Code natural at Maison et Objet: the first design fair of the yea

Taking a cue from the first design fair of the year, this year is showing a distinct leaning towards concepts like glumor, preciousness and artisanal decor

Taking a cue from the first design fair of the year, this year is showing a distinct leaning towards concepts like glumor, preciousness and artisanal decor

Maison et Objet is a melting pot of people, innovation, design and ideas. But what gives the trade fair an edge is its indisputable Parisian sensibility. The latest edition this January was overwhelming. Besides navigating beautifully put together stalls and massive crowds - over 1.4 lakh people browsing nearly 2,729 exhibitors from across 63 countries - the conversations, be it at queues, the press room or designers’ booths, were informative. While chatting with designer Vincent Grégoire, who converted the inspiration space, Show-Room, into a riot of maximalism, he shared ‘preciousness’ will be a trend in 2018. “There’s a wave of preciousness, something baroque, something rich. Golds, we love them, so (you can expect) lots of different golds, white, grey, pink... a rainbow effect,” he said, adding, “There’s also a new rich I call ‘glumor’ - glamour but with a sense of humour. It’s elegance with a twist, something refined but with a casual side.” Like AP Collection’s luxury chairs, featuring seals, flamingoes and swans that went viral. Another strong trend at M&O: natural materials together with an artisan movement. Provenance is playing a big role in the buying experience, and the global movement towards sustainable furniture and décor has contributed to experiments with wicker, cane and bamboo. Here are four brands that stood out for me at the event.

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