Take a look at the trends and highlights we discovered at Maison & Objet in Paris this year. These trends include Woven Wonders, The Bold and Beautiful, Au Naturale, Back to the Future and Look at the Stars.

Woven Wonders

A rising trend in recent years, wicker was in vogue at Maison & Objet – spanning furniture to accessories and even lighting. Once associated with a more traditional crafts aesthetic, the use of cane and rattan across the fair signified a more refined, contemporary offering, elevating wickerwork to new heights.

 

The Bold and Beautiful

Colour was everywhere and a joy to behold after years of a muted, minimalist Scandi aesthetic dominating the interior design scene. Clashing prints and textures, and bold, playful colours were evident all across Paris.

At Maison et Objet, one particular highlight was bathroom brand EX.T who referenced the work of Roy Lichtenstein with their new Frieze collection. Across town, India Mahdavi collaborated with de Gournay on a decadently designed apartment, whilst Pierre Frey’s showroom celebrated maximalism in all its glory.

 

Au Naturale 

In line with many brands adopting more sustainable practices, there was also a noticeable increase in those opting to work with natural materials in their new collections.

From the ingenious use of concrete in Serax’s latest lighting range to the utilisation of cork by brands such as DAM, there was also an abundance of hand-crafted ceramic wares (see Homata) and hand-carved wood furniture (see Alan Meredith) to delight the senses.

 

Back to the Future

First spotted on the Ligne Roset stand, with their rendition of the mid-century Asmara sofa, many exhibitors looked to the past to get inspiration for their latest designs. Bert Frank paid homage to the Art Deco era with their new bathroom lighting range and Noom brought out their first furniture collection inspired by the 100th anniversary of the BauHaus movement.

 

Look at the Stars

The lighting offering was particularly strong at this year’s fair, where luminaire maestro, Michael Anastassiades, was awarded Maison & Objet’s Designer of the Year. Many of the brands exhibiting referenced celestial shapes in their newest collections – with an array of semi-abstract, striking forms that were out of this world.