MAISON & OBJET: Innovative ecology

Rethinking design in a modern eco world

By Tracy Bulla -- Home Accents Today, 10/1/2007

In the words of Paris-based trend forecasting agency Nelly Rodi, "Recoup, re-use, recycle" summed up the mood at the September edition of Maison & Objet. With eco the word on everyone's lips internationally and beyond, the Paris show set out to prove that eco can also be seductive. It's not about making less, but rather making differently.


Moluche's hand-woven alpaca pillows blend eco-friendly materials with contemporary British design in these artsy-crafty, naturally dyed offerings.	Eco meets seductive, useful meets pleasurable in Nelly Rodi's Alternatif exhibit by Vincent Gregoire.

Traditionally, Maison & Objet has been touted for the sheer visual splendor of individual exhibit booths, and this season's show was no exception. Eye candy abounded, in the form of exquisitely orchestrated tableaux, often arranged by color families for maximal effect.

Ingenuity in display was also in full force, ranging from ancient temple stagings and flowing waterfalls in booths, to robes suspended in translucent coffins high above Asian furniture and artifacts. And while not all of these ideas are feasible to recreate at retail, some of the simpler ideas, like streamlining color themes, can create some serious sizzle on the sales floor.


Nickel, lacquer and velvet define this quintessentially modern look from Ochre, replete with low-slung lines and elegant touches.	Aged nickel and suede highlight the statuesque, sculpted proportions of Villiers Brothers Atlas table lamp.

Colors ran the gamut from depth-laden neutrals (gray, white, black, brown) to subdued French tones (prune, rose, eggplant, maroon). A sprinkling of saturated brights emerged in exuberant fashion, including bright yellows, spring greens, and reds and pinks of all shades.

While Maison's Ethnic Chic hall has always been a destination for fun and funky offerings of an exotic nature, this season's showcase moved ethnic into the mainstream of design. The hall exuded a definite buzz, but even more remarkable was the actual change in the product itself.

Hammered metal legs accentuate the upscale vibe of Peau d'Ane's sexy lacquered cocktail table.

Without losing the "exoticness" that characterizes ethnic designs, the genre has moved to a more saleable (and sophisticated) standpoint — scaling the designs back slightly without losing the originality, reworked in up-to-the minute materials and colors. In short, ethnic has gotten a contemporary makeover and it looks great. This hall was also a hotbed of reclaimed and natural materials, plus original antiques and limited edition designs. The products employed a host of artisanal and ancient techniques in the making, all of which are on the rise.

Highlighted materials at the show included leather and horsehair for upholstery, as well as thick, chunky knit cotton and wool textiles in an artsy-crafty vein. Gold and silver-shot fabrics added contemporary elegance.


Bodo Sperlein's Sylva Looking Glass gives tree fragments a new life in these ethereal, organic designs, embellished with droplet-like crystals reminiscent of dew.	I+I rediscovers traditional manufacturing techniques and applies them in a contemporary context, such as in the shaggy cotton and viscose Wild Frieze.

Sleek, lacquered accents and furniture were prevalent, set off by nickel, chrome and steel. Chairs, sofas and tables follow Tuxedo lines and are extremely low slung, as are cocktail tables. Rounding out the sophisticated section were plenty of shagreen, croc- and lizard-printed leathers, super-sexy in white, gold or silver.

Metal finishes came three ways: Shiny slick, hammered or unearthed and slightly rusty looking, playing into the urban industrial trend. Stripped, unfinished wood complemented archival designs, a blend of super-industrial and French rustic. Interestingly enough, the mix of artsy, sophisticated and industrial designs works fabulously well in combination.


Movement 8, a design consortium from The Philippines, strung stunning floor-to-ceiling capiz shells to set off a wide range of artisan-led designs, such as wire-wrapped abaca pendants.	Phillip Plein lends a couture perspective to razor-sharp, chic accents, embellishing with 24-karat gold and crocodile stamping.