— Furniture Today,
PARISÂ — Dramatic beds left an impression at the Maison & Objet show here this month, some almost constituting rooms on their own.
Fantasy and fanciful pieces also were plentiful. In color and texture, case goods sported various shades of red, and many upholstery pieces were decked in velvet, the more shimmery the better.
Ethnic looks, popular enough to merit a separate hall at Maison, also have morphed into more contemporary interpretations found in furniture and fabrics throughout the show.
Pacing the fabric scene was a wide range of velvets, many with subtle, shimmery finishes. Black and white or black and silver were key combinations, but bright, playful colors and combos also were common.
Purple was particularly popular, spanning the gamut from light to dark. Petit point effects also frequently provided background interest for jacquards.
While Maison & Objet is not a furniture show per se, it always offers new ideas across a range of furniture categories.
This time, beds were the real show stoppers.
Exhibitors showed enclosed beds that created a snug, safe harbor; beds that curved and gently rocked; and just luxurious beds with elaborate fittings, mostly in contemporary designs.
Chaise lounges, mostly in contemporary versions and often overscaled as a chaise-and-a-half, also fit into the new bed concept.
Rattan was a key material in the new bed looks, and in wide use across all furniture categories. European designers use rattan as they would other woods, and often with strikingly decorative results.
In case goods, shape and color were the hot stories.
Ovals were a fashionable shape, and curves were often used on the bases of dressers and armoires.
And for those looking for their exotic or fantasy furniture creations, this Maison & Objet did not disappoint. Tires, shovels, cars, and saddlebags were among the variety of unusual embellishments used on chairs and case pieces.
In a more realistic approach, a collection of furniture from Africa using native materials, designs and shapes offered out-of-the-ordinary design appeal.
