The Biggest Trends From Maison & Objet 2022
We give you a rundown on the March edition of the iconic Parisian design, decor and lifestyle trade fair
Maison & Objet brings together brands, manufacturers, artisans, buyers, trend forecasters, decorators, interior designers, architects and journalists at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition hall in Paris, France, to write the future of the home. Held twice a year, in January and September, since 1995, the Maison & Objet fair is a much-anticipated event for the decor, design and lifestyle sectors. Due to the pandemic, the January 2022 edition was postponed to March 24 to 28 this year. Houzz was on the scene, and we’ve put together a summary of the highlights and the trends that caught our eye.
Photo from Kataba.
Sustainable furniture manufacturer Kataba, for example, unveiled their upcycled Banville lamp (pictured).
Modular and built sustainably and locally in France, it is made out of steel sheets recovered from Parisian construction sites. According to the brand, the lamp’s manufacturing emits 50 percent less CO2 than similar standard products sold in France.
The theme of the fair: Though much-discussed this year, sustainability was not actually the official theme of this edition of the fair. With the theme ‘New Luxuries’, set as every year by trend forecaster Vincent Grégoire of NellyRodi, this edition aimed to highlight our desire for unbridled fantasy after the pandemic.
Sustainable furniture manufacturer Kataba, for example, unveiled their upcycled Banville lamp (pictured).
Modular and built sustainably and locally in France, it is made out of steel sheets recovered from Parisian construction sites. According to the brand, the lamp’s manufacturing emits 50 percent less CO2 than similar standard products sold in France.
The theme of the fair: Though much-discussed this year, sustainability was not actually the official theme of this edition of the fair. With the theme ‘New Luxuries’, set as every year by trend forecaster Vincent Grégoire of NellyRodi, this edition aimed to highlight our desire for unbridled fantasy after the pandemic.
Photo by Alberto Parise.
A luxury object, the Bernardo panda designed by Elena Salmistraro for Italian brand Bosa (pictured), takes us back to the fragility of the world and of living beings. It is worth remembering that the panda is the World Wildlife Fund logo and the international symbol for all endangered species.
The designer of the year: Every year, the fair jury recognises a person who has made a mark on international design. This year the prestigious title of ‘Designer of the Year’ went to French architect Franklin Azzi. Originally selected in 2020, he was honoured properly at this in-person edition of the fair.
A luxury object, the Bernardo panda designed by Elena Salmistraro for Italian brand Bosa (pictured), takes us back to the fragility of the world and of living beings. It is worth remembering that the panda is the World Wildlife Fund logo and the international symbol for all endangered species.
The designer of the year: Every year, the fair jury recognises a person who has made a mark on international design. This year the prestigious title of ‘Designer of the Year’ went to French architect Franklin Azzi. Originally selected in 2020, he was honoured properly at this in-person edition of the fair.
Franklin Azzi at The Talks seminar, which he gave at the fair. Photo by Agnès Carpentier.
The 46-year-old manages 80 collaborators, all fighting for more humble and environmentally conscious buildings. “I have given myself the constraint of significant durability in all of the buildings I create, whether in France or abroad. Today we are only obliged to provide a 10-year guarantee, but I hope that the law will change in this sense,” said Azzi at a seminar during the fair.
The 46-year-old manages 80 collaborators, all fighting for more humble and environmentally conscious buildings. “I have given myself the constraint of significant durability in all of the buildings I create, whether in France or abroad. Today we are only obliged to provide a 10-year guarantee, but I hope that the law will change in this sense,” said Azzi at a seminar during the fair.
Photo by Aethion.
This likewise informed his art installation, ‘Retro Futur’ (pictured), which aims to share the way in which he conceptualises his day-to-day work as an architect. The choice to cocoon his exhibit in felt produced in France, at Mouzon in the Ardennes, highlights the degree of attention he pays to locally sourced, healthy and lasting materials.
This likewise informed his art installation, ‘Retro Futur’ (pictured), which aims to share the way in which he conceptualises his day-to-day work as an architect. The choice to cocoon his exhibit in felt produced in France, at Mouzon in the Ardennes, highlights the degree of attention he pays to locally sourced, healthy and lasting materials.
Photo by Aethion. What’s New area, ‘Elements of Nature’ exhibit by Elizabeth Leriche.
The ‘trend’ spaces
The fair’s three What’s New spaces exhibit some of the most beautiful current pieces in decor and design. These always-popular exhibits, curated by three renowned trend forecasters, interpret and illustrate the trends through the presentation of remarkable new objects and unique know-how.
The ‘trend’ spaces
The fair’s three What’s New spaces exhibit some of the most beautiful current pieces in decor and design. These always-popular exhibits, curated by three renowned trend forecasters, interpret and illustrate the trends through the presentation of remarkable new objects and unique know-how.
- Elizabeth Leriche presented ‘Elements of Nature’ through three ambiances – zen, nature and telluric – which invite us to (re)connect with nature. This is a trend that is “already entrenched, a clear value in our interiors, which we look to for comfort above all in this troubled time,” she says.
- With ‘Rare Times’, François Delclaux highlighted domestic objects through rare moments. “United by joy, they provide the poetry of the moment,” he says.
- Finally, François Bernard’s ‘Museum Tour’ reflected on the quest for unique pieces in our interiors. The trend forecaster says that “the decor market should escape the mainstream world to reinvent itself by following the path of the exclusive”.
The Lyon flat of interior designer and decorator Claude Cartier.
Colours, furniture, shapes, materials…
Beyond this food for thought, most people attend Maison & Objet also, and above all, to wander the aisles of brands and manufacturers and explore the latest trends, in particular in the Today or Signature spaces in halls six and seven, which highlight new products.
Two pairings stand out in particular when it comes to the trendiest colours for our homes: mauve and straw yellow, and khaki and salmon. And let’s not forget the appeal of blood red, terracotta and Klein blue alongside the very airy sky blue-beige pairing, or vintage duo of burnt orange and brown, which we also spotted, though less often.
Colours, furniture, shapes, materials…
Beyond this food for thought, most people attend Maison & Objet also, and above all, to wander the aisles of brands and manufacturers and explore the latest trends, in particular in the Today or Signature spaces in halls six and seven, which highlight new products.
Two pairings stand out in particular when it comes to the trendiest colours for our homes: mauve and straw yellow, and khaki and salmon. And let’s not forget the appeal of blood red, terracotta and Klein blue alongside the very airy sky blue-beige pairing, or vintage duo of burnt orange and brown, which we also spotted, though less often.
Lyon flat of interior designer and decorator Claude Cartier.
We didn’t have to look hard for the trending shapes: rounded forms were everywhere. Arches, curved armchairs and rounded sofas run the show and offer soft comfort.
As for furniture, curved, curly wool sofas, stools in totemic forms and brightly coloured ceramics are the favourite furniture pieces this year.
Finally, in terms of patterns, we are falling for contrasting stripes and chequered patterns echoing Vans slip-on shoes straight out of the ’90s.
Browse beautiful living rooms by local designers
We didn’t have to look hard for the trending shapes: rounded forms were everywhere. Arches, curved armchairs and rounded sofas run the show and offer soft comfort.
As for furniture, curved, curly wool sofas, stools in totemic forms and brightly coloured ceramics are the favourite furniture pieces this year.
Finally, in terms of patterns, we are falling for contrasting stripes and chequered patterns echoing Vans slip-on shoes straight out of the ’90s.
Browse beautiful living rooms by local designers
Photo by Aethion. Portrait of Japanese designer Baku Sakashita and his light, Suki.
Spotlight on international design
Maison & Objet is also a wonderful opportunity to discover talent from around the world.
The Rising Talent Awards placed young Japanese creators in the spotlight, with work characterised by delicate design with refined lines. This included the poetic textiles of Yuri Himuro, Haruka Misawa’s work bringing paper to life, the materials created by Satomi Minoshima in his search to reproduce the likeness of skin, and the work of Yuma Kano to ennoble discarded materials such as rust or vegetable waste.
The ‘Budapest Select’ stand, on the other hand, was devoted to Hungarian design. A special mention goes to the plates by ceramicist Ádám Csaba Szabó of Error N’ More, inspired by desert oases.
Unique ceramics
The Craft hall, one of the most beautiful at the fair, is devoted to artisans and their unique pieces. Ceramics is currently one of the most-popular materials, a phenomenon trend forecaster Leriche also analyses. “In an increasingly digitalised world, the young generation wants more than ever to hold the material with [their own] hands,” she says.
Spotlight on international design
Maison & Objet is also a wonderful opportunity to discover talent from around the world.
The Rising Talent Awards placed young Japanese creators in the spotlight, with work characterised by delicate design with refined lines. This included the poetic textiles of Yuri Himuro, Haruka Misawa’s work bringing paper to life, the materials created by Satomi Minoshima in his search to reproduce the likeness of skin, and the work of Yuma Kano to ennoble discarded materials such as rust or vegetable waste.
The ‘Budapest Select’ stand, on the other hand, was devoted to Hungarian design. A special mention goes to the plates by ceramicist Ádám Csaba Szabó of Error N’ More, inspired by desert oases.
Unique ceramics
The Craft hall, one of the most beautiful at the fair, is devoted to artisans and their unique pieces. Ceramics is currently one of the most-popular materials, a phenomenon trend forecaster Leriche also analyses. “In an increasingly digitalised world, the young generation wants more than ever to hold the material with [their own] hands,” she says.
Photo by Agnès Carpentier. Craft hall. Black Bird by Fabienne Auzolle.
We stopped among other places in front of the mural panels made up of ceramic pendants in different shades sewn onto old linen, and met their creator, Fabienne Auzolle, a ceramicist who trained at the Loure school, ENSAA Duperré and the National Manufacturers of France, and a member of the Art Ateliers of France. “My work is a desire, which has always projected onto nature a vision of the world mixing the sacred and the profane, reality and the imaginary … nature is full of metaphors and metamorphoses. Dreams and botanicals, flowers and roots weave my inspiration,” she says.
We stopped among other places in front of the mural panels made up of ceramic pendants in different shades sewn onto old linen, and met their creator, Fabienne Auzolle, a ceramicist who trained at the Loure school, ENSAA Duperré and the National Manufacturers of France, and a member of the Art Ateliers of France. “My work is a desire, which has always projected onto nature a vision of the world mixing the sacred and the profane, reality and the imaginary … nature is full of metaphors and metamorphoses. Dreams and botanicals, flowers and roots weave my inspiration,” she says.
Photo from Pace Gallery. ‘Resonating Microcosms of Life – Solidified Light Color’ by teamLab.
We can’t leave off without mentioning the Resonating Microcosms of Life installation by the TeamLab art collective, known for their work mixing art and technology. This immersive installation invites visitors to interact with this work of art. The bright ovoids resonate and change colour when visitors push them, plunging us into a dreamlike world. It is a clear symbol for this deliciously unbalancing edition of Maison & Objet.
Your turn
Which of these trends are you noticing on our shores? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want more on the latest trends? We have you covered with this Fair News: 4 Trending Colour Palettes for 2022
We can’t leave off without mentioning the Resonating Microcosms of Life installation by the TeamLab art collective, known for their work mixing art and technology. This immersive installation invites visitors to interact with this work of art. The bright ovoids resonate and change colour when visitors push them, plunging us into a dreamlike world. It is a clear symbol for this deliciously unbalancing edition of Maison & Objet.
Your turn
Which of these trends are you noticing on our shores? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want more on the latest trends? We have you covered with this Fair News: 4 Trending Colour Palettes for 2022
The sustainable home
For many brands and manufacturers, March 2022 marked their first in-person visit to Maison & Objet since the pandemic began. This was a subtle sign of many people’s will to turn the page and dream again. It is not all over yet: the stands were spread over a larger area and the aisles were wider than usual to allow for distancing. Nonetheless, there was a lot of joy in the air and an equally palpable quest for meaning.
Having suffered through lockdowns, become aware of our fragility like never before and come to a redoubled sense of our planet’s nearing environmental crisis, manufacturers, brand representatives, designers and consumers could not pretend that nothing had happened. “Writing the future of the home requires refocusing our priorities,” says trend forecaster Elizabeth Leriche. In short, thanks to our renewed understanding of our own fragility, this session focused on sustainability like never before.
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