Maison & Objet 2014 Interior Design Highlights

It's been a week now that I am back from the Maison & Objet design show in Paris. It was my third design trade show in a row this year and even though I visited it last year too (read all about it HERE), I was once again overwhelmed by the incredible size of the fair and the number of exhibitors. Truth be told, you'd need several days to grasp the full scope of the Maison & Objet show, I however tried to round up a few highlights in one single afternoon. Well, let's roll with some more interior design highlights, this time from the French capital Paris:

Subtle and Saturated Colours: One of the repeating observations during this year's design shows is that the colour palette has become more subtle, more saturated and calm - gone are the years of flashy neon hues and very bright hues. Full, velvety blues like indigo, lots of grey hues, soft and pale pinks, many neutrals and a repetitive pop of warm, saturated yellows - these colours seem to play a major role in 2014. I loved the use of colours at the stand of the Croatian furniture brand Prostoria but also the playful use of colours at the Design Letters stand or at the House Doctor stand.

Marble, Concrete, Leather, Copper, Brass, Wood: These materials have been playing a major role on many exhibitors' stands. The combination of various textures and nuances, warm and cold surfaces, creates a visual and haptic tension that will be definitely trending this year. The Scandinavian brands are leading this interior design trend - just have a look at the new collections of Menu, Normann Copenhagen, &Tradition and more. Wood furniture lovers should check out the British brand Case Furniture. 

Indoor Plants: A movement in interior design I am particularly fond of is the revival of green interiors through indoor plants. Many stands have used indoor plants and entire plant walls to accentuate their collections and visualize the idea of a stylish home in 2014. Some brands have even exhibited dedicated furniture pieces that embody the use of indoor plants such as the French brand Bellila. A real highlight for myself!

Individuality and Playfulness: Ok, this is no revelation or news for most of us - but many brands showcased their desire for more individuality and playfulness in interior design. Be creative, combine playfully and forget old, traditional rules - get on a trial-and-error sort of interior design adventure and recreate your space continuously for more happiness. I loved how fun this was shown by brands like Seletti, Room Copenhagen or 19 Greek Street with their new collection Re Imagined made of vintage and new reupholstered furniture.

Unpretentious Luxury: Brands like the French furniture maker Cinna or the stand of Tom Dixon who was awarded 'Designer of the Year of the Maison & Objet 2014' succeeded in interpreting luxury in a new and rather unpretentious way. Luxury in interior design was mostly conceived as overdone and really over-the-top with everything: materials, patterns, prices. But brands in the upper price scale seem to tone down on the visual aggressiveness and portray a rather calm, unpretentious way of highlighting premium quality. 

I hope you enjoyed this little interior design round-up from this year's Maison & Objet show in Paris. Later this week I will be off to the Furniture and Lighting Fair in Stockholm so there will be more interior design news on the blog soon. Stay tuned!

Happy week, friends!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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