By Jessica Lagrange
Plenty of cities are famed for being style meccas. Think London, Tokyo, New York and Milan. But to be frank—and accurate—for centuries no city has been more synonymous with style than Paris. Whether it’s smart, edgy, classic, sexy, cheeky or chill, whatever I see there is always fresh, sophisticated, alluring and above all else, enlightening. That’s because there’s always something I can adapt from what I see to use in my design practice.
So, it’s not surprising that Paris is home to Maison & Objet, considered by many designers to be the most important luxury trade exhibition in the world. Held every January and September in conjunction with Paris Design Week, it solidifies the city’s status as the design capital of the world. And for good reason: With the diverse array of talent it draws—both as exhibitors and show-goers hunting for extraordinary finds—Maison & Objet turns Paris into a style paradise. It’s rife with brilliant established and emerging artists, architects, designers and decorators as well as people just there to look, learn, buy and party. Yep—party. The invite-only parties related to Maison & Objet are mind-blowing.
So are the associated events. While the expo itself is held at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center near the Charles de Gaulle Airport, the city’s chicest districts roll out the proverbial red carpet with their own smaller shows, pop-ups, installations, talks and receptions in stores and galleries or on the streets. Think the Marais, the Bastille, Rive Gauche, The Palais-Royal, Etoile and more. The sheer number of things to see at every Maison & Objet makes them all fantastical, unforgettable and budget-breaking extravaganzas. Plenty of designers, me included, get FOMO when we must miss one.
Fortunately, I usually get there and did last month, so here are the top trends I found most interesting from not only Maison & Objet but also on the streets of Paris. While I love seeing all the truly spectacular and magical exhibits and displays, I’m a realist at heart. The trends I’m calling out below are usable; you can really adapt them to your own homes. And rest assured—I’ll be embracing them in my work for clients for quite some time to come. That’s because trends come and go—and inevitably, come back again. These are variations on a theme, albeit very dazzling adaptions of their predecessors. Enjoy the eye candy and good luck sticking to a budget if you indulge!
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Luxurious Layers: Pierre Frey transformed a derelict townhouse in Saint-Germain-des-Prés into a pattern-drenched paradise by layering carpets everywhere possible. (Photo: Mel Studach) At London-based Sanderson Design Group’s pop-up, they featured new selections from the Rare Textiles Collection by Zoffany, one of their brands. (Image: Sanderson Design Group)
Earth Tones: Mocha Mousse, Pantone’s pick for 2025 color of the year, was everywhere. I loved it best in this installation from Paris antique market Les Puces De Saint-Ouen in the Signature Hall at Maison & Objet, where the accent color spice brought the vignette to life. (Images: Anne Emmanuelle Thion c/o Maison & Objet)
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Tantalizing Tapestries: They’re back, though I think they never went away because I am mesmerized by them. The selection at Jules Pansu on the Left Bank, is exceptional and covers every era. Note how classic tapestries curtain the shop’s front windows, which showcase exuberant modern tapestries inside. I was totally mesmerized by a table layered with tapestries in another Left Bank shop where British luxury fabric, wallpaper and tapestry maker Watts 1874 held a pop-up. (Images: JLI)
Tempting Texture: Samuel & Sons collaborated with passementerie artist Elizabeth Ashdown for alluring textile that tempts you to touch it. The line features 12 bold woven designs crafted using centuries-old passementerie techniques and includes everything from pom-pom fringes and scalloped braids to tasseled borders and Crete designs. (Image: Samuel & Sons)
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Seductive Stone: Marmi Stone presented its new collection at a pop-up on the Left Bank, where we were treated to incredible examples of the stone’s capabilities for the kitchen. But an even bigger treat was running into our friends from home – from left to right Neil Zuleta, Magd Riad and James Crews. (Images: Marmi Stone and JLI)
Clubby Curves: This image of the Design Rendezvous pop-up on Rue Guénard packs a punch because it showcases so many trends. A full complement of generously curved pieces man the room, from the heart-shaped coffee table to designer Juin Ho’s clubby, chubby chairs swathed in hand-felted, earth-toned upholstery. Tapestry panels grace the walls, and carpet from Scottish rug designer Wendy Morrison pulls the pieces together. (Image: Jiun Ho)
Clever Curves: French furniture designer Franck Genser introduced a spry take on curves with his Morse collection in his own fanciful Parisian showroom that is also his apartment. The charismatic three-piece collection was inspired by the walrus and includes a marble-topped coffee table with tusk-shaped legs and a settee and armchair upholstered in neoprene that must surely be impervious to water. (Image: Franck Genser)
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Objects of Desire: Galleries went all out with stunning vignettes like this room from Galerie Marcilhac. I was smitten with the objects at La Gallerie Parisienne—especially the snake brooch by Francois Xavier Lalanne that I may have to buy. (Images: JLI)
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Mad for Maps: I am obsessed with scenic wallpapers, and as I passed by J.C. Martinez, an antique print and book seller on the Left Bank, I realized they could be used to wallpaper a room. I’ll be heading back to this shop for a better look and pricing when I attend Maison & Objet next fall. (Image: JLI)
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Amazing Artisans:
British designer Alexander Lamont makes furniture, lighting and decorative objects using centuries-old artisanal techniques and unexpected natural materials. His finishes that incorporate different metals, shagreen, parchment and my favorite—cracked eggshells applied with lacquer—are exquisite. He had a stunning display of his wares at a pop-up on the Rue de Seine, where artisans were finishing works that were for sale. I was bowled over by his straw marquetry pieces (like this lamp) that reference the work of Jean-Michel Frank, who was known for his use of the material in the case goods he made. (Images: JLI)
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Sustainable Style: Petit h (pronounced petite ache as the French do) is taking Paris by storm. It’s a workshop and line of products from Hermès that repurposes leftover materials into new objects. The project began as a way to reduce waste and was sold as a traveling pop-up collection but has since become a permanent fixture at the Hermès flagship in Paris. The range of products is astonishing and ever-changing. See more at the Hermes website. (Images: Hermes)
