Susan M. Andrews
PARIS — The Biennale is back.
With new timing and a new venue, the ultra-luxe Biennale des Editeurs de la Decoration trend show here this month
was a rousing success, displaying chic upmarket fabric, furniture and home accents from France and elsewhere.
The show, held every two years, changed from its traditional January dates to the more comfortable month of September. It also took spectacular advantage of its new venue at the Carrousel du Louvre in the heart of the city to restore its reputation as one of the most important interior decoration trend shows in the world.
Bob Schaffer, vice president of creative development for Thomasville Furniture Inds., toured the show and was very happy with it.
“It was great. I’ve been to at least the past four Biennales and I said after the last one that I wouldn’t go again, it was so bad,” he said.
“We really came over (to Paris) this time to see the Maison show, but we went to Biennale, too, and it was wonderful. It was just like the first time I ever went. They went back to being fabulous,” said Schaffer. “The new venue was wonderful — and we didn’t have to freeze getting to some venue away from the city.”
He believes in the importance of attending trend shows like the Biennale.
“They are the leaders (in trends and design). It will all filter down into the mass market — it will change a bit, of course, but what you see there is the direction we all need to take,” he said.
The show’s exhibits fell into two major themes — understated and overstated. Spare lines and cool, dry finishes shared the stage with vivid, saturated colors rooted in ancient traditions.
There was no sign of pale spa colors and no hint of innocuous “lifestyle” silhouettes. Instead, high-end fabrics and other home decor goods exuded meaningful opulence grounded in historical references and peacock blue, citrine green and hot raspberry.
Dramatic overscaling of patterns also was prevalent, as were high-contrast palettes like black and white, black and red, and brown and orange. A lush ashes-of-rose shade and a rich purple-toned raisin brown also were major statements.
Color was intense — even the black was intensely black. There were black lacquered chairs upholstered in black patent leather; blistering hot violet lizard skin paired with black suede; and bombé chests covered in royal purple velvet and accented with carnelian crystals and pearls.
Several exhibitors explored witty digital imaging in a variety of ways, in a multitude of colors on everything from chairs to rugs. Print specialist Missoni featured an enormous zinnia pattern in black and white.
Jennifer McConnell, associate director of design for Pearson Co., was at the Biennale for the first time and found the show exhilarating.
“The exhibitors at the Biennale are the best of the best,” she said. “My only complaint is that I wish the show had been bigger.”
The next Biennale will be held in 2015 in Paris. The date hasn’t been announced.
