From January 18-22, design devotees descended on Paris for the home decor, furnishings, and lifestyle trade show Maison&Objet. Located outside the city limits at the Parc des Expositions de Villepinte, the semi-annual fair is celebrating 30 years, with an increase in attendance and 70,000 international visitors swiped in. This year’s theme “Tech Eden” emphasized a dreamy optimism, biophilia, technology, and well-being while kaleidoscopic patterns, neon hues – including yellow, orange, purple, and green – as well as an eclectic pastiche of periods from art deco to 1970s were also on display. This anything goes spirit was also spied on fabrics, wallpapers, rugs, tableware, and furniture in showrooms, and at previews and events in the city at Paris Déco-Off. The companion fair showcased raw textures, materials, and finishes along with natural and white upholstered furniture emphasizing a minimalist aesthetic that continues to prevail. French designers Pierre Yovanich, Fleur Delesalle, and Pierre August Rose showcased curvy, bubble forms on sofas and chairs in shapes that are still trending around the globe. With all of these simultaneous trends, 2024 appears to be starting off as a maximalist versus minimalist year – take a closer look at some of the top contenders!

This season’s Designer of the Year is multi-disciplinarian Mathieu Lehanneur whose embrace of technology, architecture, plant life, and turbine systems resulted in Otonomy, a monochromatic installation celebrating his futuristic oeuvre.

Since its inception in 2017, 101 Copenhagen has emphasized craft and timeless design. This year is no exception as Kristian Sofus Hansen and Tommy Hyldahl’s Toe Lounge Chair Flat debuts in a cozy, nubby white boucle.

Pulpo’s German handmade furnishings encompass Italian cast glass including Sebastian Herkner’s Alwa XXL, a table supported by a powder-coated steel frame offered in three lozenge-shape sizes and multiple colors.

The Nouvelle Vague Center Table by Portuguese Dooq is a made-to-order table fabricated with tube-shaped ceramic pieces, and sealed in a craquele glaze with lacquered surface.

The idea for the Linear Table Lamp was hatched when Belgian designer Baptiste Vandaele approached Japanese manufacturer Y.S.M. at the show in 2023 with his design concept. Together they launched a Kickstarter campaign to support production of the lamp that’s currently gaining funds.

Parisian Fabien Colomines started studying woodworking in 2018 before launching Atelier Senimo last year. Ballerina is his latest piece, a mod, accordion-style lacquered table made from recycled wood scraps.

Industrial polypropylene sheaths used for electrical installations were cut to make beads and are the inspiration behind Brussels-based French textile designer Emma Cogné’s experimental Système T, featuring woven curtains, shades, and screens.

The soon to be reissued Rinck plexiglass chair on a cast aluminum base was originally included in a living room ensemble presented at the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts at the Grand Palais in Paris in 1973.

Legacy workshop Charles Paris reinvigorated their brand’s bronze repertoire by collaborating with Parisian upstart Uchronia to create a floral series of lights and accessories including Boogie, a cast mirror.

Parete is the brainchild of Michael Freedman and Daniela Guarin – veterans of Innovations USA – who today produce artful, digitally-printed custom wallcoverings, including the color blocked Plastered 04 St Andrews.

Melissa Feldman is a design writer, editor, consultant, and content strategist who lives and works in New York City. In 2007 she launched Stroll Productions, her media production company providing print and digital content to ADPro, Elle Decor, Galerie, Domino, The New York Times,
WSJ, Architectural Record, and Elle Decor to name a few.