Here at the coop we are trade show regulars; be it the bright lights of Las Vegas for Januaryâs Consumer Electronics Show or Pitti Uomo in fashionable Florence. But perhaps nothing quite matches up to the beautiful and utterly awe-inspiring delights of Maison & Objet, which brings together the crème de la crème of the design world in Parisâs Parc des Expositiones. Once again, our German contingent Lilith joined our resident design duo Vic and Izzy to pound the halls and bring you the newest brands and hottest trends from this seasonâs show.
Maximalist
Modern maximalism is shaping up to be thedefining trend of 2020 â and indeed, you couldnât escape the sense of opulence at this yearâs show. However, the latest take on âmaximalismâ is not just about pairing teal armchairs with brass lamps, but about finding your individual sense of style and shouting about it loud and proud (just look to this recent blog post from our good pal Kate Watson-Smyth, who discusses it in more detail). One brand that stood out to us was A Modern Grand Tour, which can be found just down the road from us at Oxfordshireâs Aynhoe Park. We adored its use of velvet, fringing and feathers to create a truly eye-catching stand (plus Vic is lusting after thatfloorstanding fringed lamp).
Modern mid-century
The term âMid-Century Modernâ has been banging around for donkeyâs years now. This time, however, weâve seen the 60s vibe undergo a contemporary twist thanks to the addition of new colours and textures. We particularly loved LA-based studio Commune Design, whose stand featured the archetypal rounded shapes so synonymous with mid-century style paired with punchy pastels and terrazzo prints. Our highlight had to be this elegant dining table paired with luxurious leather chairs that wouldnât look out of place in the Conran + Partnersâ Shad Thames studio.
Moroccan
We may have been in Paris, but there was very much a Moroccan influence at this yearâs show. Rich oranges, reds and greens mixed with gold, brass and earthy accents could be found throughout the main halls. One brand leading the charge was Judeco (which, rather weirdly, actually hails from neither France or Morocco but Belgium). Dutchbone was another firm seemingly inspired by the vibrant colours of Marrakech.
Retro Scandi
Retro Scandi? Is that such a thing? Well, apparently, yes, as many of the brands spotted this year were mixing Scandi-cool with the pretty pastel colours of the 1950s. Orchard Edition was one company doing just that, while Lobsterâs Day â Izzyâs favourite from the entire trip â was showcasing some seriously cool outdoor furniture that looked like it had come straight from a Jackie O fashion shoot.
Curves in all the right places
Curvy shapes are nothing new, but circles are looking to be theshape of the season. Just look at French powerhouse Ligne Roset â you couldnât move for the abundance of retro-shaped furniture on its stand. From sofas to mirrors, bookshelves to lampshades, pretty much everythingon display was spherical in some shape or form. HK Living and Studio Segers also followed suit, paying homage to rounded shapes on their stands.
And of course, we couldnât share a blog about Maison & Objet without mention of our own brands! Canadian smart home start up Nanoleaf had its biggest stand to date, showcasing its entire collection of innovative light panels. Fresh from CES, Nanoleaf also previewed its brand new hexagonal shape, which will be launching in the UK later this year. Meanwhile, Swedish audio connoisseurs Transparent Sound had a successful show, displaying its entire collection of intelligently designed speakers. Since launching in the UK last year, the brand has gone from strength to strength, racking up some serious credibility thanks to coverage in the likes of GQ, Esquire and Financial Times How to Spend It â with even more exciting announcements planned for the next twelve months.
On the hunt for your next Maison fix? Take a look back at our highlights from the September show on the LRR blog here.
