Seen at Maison & Objet

In Paris, the Louis look is out and the clean, unadorned look is in. The color du jour is purple.

By Quinn Halford -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 12/1/2000

The trend in French decor in the first decade of the 21st century is that the Louis look is out, and the clean, unadorned look is in. At least that's the way that French decor was presented at the September Maison & Objet, the massive semi-annual Paris home furnishings and gift products show. Occupying seven exhibition halls full of lighting, home textiles, tabletop wares, garden products, personal care items, and a range of interior design options, there was hardly a sign of gilded finishes, rococo flourishes, or patterned surfaces. Nor was there a curve in sight. Straight lines, low profiles, and square and rectangular shapes were the order of the day.

The result was a simple, straightforward approach to today's furnished environments. And "furnish" is the operative word, as "decorate" seems too strong a conceit for this minimalist concept. But while it is minimalist, it is not spare. Expensive fabrics, lacquered finishes, and attention to detail in many of the products on display presented an image of luxury and comfort-the sort of image projected by the boutique hotels that are the current favorites of the chic set worldwide. That may be more than coincidental as there were many hotel buyers at the show according to Maison & Objet general manager Etienne Cochet. Which leads to the question: "Who's driving this trend? Designers or hotel buyers?"

"Nature" was also a buzzword at this show. Nature, as in natural. Stained or untreated woods; cotton, linen, wool, and silk fabrics; leathers; and unadorned ceramics were in evidence everywhere. Wicker, rattan, bamboo, and metal were given sophisticated treatment in chairs, sofas, tables, and occasional pieces. The garden section was in full bloom, and personal care products evoked forest, field, and sea.

Color and No Color

The palette of colors-with the exception of purple-reflected this nature trend. Brown, taupe, tan, putty, clay, and other earth tones contributed to a neutral impact. Silver, pewter, gray, and black were also prevalent. But the surprising color was the lack of color, a.k.a. white.surprising in that there was so much of it. Bright colors rule today's fashion runways, and we are told how closely home fashions now follow the apparel market, but there seemed to be some sort of disconnect going on at Maison & Objet. Upholstered pieces, case goods, tableware, lamps, lamp shades, photo frames, candles, wall decor, vases, and curio cabinets were seen in white, off-white, ivory, and whitewashed finishes. At one showroom, JCB Interieurs, even the books on the off-white bookshelves were off-white. It all seemed like a raw canvas waiting for a colorist to come along. American exhibitor Two's Company, with its signature white display booth, seemed right at home in Hall 6.

If white is no color, then the color du jour was purple. Purple in all shades: mauve, lavender, violet, lilac, and aubergine. But when the color was used, it was used as an accent, a splash of color in an otherwise neutral setting. Throws, pillows, sofa cushions, table runners, placemats, lamps, lamp shades, and ceramic pieces came in all shades of purple. Large upholstered pieces-sofas and chairs-in purple served as exclamation marks in serene vignettes. Silk, suede, and velvet fabrics dyed shades of purple were sumptuous. Bright greens, reds, and yellows were other popular hues also used as accents.

Torch Song

Lamps and lighting treatments were major decorative accessories at Maison & Objet. It seemed that every home decor exhibitor was offering a line of lamps. Standard table and floor lamps were simply designed, often fitted with oversized shades, and mostly white. But when the designers got creative, they used a range of media-glass, plastic, fabric, gems, wood, parchment, and metal-to fashion whimsical, bold, elegant, or fantastical lamps that were as decorative as they were functional.

Sails and Spinnakers

Nautical was another important theme at the Paris show. Exhibitors of nautical products, images, and memorabilia (including Authentic Models) were so numerous that, in certain sections of this mammoth exhibition, one could be excused for thinking he was at a boat show. The treatments were mostly traditional: model sailboats; classic speedboats; brass lighting fixtures, clocks, and barometers; photographs and prints of sailboats and heroic ocean voyages; and teak-and-brass captain's desks and sea chests. Much of the product was high-end, but there was also a range of middle market resort-type merchandise with seashore motifs.

The Show Itself

Maison & Objet took place at the Exhibition Park in Paris-Nord Villepint, a 30-minute train ride from Paris' Gare du Nord station. Each of the show's seven halls emphasized a category, from global arts and crafts in Hall 1 to lighting in Hall 7. Yet the show was so beautifully organized that products from all categories could be found throughout. For example, African textiles, which might normally be located in Hall 4, were just as likely to be found in a Hall 5 interior decoration exhibit. Major exhibitors created elaborate and well designed booths, more reminiscent of an upscale department store than a trade show. The signage in all of the halls was attractive and helpful. Wide aisles relieved traffic congestion, while narrow aisles (such as the ones in the Hall 6 section devoted to "objects from around the world") created the sense of a bazaar.

Hall 2 was the crème de la crème of interior design. This show's Hall 2 theme was created by interior designer Jacques Garcia, who stated, "Color is back in style." He emphasized this point with large, colorful banners hung over each aisle. He may have been a little ahead of the times, however, as the majority of the Hall 2 exhibitors, like those in the rest of the show, stuck to palettes of whites, blacks, grays, and earth tones. Among the designers showing in Hall 2 were Pierre Frey, Kenzo, Mathias, and Henry Becq, who recently redid the Left Bank restaurant Hélène Darozze with aubergine fabric walls and window drapes that were made to seem even richer by a dark wood floor.

With 2,900 exhibitors and 60,000 visitors, the September show was Maison & Objet's largest to date. But while the number of buyers may increase in the future, Cochet has no plans to increase the number of exhibitors or the show's physical space. "Seven halls is big enough," he said. "We'll just continue to upgrade the quality of the exhibitors."

The next Maison & Objet takes place January 12 to 16, 2001.