Paris Trends... Contemporary

Paris was a whirlwind...flew in, went straight to the shows to meet with my vendors and take in the feel of 2013. The next day was spent with Jose Esteves checking out the Puces in Saint Ouen, snow, ice and freezing temperature was the norm. On sunday, I went back to Maisons et Objets in search of new artists, deciphering trends and placing orders. Nightlife was filled with adventures, being stranded after cocktail parties, wearing  high heels in full snowstorm, no taxi in sight...and trying  to walk to  Hotel Costes to find temporary refuge. Meeting friends, designers, more parties, Paris was in full swing!
I was really fortunate to get on a flight to Toulouse on Monday where I met my parents, and drove off to the Pyrenees  for some family time and fabulous skiing.

When one think of contemporary style, one immediately refers to italian design, which had a strong presence at the show. I prefer the softer side of contemporary to the clean cold minimalist look. In my designs, I tend to mix contemporary pieces with vintage, antiques, colourful textiles, to give the spaces some character and warmth .Contemporary with a twist...

Here are a few of my favorite vignettes...

Patricia Urquiola, my favorite designer

Amazing italian collection of wood, bronze and steel

cocktail table as a unique art piece

Top Floor, amazing luxurious hand made rugs, represented in my Showroom Interieurs

Missoni

Italian outdoor collection which I bought for my Showroom Interieurs

Incredibly comfortable and foldable

Fabulous tree light

Modern, organic lighting

Will place orders with this English Manufacturer

Loved this chair by De La Espada

I bought quite a few hand crafted accessories

Celebrating Design in Paris with John Turner,Director, Architecture and Design

 of Benjamin Moore & Co.

Inevitably, we ended at l'Entrecote with promises from John to crack the recipe to its famous and well guarded sauce

Next...Paris, eclectic trend

A bientôt,

Francine

For more on contemporary style, visit my Pinterest pages

Maisons et Objets: Trends part 2

Shelter was a current theme in many displays and  installations....seeking the ultimate refuge, anxiety about a very uncertain future, the demands of a virtual, global world, make us look for our very own cocoon. We need to create an environment in which we can let go of our defenses, be ourselves, invite our family and friends, treasure private times.

We can create such an environment through color, textures, nature, soft designs. We need to explore outside the standard and expected vignettes. Let's bring in the old and mix it with the new....experiment, be daring, after all this is your life, with its ups and down...build your cocoon, your refuge.

This is what I would label as conceptual design....

I saw many different types of individual cabins, this being modeled after a gypsy's camper

A modern version of the mobile cabin

Wish I were  kid!!

I noticed a strong trend towards rich colors, daring palette of purples, reds, lime green with the occasional bright white, a touch of silver and gold

I have carried these merino wool throws in my showroom...my fall color choices

Will be ordering the collection of beautifully handmade Italian ceramics by a young artist

Paola Navone, again this fall on display (soon in my showroom interieurs)

I ordered these bronze tables

loved the contrast of the japanese screen with the funky white cactus ceramics

Loved these plates designed by Paola Navone for Richard Ginori...very tempted to place an order

I met this artist and loved her work. I commissioned a series of sphere sculpture, including this piece

More to follow on outdoor furniture trends...my apologies for the rather poor quality of these images, but it is strictly forbidden to take photographs at the shows...I was yelled at quite a few times and pretended not to understand french...thanks for the I Phone, I was able to captures a few pics...

Paris Furniture Fair: Maisons et Objets...trends

IBRIDE.COLLECTION 2010/1011

4AM, wide awake, back in my own bed, I am deciphering through hundreds of images from the shows, ideas, new things, colors, pieces I bought, new artists i will represent, then Paris, always amazingly beautiful Paris, my hotel, the magnificent Monet paintings, then on to the South, my beloved Villeneuve les Avignon, my work with Bernard for a containeur full of great industrial pieces, my last day of work at the Avignon "deballage" where the antique dealers buy from each other and finally two wonderful days...just breathing the pine scented air, spending time with my husband, parents, cousins in Vence , Mougins, visiting and falling in love with the little town of Cassis on the Medeteranean...did i say falling in love...i always seem to do so.

I will first share my impression of the specific trends that I observed at the Maisons et objets fair. I was having dinner with Monique who is a stylist and editor with Cote Sud and she noticed the same trend....ANIMAL FAIR...it is. Where ever I looked, my eyes fell upon some sort of animal life, would it be on textiles, ceramics, furniture, accessories and "curiosites"...

I could not resist to indulge in this trend and placed orders on a series of bird tray....

More trends to come in the next post.

Aurevoir, Francine