By Emma Moore
last updated

Cutback culture may be dominating the pages of newspapers, but behind the doors of the exhibition halls of the Parc des Expositions in Paris Nord Villepinte, and the galleries flanking the Seine, fresh new product design from old and new sources was flourishing last weekend at Maison & Objet.

Admittedly, economy and accessibility could be seen to be playing a role in some of the newer offerings. Established designers and design houses appear to be looking to small but perfectly formed product to shore up business.

Tom Dixon previewed his new range Eclectic (due to launch in August), featuring accessories and tabletop pieces in his signature materials of copper, glass and wood, while Belgium's Alain Berteau launched a company, Objekten, that focuses on simple, well-crafted, everyday products.

Denmark's Hay, meanwhile, presented a stand that was pure candy to design-tuned eyes seeking beauty in the quotidien and mundane - a vast collection of brightly coloured stationary, wooden trays and tools for grooming, laundry, cooking and working.

Also new to the Maison scene and chiming with the mood for accessibility was Ghent-based Labt, a design house showcasing furniture designed by Belgian architects and graphic designers and using plywood for the most part, to great effect.

This being France, there was plenty of Gallic talent on show. We viewed the well-established Sentou with fresh eyes, its stand an alluring riot of colourful shelving and tables (by the in-house team) and pieces from a new favourite, the Paris-based daughter of design dynasty the Hansen Family, Gesa Hansen.

Twenty-year-old lighting company Forestier reinvented and relaunched itself with ENO co-founder Jean-Dominique Leze at the creative helm, and dazzled with a range of sculptural lighting from an impressive roll call of designers including Arik Levy, Sebastian Bergne, Ionna Vautrin, and Laurence Brabant.

Brand new maison d'edition Marcel By introduced itself with mirrors, shelving and chairs from founders Stephan Lanez, Samuel Accoceberry, Noé Duchaufour Lawrances and Jakob + MacFarlane. Tolix sustained its recent reinvention with a new desk and shelving system from Sebastian Bergne and free-standing shelves from Normal Studio - as did cabinet company Drugeot Labo, whose wooden shelving units become ever more colourful and inventive.

Maison stalwart Ligne Roset presented an impressive stand brimming with newly produced pieces by the older guard - Pierre Paulin (reissues from his Elysée Palace designs of the 1970s), Jean Nouvel and Pierre Charpin - and brilliant fresh talent in the form of Japanese designer Yota Kakuda and young French collective Numéro 111.

Italian design house Gervasoni chose Maison as its platform to introduce a new offshoot with a focus on the bedroom. The Letti & Co collection launched with five fabric-finished bed designs by Paola Navone. Fellow Italians Alessi, meanwhile, chose Maison as the European launch pad for their meta-collection of trays, (Un)Forbidden City, designed by Chinese architects.

Out in town, no fewer than two galleries - the recently established Carpenters Workshop and the Pierre-Alain Challier - helped Nendo celebrate its tenth anniversary with stunning new collections of work. Tools Galerie put a focus on wood used in unusual ways to build furniture, featuring original work from Elisa Strozyk, David Graas, Peter Marigold and Glass Hill, and Galerie S. Bensimon showcased an inspiring collection of works by young American designer Max Lipsey, Rotterdam-based Lex Pott and David Derksen, and London-based Pia Wüstenberg.

Tripping round the streets of Paris in search of fresh design is never a chore - even the Parc des Expositions has Fauchon and Ladurée pitstops to revive fair-worn legs - but it's all the more valuable when you can return replenished not only with macaroons and éclairs, but with a fund of inspiring new design swimming around in your head, as we did on Monday.

Two side by side connected wooden tower structures.

(Image credit: TBC)

Split Slatted Shelving unit by Peter Marigold at the Knock on Wood exhibition, Toolsgalerie

A white rock-shape/paper-style lamp shade hanging from above.

(Image credit: TBC)

Miss Maple, by Elisa Strozyk at the Knock on Wood exhibition, Toolsgalerie

Five octagonal multi-coloured holders, with one storing cooking utensils.

(Image credit: TBC)

Knife Pots by Normann Copenhagen

Three jugs with large barrels style bases. One in red, one in brown and black, one in dark brown and brown.

(Image credit: TBC)

Geo Thermos jugs at Normann Copenhagen

A close-up of a large fan-shaped storage container with white and pink illumination.

(Image credit: TBC)

Stationery by Hay

A multi-coloured regular hexagon.

(Image credit: TBC)

Trays by Hay

A selection of various sided note books in different colours.

(Image credit: TBC)

Stationery by Hay

Under neon colour lighting, a table with various objects that look like a saucepan, a rolling pin, a nut, a bolt, bowls.

(Image credit: TBC)

Pieces at Blanc Bijou for Nikki Fron

A small and large cube in dark colour under a neon light.

(Image credit: TBC)

Pieces at Blanc Bijou for Nikki Fron

A double bed with a red and white checkered base and headboard, green linen, a red and white cube poof with a tray on top and a I Heart NY mug.

(Image credit: TBC)

Bed by Paola Navone for Lettti & Co

A double bed with dark green frame, white linen, dark green throw.

(Image credit: TBC)

Bed by Paola Navone for Lettti & Co

Two columns of wood chairs with no arms.

(Image credit: TBC)

Chairs by Alki

Two yellow containers. One in a cup shape and one in a basket shape.

(Image credit: TBC)

New pieces at Sfera

Ten spatulas of different shapes and sizes in black, brown and beige.

(Image credit: TBC)

New pieces at Sfera

Three containers in three different shapes, one tall and slim, one round and one hexagonal.

(Image credit: TBC)

New pieces at Sfera

A white and black vase, both with an odd shape and red interior.

(Image credit: TBC)

'Aldo' vases by Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas for Alessi

A wall display featuring information and a portrait photo with a collection of pencils.

(Image credit: TBC)

Pencil Display by Elise Gabriel for Atelier d'Exercices

A wall display featuring text behind a thermometer style monetary scale.

(Image credit: TBC)

Central Bank for Atelier d'Exercices

Three elegant glasses with long stems.

(Image credit: TBC)

Chateau Baccarat, new collection of crystal glasses from Baccarat designed to enhance the drinking experience

Three sets of triangle shaped stools stacked on top of each other.

(Image credit: TBC)

Stools from the Acciaio Series by Max Lipsey at the Gallery S Bensimon

Side by side stacking vessels - left has green tinted glass and right has clear glass.

(Image credit: TBC)

Stacking Vessels by Pia Wüstenberg at the Gallery S Bensimon

Three cheeses resting on a cheese box lid with the wooden box behind.

(Image credit: TBC)

Cheese box by Stephane Bureaux at the 'Cheeeeese!' Exhibition in Hall 3

A circular cheese board with three cheeses in front of a multi levelled circular storage device.

(Image credit: TBC)

Cheese platter by Claudio Colucci at the 'Cheeeeese!' Exhibition in Hall 3

A black box containing cheese with information boards behind.

(Image credit: TBC)

Cheese box by Germain Bourre at the 'Cheeeeese!' Exhibition in Hall 3

A close-up of four bowls.

(Image credit: TBC)

Nest Centrepiece and bowls by Stéphane Parmentier for Christofle

A variety of ceramics in different shapes.

(Image credit: TBC)

Ceramics by Christiane Perrochon

A wall with two rows of small mirrors of various oval shapes.

(Image credit: TBC)

Moonlight Mirrors by Richard Hutten at Covo

A wall with shelf fittings interconnected.

(Image credit: TBC)

Shelving by  Drugeot Labo

3 gold coloured champagne ballets.

(Image credit: TBC)

'Eclectic' Hex Champagne Bucket by Tom Dixon

Rectangular, paddle long and circular chop board and bowl set.

(Image credit: TBC)

'Eclectic' Chop (Rectangle, Paddle, Long) and Form Bowl Set, by Tom Dixon

A wood stool made up of wood box sides and top.

(Image credit: TBC)

Dolmen stool by Sebastien Cordoleani for ENO

Five wood shelves from the floor and up.

(Image credit: TBC)

Quake by Antoine Phelouzat for ENO

Multiple wire-framed multi-sided candle holders on a table and hanging from above.

(Image credit: TBC)

Lamps by Arik Levy for Forestier

Multiple globe shaped light shades.

(Image credit: TBC)

Lamps by Arik Levy for Forestier

Two black loungers with hoods at the head.

(Image credit: TBC)

Loungers by Ipe Cavalli

A metal structured chair with a red cushion square base and a red cylinder back.

(Image credit: TBC)

The Shiro Kuramata exhibtion at Cappellini

A black square table with a tortoiseshell arch on top.

(Image credit: TBC)

The Shiro Kuramata exhibtion at Cappellini

A selection of three wooden storage boxes. Left and Right, the boxes are on wheels. Centre. A tower of wooden boxes are standing on top of each other.

(Image credit: TBC)

Cabinets by Jan en Randoald for Labt

A four legged wooden table.

(Image credit: TBC)

Table by JIJ's for Labt

Two dark wood stools with black tops. A lamp sat on the right stool.

(Image credit: TBC)

Mortaise tables and stools by Yota Kakuda for Ligne Roset

A brown rocker chair.

(Image credit: TBC)

Dérive 2 by Pierre Paulin for Ligne Roset

Two green oval shaped lamp shades.

(Image credit: TBC)

Olive Lamps by Numéro 111 for Ligne Roset

A wood coffee table with a lamp on top.

(Image credit: TBC)

Pool Coffee Table by Jakob Macfarlane for Marcel By

Two light-wood chairs, one with no arms and one with arms.

(Image credit: TBC)

Bamby Chair by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance for Marcel By

Multiple crystal pieces in different colours and shapes.

(Image credit: TBC)

Crystal pieces by Moser

A grey slab on a side table, with a lamp shade in the shape of a odd balloon.

(Image credit: TBC)

Plan Vase by Sebastien Cordoleani for Moustache

Three grey vessels in different shape with the opening going from large to small.

(Image credit: TBC)

Vessels by Ionna Vautrin for Moustache

Five small bins, white, grey and black.

(Image credit: TBC)

Bins by Muuto

Dozens of clear oval lampshades handing from the ceiling.

(Image credit: TBC)

Static Bubbles exhibition by Nendo at the Carpenters Workshop gallery

Single, double, triple stacked (L-R) baskets.

(Image credit: TBC)

Static Bubbles exhibtion by Nendo at the Carpenters Workshop gallery

A white table resting on a side table. Black background. Two books, bottle and cup on the white table.

(Image credit: TBC)

Object Dependency exhibtion by Nendo at Galerie Pierre-Alain Challier

A white table connected with a lower level to another section.

(Image credit: TBC)

Object Dependency exhibtion by Nendo at Galerie Pierre-Alain Challier

A light blue illuminated object.

(Image credit: TBC)

Object Dependency exhibtion by Nendo at Galerie Pierre-Alain Challier

Dark brown rings for storing offie accessories.

(Image credit: TBC)

Office accessories by Objekten

A square wood tray with two columns for business cards. A white stand with an arm.

(Image credit: TBC)

Trays and light by Objekten

On display, a metal backed chair with four legs.

(Image credit: TBC)

Soba Chair by Dunja Weber for PCM

Two side by side three shelf wall fittings. Left: Four glasses on the shelves. Right. Two containers of Illy coffee on the bottom shelf.

(Image credit: TBC)

Wall shelves by Kay Stemmer for SCP

A red park bench with decorative crockery.

(Image credit: TBC)

Table and bench for SCP

A rectangular tray with individually segmented sections next to each other.

(Image credit: TBC)

'Jane' tray by Liu Jiakun as part of Alessi's Unforbidden City collection of trays

A wood vertical structure with four quotation mark shaped segments at equal intervals from bottom to top.

(Image credit: TBC)

'Floating Earth' by Ma Yan Song as part of Alessi's Unforbidden City collection of trays

A wood shaped tower with a pyramid shape and a hanging light bulb from the top.

(Image credit: TBC)

Everything but the manual furniture kit by David Grass at the Knock on Wood exhibition, Toolsgalerie

A brown wood desk with four compartments under an upper level.

(Image credit: TBC)

Desk by Gesa Hansen for Sentou

A wall with three upper wood structures and connecting shelves. Objects on the shelves include a lamp, books,.

(Image credit: TBC)

Utu shelves by O Creation for Sentou

Five multi-coloured shelves, two containing CD cases.

(Image credit: TBC)

Shelves at Sentou

Two dark blue glasses and one clear glass alongside and blue water jug.

(Image credit: TbC)

Glassware by Christian Haas for Theresienthal

Five glassware pieces of different shapes and sizes.

(Image credit: TBC)

Glassware at Theresienthal

Two levels of table / shelf furniture.

(Image credit: TBC)

Shelves by Tolix

Two red shelfs.

(Image credit: TBC)

Shelves by Tolix

Red, blue and black circular objects with holes in the middle.

(Image credit: TBC)

Centrepieces by Victoria Wilmotte, in the Young Talents exhibition, Hall 7

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Maison et Objet
Emma Moore
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