Maison & Objet, Paris - The key trends

Pattern

In juxtaposition to 2014’s trend for geometrics, 2015 is all about abstract patterning. Blurring-techniques, splashed paint, bold brushstrokes and broken lines all made appearances at the show. One standout piece was the Noelle sofa by Pinch Design in collaboration with Timorous Beasties.

Liberty-esque, painted florals were often paired with abstract patterning. This theme continued with jungle prints, including tropical leaves and animal imagery. 

Patchwork remains a prominent trend, as do chevrons, flame stitching and zigzags. Hexagons made an appearance, alongside diamonds and triangles – which could prove to be the shapes of the year.

Structure

Once again, origami-style folds appeared on furniture and decorative items, such as the Toa armchair by Rémi Bouhaniche. Grids of perforated circular holes were present, which provided an industrial feel and created interesting shadow effects with the light.

Colour

Colour took a back seat in many of the design trends for 2014, but according to Maison & Objet it appears to be back with a vengeance. Blue is a popular colour, in various shades including forget-me-not, ink and indigo. Terracotta orange also featured heavily, perhaps influenced by Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2015, Marsala. Softer romantic shades such as pale plaster pink and coral were also popular among exhibitors, such as Copenhagen-based Tortus Studio. Headed up by Eric Landon, the brand’s current collection, Unika, embodies the pastel trend, encompassing a range of vessels in sugary shades. 

We also saw the introduction of bold accent colours, such as burgundy red, and the combination of yellow and charcoal grey remained a popular choice. Lustrous, brushed and buffed copper and brass metals continue to adorn designs, following on from last year’s trend.

Materials

In terms of material, last year saw the emergence of two main contenders – marble and granite, which are still very much en vogue, in shades of pale grey and white stone. Carrara marble is still present, while black and green marbles have increased in popularity.  

IKTINOS HELLAS and architect Spiros Soulis devoted their entire collection to marble, which comprises of kitchenware in white and grey marble. 

Onyx marbles looks to be a staple feature with brands, boasting translucent qualities, which made for many interesting light features. Concrete, wood and metal still featured in designs, but popularity in these materials has wavered following the boom last year.

For the A&D community, a new year symbolises new trends. And when it comes to discovering them, January’s design shows are a fantastic place to start. Maison & Objet is Europe’s largest design exhibition, held in Paris it showcases the direction the interior design industry will take for the seasons ahead.

Our design team jetted across to the French capital, seeking inspiration from the boutique and independent brands. Here are the key trends they discovered…