Decorating Styles
Maison & Objet: Art Deco and a Return to Elegance
The international show’s designers bring the focus back to the craftsmanship and luxurious materials of the 1920s
At this January’s Maison & Objet trade fair in Paris, a sense of disenchantment with bright, white Nordic-style interiors was palpable. Art Deco has been coming to the fore again as a style inspiration, and this edition of the fair brought it into full effect, while utilitarianism gave way to a greater focus on French elegance. Now that the event has ended, we look at some of the exciting trends coming our way.
Art Deco Revival
In the process of its creative rebirth, design has latched on to Art Deco for a touch of something different. This elegant style, which succeeded Art Nouveau and blossomed at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts) in Paris, fuses influences such as surrealism and cubism, the traditional and modern, and exoticism and interest in Eastern culture. Art Deco also favors geometric shapes like fish scales, fans, honeycombs, chevrons, stripes and checks.
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In the process of its creative rebirth, design has latched on to Art Deco for a touch of something different. This elegant style, which succeeded Art Nouveau and blossomed at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts) in Paris, fuses influences such as surrealism and cubism, the traditional and modern, and exoticism and interest in Eastern culture. Art Deco also favors geometric shapes like fish scales, fans, honeycombs, chevrons, stripes and checks.
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One of the biggest Art Deco features to hit design this year is a fondness for dark colors. After a long love affair with the distinctive whites, pastels and light-colored woods of Scandinavian style, we are plunging into a dark, saturated universe. In a return to the past, the most popular colors are earthy and matte. Bordeaux debuted on the scene, joined by coral, dusty rose, burnt orange, rust, honey, mustard, gold, moss green, peacock blue, charcoal and black.
Maison & Objet: 7 Color Trends to Watch in 2019
Maison & Objet: 7 Color Trends to Watch in 2019
Classic With a Twist
In the same spirit of renewal, furniture has given up its raw and functional look to become more like sophisticated jewelry for rooms. “It’s a return to interiors containing a centerpiece: a large table, a large couch or a large bed,” Grégoire says. He sees renewed interest in jewel-like pieces such as dressing tables, mirrors, poufs, screens and other accessories.
Beautiful materials and handcrafted forms are stepping into the limelight this year. Light-colored oak, walnut and rattan star on furniture, while noble-looking materials such as brass, marble, lacquer and colored glass adorn furnishings, especially lighting, mirrors and poufs.
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In the same spirit of renewal, furniture has given up its raw and functional look to become more like sophisticated jewelry for rooms. “It’s a return to interiors containing a centerpiece: a large table, a large couch or a large bed,” Grégoire says. He sees renewed interest in jewel-like pieces such as dressing tables, mirrors, poufs, screens and other accessories.
Beautiful materials and handcrafted forms are stepping into the limelight this year. Light-colored oak, walnut and rattan star on furniture, while noble-looking materials such as brass, marble, lacquer and colored glass adorn furnishings, especially lighting, mirrors and poufs.
Browse living room furniture in the Houzz Shop
The Urban Oak line, designed by Hervé Langlais and modified by Drugeot Manufacture
Small businesses have been leading this design rebirth in France, as they offer an alternative to the more widely distributed wares of larger companies. Innovative smaller manufacturers like ENOstudio, La Chance, Ardamez, Home Spirit, Maison Drucker, Objet de Curiosité, Les iResistub, Alki, Hartô, Galea, Red Edition, Plumbum, Duvivier Canapés, Moissonnier, Reine Mère and Drugeot Manufacture are reinterpreting traditional know-how to come up with exclusive products.
In some ways, this return to traditional craftsmanship echoes what we see in design fairs around the world, but the French are certainly putting their own stamp on the trend. “[The French design industry] is packed with talent who [tend toward] a style that could be described as ‘classic with a twist,’ bringing in a certain eccentricity and extravagance, a note of irreverence and typically French audacity,” Grégoire says. One example of the latter is Inga Sempé’s Madeleine door handle, which is inspired by the madeleine cookies from Marcel Proust’s novel In Search of Lost Time.
Small businesses have been leading this design rebirth in France, as they offer an alternative to the more widely distributed wares of larger companies. Innovative smaller manufacturers like ENOstudio, La Chance, Ardamez, Home Spirit, Maison Drucker, Objet de Curiosité, Les iResistub, Alki, Hartô, Galea, Red Edition, Plumbum, Duvivier Canapés, Moissonnier, Reine Mère and Drugeot Manufacture are reinterpreting traditional know-how to come up with exclusive products.
In some ways, this return to traditional craftsmanship echoes what we see in design fairs around the world, but the French are certainly putting their own stamp on the trend. “[The French design industry] is packed with talent who [tend toward] a style that could be described as ‘classic with a twist,’ bringing in a certain eccentricity and extravagance, a note of irreverence and typically French audacity,” Grégoire says. One example of the latter is Inga Sempé’s Madeleine door handle, which is inspired by the madeleine cookies from Marcel Proust’s novel In Search of Lost Time.
The Influence of Tech
French tech firms are also on the scene in a big way. New technologies are revitalizing more standard or even retro inspirations. “I’m thinking, for example, of connected devices, such as a Bluetooth device you can hang on your belongings so you won’t lose them, designed by Philippe Starck for the French company Wistiki; the smart bed by André Renault; or the Dreem band, which can help those who have trouble sleeping.” Grégoire says. “I’m also thinking about French talent in the field of sound — Cabasse, Triangle, Elipson and Devialet, which have sold their high-quality speakers around the world and have established a top-rate, French-style sound.”
French tech firms are also on the scene in a big way. New technologies are revitalizing more standard or even retro inspirations. “I’m thinking, for example, of connected devices, such as a Bluetooth device you can hang on your belongings so you won’t lose them, designed by Philippe Starck for the French company Wistiki; the smart bed by André Renault; or the Dreem band, which can help those who have trouble sleeping.” Grégoire says. “I’m also thinking about French talent in the field of sound — Cabasse, Triangle, Elipson and Devialet, which have sold their high-quality speakers around the world and have established a top-rate, French-style sound.”
Another element that comes straight out of Art Deco is smooth velvet, the “it” material for the year. Technological advancements in the creation of polyester velvets have allowed the fabric to have a shorter pile while maintaining its soft feel. Polyester is also more wear-resistant than traditional velvets made of wool or cotton. Embellished with shimmering colors, velvet stands out on the most prominent pieces of furniture, such as enveloping chairs, refined daybeds, poufs, benches and sofas.
These polyester creations tend to be mixed with thin, powder-coated steel legs, memory-foam seats covered with high-tech fabrics, and grids with laser-cut patterns, all of which stood out at the event.
These polyester creations tend to be mixed with thin, powder-coated steel legs, memory-foam seats covered with high-tech fabrics, and grids with laser-cut patterns, all of which stood out at the event.
Photo by Aethion
‘Minimal Brutalist’
The What’s New — Decor section of the fair offered many insights on furniture and decor. Presenting three major trends, the space was curated by Elizabeth Leriche, who has been a trend spotter for about 20 years, founded her eponymous style agency and serves as a member of the Observatoire M&O.
She called her first display, shown in this photo, “minimal brutalist” — objects with raw and rudimentary forms and materials that provide food for thought on sleek, contemporary design while hinting at minimalism and an ascetic feel. We especially noticed the presence of raw concrete, antiqued mirrors and pâte de verre (a form of kiln casting that involves pressing powdered glass into a mold).
‘Minimal Brutalist’
The What’s New — Decor section of the fair offered many insights on furniture and decor. Presenting three major trends, the space was curated by Elizabeth Leriche, who has been a trend spotter for about 20 years, founded her eponymous style agency and serves as a member of the Observatoire M&O.
She called her first display, shown in this photo, “minimal brutalist” — objects with raw and rudimentary forms and materials that provide food for thought on sleek, contemporary design while hinting at minimalism and an ascetic feel. We especially noticed the presence of raw concrete, antiqued mirrors and pâte de verre (a form of kiln casting that involves pressing powdered glass into a mold).
Photo by Aethion
Graphic Luxury
The second theme Leriche identified, on display here, is inspired by the decor of the ’30s to the ’70s that incorporates luxurious objects and materials like marble, brass and velvet. We saw many objects and motifs that will likely become favorites this year, including lighting that resembles jewelry with its brass structures; polyester fringe; sculpted mirrors; semicircles, geometric and peacock-feather patterns; black metal; and folding screens.
Graphic Luxury
The second theme Leriche identified, on display here, is inspired by the decor of the ’30s to the ’70s that incorporates luxurious objects and materials like marble, brass and velvet. We saw many objects and motifs that will likely become favorites this year, including lighting that resembles jewelry with its brass structures; polyester fringe; sculpted mirrors; semicircles, geometric and peacock-feather patterns; black metal; and folding screens.
Photo by Aethion
Cultural Crossover
The third theme Leriche identified is a blending by contemporary artists of the French decorative past with the traditional forms and techniques of their own cultural backgrounds. This echoes the Art Deco era’s spirit of fusion and emphasizes natural fibers and raw materials.
Cultural Crossover
The third theme Leriche identified is a blending by contemporary artists of the French decorative past with the traditional forms and techniques of their own cultural backgrounds. This echoes the Art Deco era’s spirit of fusion and emphasizes natural fibers and raw materials.
Photo by Aethion
Designers to Watch: Young Chinese Innovators
French design wasn’t the only thing on fire at this year’s fair. Every year, Maison & Objet celebrates young designers from a particular country with its Rising Talent Awards. Earlier editions focused on designers from the U.K., Italy and Lebanon. This year, China — where the design scene is booming — was in the spotlight. Five young Chinese designers were selected by the jury.
Luca Nichetto, a member of the jury for the Rising Talent Awards China, says, “The most interesting thing is this quest for identity by the Chinese designer, this refusal to be a carbon copy of Western design, and the desire to integrate the ancient legacies and rich traditions of Chinese craftsmanship. So far, everything shows us that they are going in the right direction. I am very curious to see how that will evolve.”
Among them, Ximi Li, who has a degree in industrial design from the China Academy of Art in Shanghai and a master’s in furniture design from the Polytechnic University of Milan, founded the Ximi Li Design Studio and the Urbancraft furniture brand. His By 3 unit is pictured here.
“I grew up in northern China, near Russia. Having lived in Beijing and Milan for my studies, where I also worked for four years, I moved to Shanghai. My work is heavily inspired by my experiences in these countries, my feelings about these different cultures and my imagination,” he tells Elen Pouhaer of Houzz.
Designers to Watch: Young Chinese Innovators
French design wasn’t the only thing on fire at this year’s fair. Every year, Maison & Objet celebrates young designers from a particular country with its Rising Talent Awards. Earlier editions focused on designers from the U.K., Italy and Lebanon. This year, China — where the design scene is booming — was in the spotlight. Five young Chinese designers were selected by the jury.
Luca Nichetto, a member of the jury for the Rising Talent Awards China, says, “The most interesting thing is this quest for identity by the Chinese designer, this refusal to be a carbon copy of Western design, and the desire to integrate the ancient legacies and rich traditions of Chinese craftsmanship. So far, everything shows us that they are going in the right direction. I am very curious to see how that will evolve.”
Among them, Ximi Li, who has a degree in industrial design from the China Academy of Art in Shanghai and a master’s in furniture design from the Polytechnic University of Milan, founded the Ximi Li Design Studio and the Urbancraft furniture brand. His By 3 unit is pictured here.
“I grew up in northern China, near Russia. Having lived in Beijing and Milan for my studies, where I also worked for four years, I moved to Shanghai. My work is heavily inspired by my experiences in these countries, my feelings about these different cultures and my imagination,” he tells Elen Pouhaer of Houzz.
Designer of the Year: Sebastian Herkner
German designer Sebastian Herkner, 37, is a constant presence at Maison & Objet and was named this year’s Designer of the Year.
“Over the past 10 years, he has been awarded 30 or so prizes for his designs, which incorporate innovation and tradition. Because of his remarkable career, Maison & Objet … decided to highlight this rising star of the design scene,” says Stéphanie Morlat of September 14, the agency in charge of communication for the event.
German designer Sebastian Herkner, 37, is a constant presence at Maison & Objet and was named this year’s Designer of the Year.
“Over the past 10 years, he has been awarded 30 or so prizes for his designs, which incorporate innovation and tradition. Because of his remarkable career, Maison & Objet … decided to highlight this rising star of the design scene,” says Stéphanie Morlat of September 14, the agency in charge of communication for the event.
Grace serving cart by Sebastian Herkner for Shönbuch. Photo by Agnes Carpentier.
Since establishing his studio in 2006 in the German city of Offenbach am Main, near Frankfurt, Herkner has never stopped thinking of design that blends tradition and creativity, new technology and craftsmanship. And he applies the same innovative approach to his design process in prioritizing color, for example. “Designers often only think of color at the end. Personally, I always put it upstream in the creative process,” he says.
More on Houzz
Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts: What’s the Difference?
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Shop for home products
Since establishing his studio in 2006 in the German city of Offenbach am Main, near Frankfurt, Herkner has never stopped thinking of design that blends tradition and creativity, new technology and craftsmanship. And he applies the same innovative approach to his design process in prioritizing color, for example. “Designers often only think of color at the end. Personally, I always put it upstream in the creative process,” he says.
More on Houzz
Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts: What’s the Difference?
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for home products
The theme of this year’s Maison & Objet was Excuse My French, a humorous take on a serious analysis of France’s return to the forefront of international design. Trend spotter Vincent Grégoire, creative director at French forecasting firm NellyRodi, sees a new curiosity about the French. He cites French first lady Brigitte Macron, choreographer Benjamin Millepied and singer Christine and the Queens as cultural figures who have recently captured the world’s imagination. “In a universe that is becoming standardized, we now focus on exceptions and differences,” he says.