At the “WHAT’S NEW?” spaces within the MAISON&OBJET fair, the latest trends come to life through the subtle, inspiring, and diverse selection of new products by our trend analysts. For the September 2019 edition, Share, the space by François Delclaux, explores the extremes of style. Elizabeth Leriche, at Care, displays a tactile textile selection. Living by François Bernard provides us with some ideas on how to reaffirm our uniqueness. And finally, for this Autumn season, Chantal Hamaide demonstrates, through WORK!, the nascent hybridization of work, home, and…objects. So we can make their concept our own, they share their enlightening thought processes below.

Living Hall 2 / François Bernard

What story does Living tell?

As part of a particularly rich and diverse offer of clearly stated trends at the fair, I made the choice and had the desire to explore somewhat newer, more unique, emerging areas in creative design.

What type of environment does this take place in?

It takes place over three spaces. Modern living is inspired by notable recent exhibitions on the birth of abstraction, Malevitch’s Suprematism, on through Mondrian, Cubism, etc. In certain objects – paper goods, textiles, occasional furniture, rugs – we see a desire for a rather simple geometry tied to these schools of thought. Sculptural living offers handmade pieces that are sculpted, shaped, unique, and different. It’s just as much about a sideboard with doors in bas-relief as it is a throw woven with ultra-thick fringe. Soft living combines gentle colors, natural materials, a certain concept of comfort, and highly technological objects with rounded shapes. It’s a follow-up to Scandinavian style tinged with a Japanese spirit.

What trends do you see emerging or being confirmed?

Spaces are reflecting three major shape repertoires: geometrics, round and soft, and random. References to Mondrian elicit color. But deep reds and “mustard” yellows are moving away from this painter’s primary colors.

What would you say are two iconic products at Living?

A bench by Ingrid Sol Leccia for Sculptural Living. And a sofa or an armchair in soft shades and gentle forms from HK living for Soft Living.

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