Maison et Objet 2011, Paris

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A firm favourite on all design globetrotter's calenders, the january installment of the bi-annual Maison et Objet serves as the perfect place to pick up a good dose of new-year inspiration.

First stop was the buzzing halls of the Parc des Expositions where the mood was upbeat and the offering plentiful. As well as some new discoveries, like tabletop company Y'A Pas Le Feu Au Lac, lighting company Goodbye Edison and brand new office accessories upstarts L'Atelier d'Exercices, it was also comforting to see esteemed established companies such as Ligne Roset and Alessi firing on all cylinders and launching larger and more eclectic new collections than ever before.

Nothing works up an appetite better than weaving your way round halls, and Paris des Chefs, an ancilliary event, which is gathering pace and presence every year during January’s Maison, ensured that food was all part of the agenda. As part of the gastronomic drive, Guzzini mounted a food design exhibition at the entrance to hall 3, for which 30 french designers had been invited to innovate for the table – the results included a multi-functioning cheese board by Normal Studio, a honey pot with stepped spoon support by Francois Azambourg and a melting pot by Arik Levy.

A programme designed by Nicolas Chatenier of Peacefulchef put 20 of the world’s most talked about chefs together with 20 designers/architect/creatives, and asked them to present concepts they developed together on the stage of Hall 4’s amphitheatre. Pairings included Jean-François Piège (Thomieux) and India Mahdavi, Davide Scabin (of Combal Zero, Turin) and Oliviero Toscani Magnus Nilsson (Fäviken, Sweden) and Christian Kjellvander, (songwriter singer of the band Loosegoats).

Out of the confines of the fairground, the city was equally eager to please. A Glass House on rue Rambuteau showed innovative heaters by Paris-based 5.5 designers, Galerie Kreo had an exhibition from those talented students of ECAL, Toolsgalerie gave in to the bright and decorative with a series of vases by Sebastiaan Straatsma, while the highlight of the 'salon off' was without doubt the Meet My Project exhibition where 20 designers including Francoise Azambourg, Matali Crasset and Daniel Rybakken showed their latest prototypes looking for a manufacturer.

The best happening of the fair though, took place late on Saturday night, when a large slice of the Parisian gastocracy took over Le Chateaubriand, and its resident chef, the venerated Inaki Aizpitarte fed le tout with 12 courses of his most innovative bites (squid ink coated leek, powdered porcini sprinklings, discs of bone marrow combined with scallops, Mukhwas-coated mango…) to the some of the hardiest but also hungriest critics.

Silver pans & pots

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Series of pots and pans by Naoto Fukasawa for Alessi

Utensil pots

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Tonale series by David Chipperfield for Alessi

Colourful chairs

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Colourful seating at Spanish manufacturer Enea furniture

Metal pots & jugs

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Coffee storage jar and portable coffee maker, by Kaikado, the Kyoto-based Japanese tea cannister manufacturer, for Sfera, www.ricordi-sfera.com

Metal pots with wooden handles

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Sfera's latest offering, a series of tea cannisters with wooden handles

Wooden table

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A fantastic collection by Stephane Parmentier

Stacked coloured plastic

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Stephane Parmentier

White marble effect pieces

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Stephane Parmentier

Black bicycle with green seat

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This slick bike at Normann Copenhagen caught our eye

Colourful whisks

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Whisks by designer LucidiPevere at Normann Copenhagen

Wall shelving

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Bend your Shelf by Christian Nørgaard and Martin Kechayas for Hay

Blue & black metal chairs

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Grillage by Francois Azambourg, part of the impressive new collection at Ligne Roset

Glass tables with black metal borders

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Coffee tables by Out of Stock, seen at last year's Salone Satellite, now in production by Ligne Roset

Yellow sofa

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Philippe Nigro's new sofa, Entailles, with handy side tables, for Ligne Roset

Tall wooden chest of drawers

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Imposing column drawers at De Castelli

Monochrome ceramics

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Ceramics at Bitossi

Hanging ceiling lights

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Lamps at Bitossi

Grey ceramic plates & stands

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Ceramic serving plates by Sam Baron for Bosa

Display of building shaped home ware

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Metropolis at Lladro, consisting of 4 vases, a lamp, a box and a mirror

Close up of building pieces

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The muted tones and matt colouring was a welcome new step for Lladro

Oven dishes

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Cookware by Chinese company Jia Inc

Glass bowls & vases with silicone lids

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Fabrica's Valentina Carretta continues to win our heart with this new series of vases for Secondome

Teapots mounted on cork stands

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Teapots at Eno Studio

Trays & bowls

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Eno Studio

Cheese board with brown dome lid

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Normal Studio's cheese platter at Guzzini's food design exhibition in hall 3

Champagne flutes in checkered box

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Philip Starck's latest piece for Baccarat consists of a box of four champagne flutes, two black and two white. The box is available in two editions: one is a limited edition box of 170, each signed and numbered, that comes with a silk scarf designed by Starck's daughter Ara. The other is a box of 4 flutes that are numbered and signed but not limited.

Metal & glass carafes

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Paulo C proudly showing off her latest award-winning caraffe

Long grey table with seating around

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New table, stool and lamps for Paulo Navone's Gingerbread collection

Monochrome homeware on display

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A pleasing collection at So_, a Milanese-based company.

Grey striped rug

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Latest modular rug by Ora-ito at Stepevi

Wooden & glass display structure

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Collection Matères a Chaud by 5.5 designers at A Glass House

Wooden stand

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Collection Matères a Chaud by 5.5 designers at A Glass House

Kitchen pot with wooden handle

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Handle Me cast iron cookware, by Angell Wyller and Aarseth, www.awaa.no

Various colour side tables

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New side tables by Singapore collective d.lab

Lamp with purple lamp shade

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New lamp from Singapore collective d.lab

Monochrome bathroom accessories

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Doshi Levien's bathroom accessories collection at Authentics

Toothbrush holders

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Doshi Levien's bathroom accessories collection at Authentics

Colourful patterned plates & cups

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Dinner service by Tunisie Porcelaine

Shop window display

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Window display at Galerie S Bensimon

Kitchen crockery displayed on a wall

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A teapot, milk jug and sugar dish added to the beloved Taste collection by Paola Navone for Reichenbach

Colourful candlestick holders


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A splash of colour at De Vecchi with their latest take on the classic T8 candlestick

Wooden kitchen utensils

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Wooden salad servers at Muuto

Black kitchen knives

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Knives by Holmback Norden for Stelton

Silver kitchen knives

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Knives by French knife specialists TB Groupe

Colourful rug

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Nani Marquina choose Paris to launch its latest rug by the Bouroullec brothers

Blue & white tea set

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Tea set by Julia Landsiedl, www.jeplus.at

Monochrome bowl & vase

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Fruit bowl and vase at Delica

Blue, white & red plates

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Ceramics at the oh-so Parisian Astier de Vilatte

White tea cups with artwork in cup

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Ceramic cups at Astier de Vilatte

Small colourful tables

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Colourful collecton of tables, lamps and stationary sets by Normal Studio at Tolix

Shop window display

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Furniture company Eumenes makes its debut at the Silvera store with two new collections from Paola Navone and Jean-Marie Massaud

Metal tables with chairs

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The debut collection includes the Eu/ohoria chair by Paola Navone, where customers can choose from a range of fabrics, and the rectangular Eus table, also by Paola Navone.

White room with table & chairs

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The metallic-mesh Arkys chairs are by Jean-Marie Massaud and are fitted with a cushion and bacrest-covered in Kvadrat fabric

Alex Bagner
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