Three Layer Cake

Maison & Objet September 2006

Welcome to the Jungle

 
While some people feel that if you visit the major fairs (Maison & Objet, 100% Design (London), imm Cologne, and Salone del Mobile (Milan) you’ll end up seeing the same things, I find that the fairs fit together much like a big puzzle, with some obvious overlap, but also with great insights into changes (or lack thereof) in concepts and product offerings (if you care about that!).  A good analogy might be with that of a painting:  Cologne provides the background of the canvas, January Paris the colors and textures/September Paris the outline of the drawing, Milan the shapes/forms (and color fine tuning) and application of concepts, and London the unique touches.

 
The September edition of Maison & Objet, which took place from 1-5 September has offered a lush big picture for the coming design season (above, Wild Experience trend path by Elizabeth Leriche).  Leriche's path presented the exotic, the need to discover what's new.  Trend forecasters at Nelly Rodi presented a trend path, "MiragesMirages" based on a neutral palette of sand, beige, white, hammered metals, blown glass, and Northern African influences.  Completing the trio was the French Ethnic which showcased the best of French handicrafts.  If you really are interested in synopses of the development of the sector over 2006 and into 2007, it's worth it to look at the trends and trade fairs section here as the concepts and color tendencies are still valid and are starting to appear in print magazines.  Many were already ‘announced’ at other fairs, like the drive toward personalization , the black and white, gold, and silver from Milan , and the pastel pink and lime green from Cologne .  Of course print magazines work more slowly than the internet, so what was seen in the first half of the year is only now coming to those magazines.

 Colors:  Greens (dark and lighter – Wild Experience), magenta, pink, orange, purple (deep purple), pastels, black and white, silver and gold.

Shapes:  free form, asymmetrical, and curves  (for porcelain left: The free form curves of Rikke Jakobsen fine bone china in pasta and serving bowls, Fall 2006 collection), shapes inspired by nature (Right:  The Aloe Blossom by Jeremly Cole , inspired by the Agave plant,  is offered also in black)

Finishes:  Personalization of interiors using digital photographic imaging for surfaces from lamp and window shades to textiles to laminate chairs (Aitali presents Versatile collection offering over 180 choices of graphic designs and bespoke images on chairs ), hand made crafts using traditional techniques (Christiane Perrochon, right), environmentally friendly/recycled (the Lami Love Seat by Osisu Design , below.  Young Thai Architect Singh Intrachooto produces all of his products from post construction waste and discarded materials), textured fabrics and surfaces (embroidery, flocked arabesque, toile, velvet, hammered metals, perforated surfaces)

 
Objects and patterns: [Images correspond in order to the numbered descriptions here] 1.  tea cup handles (yes, the handles! Estudio Manus for Oboé concept ) , 2.  the bean bag is back in a BIG way! (the original Fat Boy ), 3.  dragonflies (Black – Blum's Libellule pendant lamp), animals, 4. mobiles (Volabile Creations), 5. tea paraphernalia (Gargantua porcelain tea bowls in pastel colors), fringe lamps (mat&jewski originally presented this lamp in 2004 as a table lamp.  Wild Experience above, Frange Lamp (suspension) in lime green), hand blown glass (lampe Canton Torsade GM is blown glass by Les Heritiers), leaves of lush green plants especially palms, ferns, and monstera (this pattern is everywhere, from Ikea prints to Cole & Son wallpaper, you can't miss it), flowers.  Of course wallpaper, particularly with the lush plants, is still a big way people are bringing nature into their homes, and wall stickers are popping up everywhere as another form of personalization that can be changed as often as you like.