, inspired by the Art Deco movement. These included designs featuring palms, cornices, hand fans, fringes, semicircles, rectangles and squares.
Straight-lined geometric patterns – circles, herringbone, stripes and small chequered designs – match floral motifs well. Speckled patterns also continue to rise to the occasion.
The turning point of the year lies in the evolution of floral decoration into less exotic but equally refreshing patterns based on both large flower designs and tiny, Liberty-style prints.
1930s patterns continue to be trendy, inspired by the Art Deco movement. These included designs featuring palms, cornices, hand fans, fringes, semicircles, rectangles and squares.
Photo © AETHION
What’s new?
The four thematic “What’s New?” displays brought together novel ideas featuring innovations, new materials or new techniques. In addition to the already mentioned space dedicated to the main theme of the show (Work!), three other key exhibitions explored new types of décor. Here’s what the designers had to say about their exhibits.
What’s new?
The four thematic “What’s New?” displays brought together novel ideas featuring innovations, new materials or new techniques. In addition to the already mentioned space dedicated to the main theme of the show (Work!), three other key exhibitions explored new types of décor. Here’s what the designers had to say about their exhibits.
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Photo © AETHION
- Living
Photo © AETHION
Tell us…
Do any of these décor ideas appeal to you? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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Tell us…
Do any of these décor ideas appeal to you? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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I love all the colors that are up in coming! Especially in all the different patterns and prints
Wait six months and it will all change! I do love seeing the trends, but I decorate with what is comfortable for me. It doesn't go out of style that way (for my tastes), but it does deprive the shops of me spending money to redecorate every season!
A lady after my own heart. I love, love, love bold colors and this reminds me of my own living room colors.