M&O 2018: material focus

Mixing styles and influences, the home and lifestyle trade show Maison & Objet gathered in Paris the players of the interior design industry, coming from all over the world. While the eclectic selection could easily become overwhelming, the Danish and Japanese design brands, that came in large numbers this year, softened the atmosphere. With their minimalist aesthetics, they caught our attention, taking us back to beautiful basics!

Wicker, terrazzo, ceramic or metal, materials stand at the forefront! Highlighted by clean lines, they are crafted with care and expertise. No frills, yet a primitive instinct that enhances the essential!

 

MATERIAL FIRST.

101 CPH x NORR 11 joined forces to exhibit their latest design pieces. Same timeless style, natural colour palette and quality craftsmanship, they master the material-focused approach, may it be wicker, leather, brass or ceramic.

Nendo unveiled its Kanji-inspired furniture collection designed for Chinese brand Zens. Carrying the minimalist signature style of the Japanese studio, it consists of a side table, a stool, a small shelf, and a container. Each piece features a metallic triangle pedestal, but with a different top according to its function.

Taking part in the Parisian fair for the first time, Japanese company Yamakawa showcased its beautiful rattan furniture line, that combines balanced sobriety with an ecological soul. This Japanese contemporary design has already aroused attention at the show “Feels so Natural”, presented at Palazzo Litta in Milan, during last Fuorisalone.

French architect and designer Stéphane Parmentier presented its Tabou Totem 4 made of suede and bronze, created for Giobagnara. A new object of desire with a tribal spirit!

Primates, the ceramic collection created by Italian product designer and artist Elena Salmistraro for Bosa Ceramiche, recalls the delicate and fascinating relationship between man and ape.

 

SO SOFT TEXTURES.

As pieces of art, rugs and tapestries took over all the walls, bringing thus a delicate and soft touch into our homes, while warm and elegant velvet makes a comeback. Fabric of choice for statement soft furnishing!

Shaped like masks, Armes Nudo rugs designed by Sebastian Herkner are manufactured in Colombia according to traditional arts and crafts, as the Circo chairs collection.

Elena Salmistraro again, this time for Milan-based CC Tapis! For her modern hand-knotted rug Cartesio, she found inspiration in Flatland, a 1884 fantasy-satirical novel by Reverend E. A. Abbott, that describes a two-dimensional world occupied by living geometric figures: squares, triangles and circles

Ecologically and socially conscious furniture brand, Iota presents its line of rugs and home accessories as well as a limited collection of swings, all hand-knit with bespoke yarns.

La Chance x Pierre Frey launched a limited edition of the Ronin chair designed by Emile Lagoni and Werner Valbak, using the iconic patterns of the Parisian upholstery fabrics house and mixes them with precious marbles. Each chair is a limited edition of 6, sold with a certificate of authenticity.

Softly rounded, the Paipaï sofa designed Lucidi Pevere for Ligne Roset, here in forest green velvet, folds and unfolds in a simple gesture in order to create a comfortable cocoon.

 

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR.

This 2018 edition of Maison & Objet pays tribute to the modern minimalism of Danish Designer Cecilie Manz. While giving the appearance of simplicity, she masters details that make the difference. Designing pieces for Fritz Hansen, Bang & Olfusen or Muuto among others, she combines functionality with aesthetics, always using the best of each material.

« My work has always revolved around simplicity, the process of working toward a pure, aesthetic and narrative object. » mentionned Cecilie Manz.

 

Photography: ©Geraldine Morand

Except Nendo by ©Akihiro Yoshida, Tabou Totem 4 by ©Giobagnara Studio, La Chance x Pierre Frey by @La Chance, Cartesio rug by @CC Tapis