French polish

I HAD a most inspiring stopover in Paris recently with a visit to one of the world’s largest interior design trade shows — the Maison&Objet Paris 09/2016 Fair.

Hosted at the Paris Nord Villepinte near the Charles de Gaulle airport, the fair ran from Sept 2 to 6 and was themed “Be highly inspired in Paris”. From home décor accessories to furniture, textiles to tableware, the fair attracted some 70,000 visitors and more than 3,000 brands from around the world.

Here are some of the home décor trends that caught my eye at the fair.

Luxury mode

The luxury theme featured strong colours that contrasted with bright metal detailing. For the bedroom, nothing is more opulent than having a highly polished metal four poster bed complemented by luxurious padding, quilting and monogrammed bed linens and towels which seem to be back in vogue. Oversized crystal chandeliers cascading in multiple layers also provided instant grandeur and glamour.

Abundant in many of the exhibitors’ booths were the use of black accents such as in the form of classic black lamp shades and photographic prints used as art. Brands such as Eicholtz, Worlds Away and Andrew Martin all set up large, very impressive booths featuring this trend.

Natural flair

Many interior designers also went tropical, probably taking the cue from the summer Olympics held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil this year as many of them made exotic and colourful references to the flora and fauna of Brazil in their décor.

Their inspirations were often translated into quirky but practical accessories such as botanical studies framed as artwork, ceramic statues/figurines of panthers and pumas, book ends and lamp bases. Wallpapers and fabrics also reflected the vibrant forests of the Americas with graphic patterns of emerald green palm fronds and colourful wild orchids. Danish brand G&C Interiors’ booth was a standout for me in showcasing this trend.

Urban metallics

One of the strong trends featured were luminous finishes in metal. Everyday items such as giant planters, tall vases and small candle holders all took on a shine. At European brand Dekocandle’s booth, I spotted some dramatic planter boxes in matt gun metal black finish that were a perfect match for the huge and colourful floral arrangements. Several other items in polished copper or brass shone brightly at the display too. Even the glassware collection had a warm metallic lustre and the tea light holders set on a metal tray were especially glamorous.

50s glamour

A number of vendors were spotted showing off 50s style furnishings this season. I was particularly fond of the collection which was Italian-inspired, namely Jonathan Adler’s booth which was playful yet elegant and reminiscent of a very beautiful era of creations by Italian designers Gio Ponti and Ettore Sottsass.

Strong influences from the art deco period could also be seen in many pieces such as silver-leaf finishes and motifs.

Handcrafted

Many items showcasing handcrafted details took the spotlight at the fair in Paris this autumn. I was delighted to see the return of the 70s craft macramé used in many items such as wall hangings and cushion covers. Recycled timber and cast-off metal were also used by designers to make new pieces of furniture such as small side tables and coffee tables. Dutch brand By-Boo had many unique pieces to show at their booth.

Handwoven wicker chairs from the Philippines and handy baskets in a bleach white paint finish were rather stunning at Maison Pederrey.

I was also delighted to discover some gorgeous handmade wool blankets from Portugese brand Mantecas.

Raymond Lee is an interior designer and founder of Xceptional Interiors. He can be contacted at Email: [email protected] or check out www.xceptional-interiors.com.

This story first appeared in TheEdgeProperty.com pullout on Nov 25, 2016, which comes with The Edge Financial Daily every Friday. Download TheEdgeProperty.com pullout here for free.