Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: Rope Bench: Taking a brief break in the annual home design frenzy that is Paris’s Maison & Objet.

Maison & Objet, the international show for home-fashion, is one of the most important home shows in the world.  Colorful and crowded with many of the exhibition spaces housed in tents, the show is worthy of the Barnum & Bailey Circus. It is here that the community of international designers introduces its new creations each year.  And what a show it is!

Before leaving for Paris I received excellent advice from my former colleague at House & Garden, Carolyn Sollis, who is the Director of Public Relations for Bunny Williams's Beeline. Carolyn suggested I go directly to Tent #5C to see the fabrics before my eyes became totally exhausted. 

As I had received an invitation to visit the booth of New York designers Carolina Irving and Michael Devine, I thought this would be a perfect way to begin the day’s explorations.

To reach tent #5C, one followed a long carpeted route past home accessories of all sorts. Put on your rollerskates!

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: Swarovski Crystal Palace presented new furniture by designers including D.B. Kim, Diller Scofidio & Renfro, Fabien Baron, Fredrikson Stallard, Georg Baldele, Jaime Hayón, Michael Anatassiades, Tokujin Yoshioka, Tom Dixon and Vincent Van Duysen.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: Swarovski Crystal Palace exhibited an exclusive selection of designer collaborations, including Vincent Van Duysen’s ‘Cascade’, an opulent 3 meter chandelier with cascading drops of Swarovski crystals.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: Tord Boontje launched the first ever furniture. Crystal Ice range for Swarovski Crystal Palace that give an illusion of floating icicles encased in striking minimal structures.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: Unabashed luxe and comfort at Bagnaresi.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: Desio’s sofa glowed.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: Love & Kisses from Andrew Martin with wingchairs covered in cut velvet fabric of marching elephants.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: Everywhere you looked it was visually intense with serious negotiations at every display. I was beginning to understand the intelligence of the ‘Sollis approach’.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: The Nason Moretti display of glass featured many unique and colorful pieces.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: Green popped at the D & M Depot display.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: While these pots seemed very down to earth.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: La Plage featured back-to-nature twig lampshades.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: While architect and designer India Mahdavi’s 2009 lamps and wall fixtures for Pouenat Ferronnier were fresh and chic.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above:The tripod KAI Lamps had a striking presence next to a pair of dark grey resin vases in the J. P. Mesmin - BIOBJECT display.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: At one point I found myself totally lost but happily in the peaceful presence of Tai Ping customized carpets.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above: MOVE – the vitality of lines expressed in different interpretations was the motto of the Spring Collection 2009 for Zimmer + Rohde.

After a long journey through the Maison & Objet maze, I found myself happily in Tent #5C where fabric designers Carolina Irving and Michael Devine had each installed excellent selections of their fresh hand-screened textiles.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Top: Michael Devine’s collection has a classic sensibility that is infused with a new spirit. The fabrics are hand screened in a Brooklyn, NY studio on a choice of grounds:  cotton/linen, 100% linen and linen/silk. As the fabric is printed to order, one can easily customize the color.

Top Left: Michael Devine's simply elegant foliage pattern, Victoria; Bottom Left:Michael Devine's fabrics range from the subtle to the bold; Top Right: Michael Devine's distinctive Sienna in three colors.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones

Above Right: With a passion for pattern, Carolina Irving created her collection of fresh, hand printed linen and hemp fabrics after favorite designs she found in Turkish mosaics, Greek embroidery and early 20th century Arts and Crafts fabrics.

Photograph by Peter C. Jones 

Above: Michael Devine was on to the next customer with New York interior designer Thomas Burak (right) lending a helping hand.

More to come……………….

Written by Charlotte M.Frieze