No one does style better then the Parisians, they do it in the quality of the food they create, in the cutting edge fashion and in the culture and lifestyles they lead. For the past number of years Paris has set the trends for many consumer industries, none more so then the world of Interiors and Fashion. Wondering through the halls of this year's Maison Object Show it was clear to see that texture, comfort and function were key in the minds of manufacturers and designers promoting their collections for 2011.

Ligne Roset lead the way forward at this year's Maison show with their mix of organic shapes, new fabrics and the launch of their first outdoor collection. Indoor and outdoor lifestyles are merging the world over and the demand for greater levels of comfort and creativity with outdoor furniture has lead to a wave of new creations that cross the boundaries of our home. 


I could write an entire article about the Ligne Roset collections alone, the way I engaged with all the products and they engaged with me and I wish the baggage allowance on my flight would have allowed me take a snap shot of the show and re-live it in my city centre bachelor pad.

Ligne Roset is known for their collaborations with leading designers the world over, Philippe Nigro, Pierre Paulin, Jean Nouvel, Inge Sempe and the Bouroullec brothers to name a few. This year's highlights by Ligne Roset included the Ploum Sofa by the Bouroullec brothers and the Ruche Bed by Inga Sempe.

The Ploum is of nature, an organic shape, softly finished and with indulgent comfort. The Bouroullec brothers describe the Ploum Settee like a ripe, voluptuous piece of fruit offering an extreme level of comfort. The settee is consuming, sculptural and sumptuous. For me the settee is my highlight from this year's show and a must to experience when it becomes available at Ligne Roset in Arnotts later in the year.

Inga Sempa brought us our second highlight for 2011. After her successful launch of the Ruche sofa collection for Ligne Roset in 2010, Inga has returned with the launch of the Ruche bedroom collection. Expanding on her experiences from last year, she has reworked her designs to create a piece of elegance for the bedroom. The bed merges a clear design vision with the requirements of everyday life to create a harmonious union of severe, straight lines and soft welcoming curves.


In contrast to Ligne Roset, French house La Fibule, while only entering the market in 1992 are slowly becoming a leading trend producer with their mix of contemporary design and classical edge. Through a vision of innovative design, La Fibule are producing a collection that combine feminine comfort with cutting edge design to create a mix of modern classics that are elegant and functional.

The Hepburn chair encompasses this vision and creates a chair that is iconic, elegant and inviting. Available in a mix of contrasting fabrics, this clever wing chair will grow old gracefully and enrich the surroundings of both modern and classic living environments.

Texture and Pattern play a key role in the way we style or homes. From patterned wallpapers to striped fabrics, a lick of paint alone can create a more effective mood within our living space then a new chair, sofa or coffee table. The colours we choose can greatly affect our lifestyles and ideas on a day to day basis, so it is important to invest time in choosing what works well within our homes.

Leading the way with innovative colours and prints at this year's show were Farrow and Ball and Missoni. Farrow and Balls collection combined timeless elegance with contemporary style. With nine new colours added for 2011, there is a colour to suit every home within the range. For me the pure finish, rich nature and depth of colour provided in Brissica 271 (Wall Paint in Image) gave that contemporary edge, warmth of finish and classic elegance that would suit any living space.

No home would be complete without a collection of gadgets. Being the ultra urbanite, for me more is less and less is more and the more you can achieve within a small space the better. Nespresso brought their urban edge to a new level this year with their collaboration with Magimix. Due on the shelves late February early March, the Pixie coffee machine is ultra trendy, modern and compact. The smallest Nespresso machine to date is available in three colours and ideal for any urban kitchen.


Every year new and emerging brands can be found in the depths of the halls at the show. My one to watch from this year's show was a small ethical brand called Mumo. Inspired by the retro urban beach lifestyle of Rio de Janeiro their collections are sourced and produced using organic cottons and fairtrade textiles from Brazil. While still in its early stages of life I look forward to seeing how this creative and innovate team develop and expand their collections into the future.

And so we come to the end of my snapshot of this year's Maison Show. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about the products contained in this review and until next time, I hope you enjoyed my report.

Gary Tiernan

February 2011