Maison&Objet: Sur/Reality, Women & Design, and Faye Toogood’s Vision

From 16 to 20 January, Paris will host the unmissable Maison&Objet fair, a landmark event for interior design and decoration professionals. This year’s theme, “Sur/Reality,” challenges attendees to explore a fascinating space where imagination and creativity transcend the boundaries of the everyday. For members of the Society of British & International Interior Design (SBID), the fair offers a unique opportunity to discover bold inspirations, groundbreaking designs, and innovative concepts shaping the future of the industry.

The theme of Sur/Reality sets the tone for an exploration of the unexpected, blending the fantastical with the functional. Designs that play with illusion, reinterpret forms, and transform materials invite visitors to reimagine spaces as dreamlike yet tangible. This approach speaks to a collective desire to escape monotony, creating environments that evoke wonder, provoke thought, and foster emotional connections.

Among the many highlights of this edition is the recognition of Faye Toogood as Designer of the Year. A celebrated British talent, Toogood is renowned for her multidisciplinary approach, which bridges design, art, and architecture. Her installation, “Womanifesto,” serves as a powerful exploration of the Sur/Reality theme. Combining her unique creative voice with the broader dialogue around the role of women in design, “Womanifesto” celebrates the fusion of artistry and activism, offering a deeply personal yet universal commentary on how the surreal can shape reality.

Another key feature of the fair is the Women & Design programme, an initiative dedicated to spotlighting the achievements and perspectives of women in the design world. Through keynote talks, panels, and networking sessions, the programme fosters meaningful conversations about gender equity, diversity, and the transformative impact of women’s contributions to the industry. For SBID members, these sessions provide valuable insights and inspiration to engage with inclusivity and innovation in their own practices.

With over 3,000 exhibitors, Maison&Objet presents an extraordinary platform to explore cutting-edge designs and connect with a global network of creators, manufacturers, and visionaries. From surreal installations to practical workshops, the event is rich with opportunities to expand horizons and spark fresh ideas.

Beyond the halls of the Parc des Expositions in Villepinte, Paris itself extends the surreal experience. The city’s vibrant galleries, exhibitions, and pop-up events offer a complementary journey through art and design, making this January edition a fully immersive adventure.

Maison&Objet is more than a trade show; it is a celebration of creativity, a platform for dialogue, and a springboard for innovation. For SBID members, the combination of Sur/Reality, Faye Toogood’s visionary “Womanifesto,” and the empowering Women & Design programme makes this edition an unmissable opportunity to redefine what’s possible in interior design.

Following on from TECH EDEN, which focused on the invigorating alliance between technology and nature, Maison&Objet and creative strategy consultancy Peclers Paris are continuing their optimistic, resilient, and stimulating exploration in September with a new theme: TERRA COSMOS.

“Where the vastness of space mingles with seemingly finite terrestrial territories... Where universal fantasies and earthly materiality collide... Where science and magic intertwine... New and lasting fictions are born, and are sure to have an impact on the real world.” Brune Ouakrat, Strategic Planner in charge of foresight at Peclers Paris.

TERRA COSMOS deciphers these new desires and the expectations of consumers in search of awe-inspiring experiences. This cosmic vision of the future remains firmly rooted in the reality of an exhibition that is resolutely focused on novelty, creativity, and innovation.

Conquering the Cosmos: A New Cosmic Revolution?

The prospect of space travel is now a real possibility, and the technological advances that have been projected in futuristic fiction herald profound changes in the way that we live our lives. Some 55 years after man first set foot on the moon, new scientific successes are rekindling our fascination and igniting our imagination focused on the cosmos, and synonymous with a promising future.

“In this new approach, it is no longer simply a matter of an extraterrestrial elsewhere. We are part of the cosmos, and this position implies responsibility, as well as resilient and virtuous creations and practices. It imposes a broader, more esoteric, magical vision in which we can imagine ourselves as tourists in zero gravity, choosing to claim the stars or seek beneficial connections with the elements” Brune Ouakrat, Strategic Planner in charge of foresight at Peclers Paris.

TERRA COSMOS: An enticing and Fertile New Frontier

“Connection, immersion, virtuality, smart materials, 3D, AI*... A part of the fantasy is becoming reality and consumers are ready for immersive, sensory experiences, while new aesthetics are invading into their daily lives and enchanting them once more.” Brune Ouakrat, Strategic Planner in charge of foresight at Peclers Paris.

Space(s) Filled with New Materials

These materials may be brutalist or sophisticated, iridescent or transparent, evocative of both the mineral surface of the stars as well as celestial and stellar expanses. The novelty of TERRA COSMOS is crystallised in the intensity of the materials, reflecting the formal explorations of Objects of Common Interest designers and their experimental way of working with both metal and glass.

“The materials express a sensory futurism that dresses interiors in mineral ruggedness and invests them with constellations of satellite objects.

The random shapes, roundness, and ovality accentuate the cosmic aspect as much as they soften its contours. The luminaires produce vibrant halos, diffracting colours into shifting spectra and magical projections.” Charlotte Cazals, Designer and Trend Forecaster at Peclers Paris.

For a brand such as Lexon, new frontiers venture far beyond the bounds of technology. They include aspects such as sustainability, well-being, and diversity, where opportunities for innovation are numerous and crucial to meeting the challenges of today's world.

Multisensory Escapes

In the food services and hotel industries, TERRA COSMOS expresses itself in the vastest of terms. Between immersive discoveries and extreme experiences, it is no longer enough to simply mobilise the senses; they must be amplified and confounded through both technology and whimsical storytelling. The Danish chef Rasmus Munk, who defines himself as an "alchemist", is proud of this approach. His "holistic" menu is best enjoyed in the immersive setting of his Copenhagen restaurant, where he takes guests on a journey from the depths of the sea up to the northern lights.

To set foot in the El Cosmico hotel, in a deserted Texan landscape, is an experience on the border between the cosmic and the terrestrial. This luxury campsite will soon be equipped with 3D-printed dwellings so that, as promised, you can escape the pressures of everyday life, reconnect with your senses, and observe the celestial vault.

Delving into the Metaverse

From the Acne Studios boutique to the Moncler pop-up store in Tokyo, the cosmic references in retail become even more accomplished where futuristic, uncluttered decors meet digital, connected shopping experiences. Avant-garde aesthetics are paving the way for a new form of consumerism.

The spaces look as if they have been plucked straight from the metaverse, inspired by architectural and virtual creations such as those by artist Hugo Fournier. Immaterial objects and environments are already coming to life in the spaces designed by Harry Nuriev, with Crosby Studios. Minerality is often complemented by chrome, transparency, and glass, offering versatility to clean, pure lines.

TERRA COSMOS: A Narrative Arc that is all but out of the Ark

“Beyond its forward-looking vision, the TERRA COSMOS theme will also be embodied at the show. Visitors will be able to find it materialised in three practical aspects: product curation, events, and the visitor route, which will be guided by the TERRA COSMOS symbol.” explains Mélanie Leroy, the exhibition's Managing Director.

What's New? Spaces: Expert Interpretations of TERRA COSMOS

“Through the eyes of our curators, François Delclaux and Elizabeth Leriche, we are offering visitors an insight into the theme that is both palpable and wellhoned,” adds Mélanie Leroy. They were given carte blanche in their interpretation of TERRA COSMOS in order to create a sense of surprise and awe in the What's New? In Retail space and the What's New? In Decor space, with a wide range of products sourced from exhibitors and integrated into inspiring displays... The What's New? In Hospitality space will be assigned entirely by the next Designer of the Year.

Experiences, Exchanges, and Experimentation

The Well-Being Experience, What's New? In Hospitality, and The Talks: Maison&Objet strives to combine experiential foresight with usefulness. “To meet the challenges facing professionals, Maison&Objet relies on one of the levers that makes it unique – its large international community of recognised experts in the decoration and design industries – to share and lead exchanges that are as relevant as they are instructive”, points out Mélanie Leroy. The theme will therefore be evaluated, examined, and enriched at key moments of the exhibition through immersive scenography in each of the spaces, masterclasses with key opinion leaders, coaching tailored to each business, and round table discussions.

The Maison&Objet Galaxy

The TERRA COSMOS theme and its new codes will be used throughout the Maison&Objet ecosystem, from the selections on the Maison&Objet and More – or "MOM" – platform, to showrooms and certain Paris Design Week events such as the Design sur Cours exhibitions, where designers may display their designs in the courtyards of Paris.

New Markets for TERRA COSMOS

"Our primary mission is to decipher and highlight the market trends that will drive the success of our customers in the future. In practical terms, this means highlighting new markets and growth markets, and curating brands and products, as well as colours, materials, motifs, and inspiration, through experiential and useful events. In short, it is essential to provide practical solutions to three key challenges: innovation, creativity, and eco-responsibility.

With TERRA COSMOS, we are bringing another angle to bear on the re-enchantment of everyday life through the cosmos, the earth, and even our relationship with the beyond. Product curation will underline sectors or sub-sectors that are currently buoyant and represent a growing market trend. This encompasses the entire universe of Well-Being, as well as those of magic and esotericism. Lithotherapy and astrology are real market trends." Mélanie Leroy, Managing Director of Maison&Objet.

Space Age: Vintage Cosmos

In the 1960s, the Space Age movement found its inspiration through space exploration and nuclear imagery. Its heritage is still expressed at the exhibition through objects with organic shapes and pop colours. Fisura's lava lamps are perhaps the most meaningful example.

TERRA COSMOS as Seen by Elizabeth Leriche

Founder of the eponymous Elizabeth Leriche Trend Consultancy and Curator of the What's New? In Decor space.

What is TERRA COSMOS?
Only with our eyes on the stars and our feet firmly planted on the ground can we be in touch with the universe.

What images does this theme conjure up for you?
The joy of dreaming before a starry sky, bathed in the glow of the moon or the radiance of the sun…

Looking to the future: what will the next What's New? In Decor look like?
I wish to try to see things through the eyes of a child filled with wonder, to evoke dreams and emotions, to find poetry in the face of this futuristic, technological world. Sky vs. ground, weightlessness vs. roots, craft vs. cave, metal vs. earth, transparency vs. opacity, infinitely small vs. immensely large... I intend to play on these oppositions.

TERRA COSMOS as Seen by François Delclaux

Founder of the Nouvel Air agency and Curator of the What's New? In Retail space.

What is the cosmos?
The bearer of dreams and fantasies. The conquest of space is taking on the dimension of a "new frontier". This context also influences the lifestyle and design sectors and their quest for new adventures, but also new materials, surfaces, colours...

Which works do you think instantly represent the theme?
First of all, those which play on raw minerality, in reference to lunar or Martian vistas. Pulpo often uses primary – if not "primitive" – materials, as if fallen from a meteorite, thus imposing the very shape of the object. The treatment of light is somewhat reminiscent of the magic circles used by Le Deun Luminaires. Fuoriluogo Design's creations are redolent of myriads of stars.

Looking to the future: what will the next What's New? In Retail look like?
An invocation of three emblematic planets in our solar system!

The Space Age as a Philosophy

Alexis Martial and Adrien Caillaudaud, Founders of Amca Oval.

We are intrinsically inspired by the Space Age, firstly through our passion for the future, but also through our obsession with oval, organic, and all encompassing shapes. The Space Age is above all a philosophy, a quest for innovation and a fantasised future. The idea is not to recapture the design of a bygone era, but to extract its essence and bring it to life in a contemporary way. All with new environmental objectives and new technologies. When it comes to fashion, it is first and foremost functional minimalism that links us to this creative movement.

As for design, it is more so about the retro-future concept. The result is a playful, forward-facing way of life.

The New Frontiers of an Innovative Brand

Frédéric Boutin, Product Director at Lexon.

For a brand such as Lexon, new frontiers venture far beyond the bounds of technology. They include aspects such as sustainability, well-being, and diversity, where opportunities for innovation are numerous and crucial to meeting the challenges of today's world.

In a world where mental and physical health are increasingly valued, we are responding in kind by offering consumers a new range of "Care" products that combine design and technology to promote well-being.

Companies may also seek to push back the boundaries of inclusion and diversity, by ensuring that their products and teams reflect the richness of the times in which we live.

When it comes to designing new spaces, renovating interiors, and creating personalised identities, inspiration is crucial for any interior designer. From dream homes to unseen workspaces, futuristic architecture to prestigious design, inspiration is essential for the work of every interior designer.

Twice a year, Maison&Objet and its trend hunters are committed to fueling this inspiration with creativity and pragmatism.

It’s Time to Meet the Future!

What does the new season of Maison&Objet have in store for you?

In 2024, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Maison&Objet, the fair will show its participants a revitalised future that combines technology and nature! This season’s theme, TECH EDEN, will enliven the January edition with reinvented feature spaces oriented toward the retail, residential, or hospitality industries. Places where nature will be very much on hand, not necessarily in a literal sense, but sometimes digitally speaking and, to varying degrees, mineral, lush, and hybrid. It’s a mix of nature and technology that’s sure to re-energise the concept of sustainability and create a truly desirable vision of the future!

In January, between the 18th and 22nd, make sure to stay connected!

The Fair in a Few Figures:

- 2,300 brands present
- 147 countries represented
- 27% only exhibit at Maison&Objet Paris
- 600 new brands/session
- 15 show sectors/universes
- Over 20 conferences

TECH EDEN, This Edition’s Inspiration Theme: Adapting Your Projects to Tomorrow's Challenges

Contemporary aesthetics have no choice but to adapt to the challenges of tomorrow, and new projects give a special place to nature. New technologies, essential to their implementation, are driving ever greater creativity and innovation. The Show's Trend Forum, orchestrated by Peclers Paris, analyses, and interprets these developments, reflecting this season's theme, TECH EDEN. Immerse in the hospitality of the future through three escape capsules, where iconic hospitality venues are hybridised to create new, more virtuous, and ever more desirable ones: wellness cafés, sports stations, spa rooms... Innovative, sensory experiences, like an invitation to travel and disconnect, only to find yourself again. The ultimate intimate escape, on the edge of reality. "A unique and fully experiential space, combining creativity, nature and technology to provide a warm welcome and comfort for customers," says Mélanie Leroy.

Hospitality Lab X Studio REV, a Multidimensional Experience

"We also wanted to give carte blanche to studio REV, the firm that won the Paris Shop & Design 2023 prize, to provide us with another creative version of hospitality," explains SAFI director Mélanie Leroy. A mix of light and materials, a friendly, gourmet reception area brimming with joy and good spirits: the Hospitality Lab in the heart of Hall 6 puts on an inspiring, innovative show. A multifunctional experience created by studio REV, halfway between the physical and the virtual, with a gigantic table combining wood and glass as its central element, conducive to socialising, whether at a table or just passing through, thanks to the on-sale and take-away offerings. Once again, Maison&Objet demonstrates its keen understanding of the expectations of hospitality market customers. More than a simple visit, it's a genuine immersion in the heart of a place marked by a strong visual, functional, symbolic, and even poetic identity. A place where the worlds of avant-garde hospitality and retail come together, with a host of exceptional products.

Outonomy, Mathieu Lehanneur's Outdoor Inspired Installation on a New Form of Autonomy

"An ecosystem for living, both minimal and optimal". This is how Mathieu Lehanneur imagined his Outonomy project for Maison&Objet. With this outdoor-inspired installation in line with the TECH EDEN season theme, the Designer of the Year had no other ambition than to bring nature into our contemporary society.

The design of this scenography points to the future and reveals the need for freedom. Doing better with less, dealing with our surroundings while respecting the environment, getting back to basics but not on basics... "Far from nostalgia or an attempt to retrace our steps, Outonomy attempts to answer the question: what do I really need?" says the designer.

Baccarat, the Epitome of Iconic French Heritage

As two quintessential French heritage maisons, Baccarat, renowned for its prestigious crystal craftsmanship, and Maison&Objet are marking their 260th and 30th anniversaries through an exclusive collaboration. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Maison Baccarat and be spellbound by the mesmerising allure of Baccarat's crystal creations through an immersive experience on Maison&Objet in hall 7.

The MAISON and the OBJET Sectors: A Unique Offering for Creating, Renovating, Adding Soul and Anticipating Trends

In the MAISON section, hoteliers and restaurant owners discover new talent and meet iconic brands, outstanding manufacturers and craftsmen grouped in the Forever, Signature, Today, Forever, Unique&Ecletic and Projects sectors. A decor and furniture offer to reinvent the codes of lifestyle and boost the customer experience with brands such as: Ardamez, Pedrali, Drucker, Nardi, Design By US, Mario Cioni & C, Monitillo 1980, 101 Copenhagen, Serax - Valerie Objects, Mobje, Pure White Lines, Polspotten, Karpa, LGD01 Décor mural sur mesure.

In the OBJECT section, in the Home Accessories sector, discover a unique range of lighting fixtures, small furnishings, cushions and decorative objects to further personalise your establishment, as well as the Cook&Share sector with a selection of culinary preparation professionals and key players. Here are a few brands to discover in January: ASA Selection, Libeco Home, Le Jacquard Français, Costa Nova, Knindustrie, Fine Dining&Living, Molleni, NJ Style.

When it comes to designing new spaces, renovating interiors, and creating personalized identities, inspiration is crucial for any interior designer. From dream homes to unseen workspaces, futuristic architecture to prestigious design, inspiration is essential for the work of every interior designer.

Twice a year, Maison&Objet and its trend hunters are committed to fueling this inspiration with creativity and pragmatism.

Beyond trends, pleasure becomes an initiatory quest

What does the new season of Maison&Objet have in store for you? Colors, extravagance, boldness, and humor for a refreshed interior! From September 7th to 11th, 2023, Maison&Objet will embark on a "quest for pleasures," proudly showcasing a multitude of added values in this new edition through colors, extravagance, boldness, and humor. The inspirational theme will invite us to rediscover excitement, to re-enchant our lives free from the austerity that society and brands have leaned towards in response to a crisis-ridden world.

SBID Members receive free tickets to attend!

Where: Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center

When: 19-23 January

Email pr@sbid.org to claim yours! Non-members can click here to register now.

About Maison&Objet

For 25 years, Maison&Objet, organised by SAFI, has been engaging with and bringing together the international design, home decor and lifestyle communities. Maison&Objet’s trademark? Its unique ability to generate connections and accelerate business, both during trade fairs and via its digital platform, but also through its unique talent for highlighting trends that will excite and inspire the home decor world. Maison&Objet’s mission is to reveal talent, spark connections and provide inspiration, both on- and off-line, thereby helping businesses grow.

SBID Members recieve free tickets to attend!

Where: Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center

When: 8-12 September

Email admin@sbid.org to claim yours! Non-members can click here to register now.

About Maison&Objet

For 25 years, Maison&Objet, organised by SAFI, has been engaging with and bringing together the international design, home decor and lifestyle communities. Maison&Objet’s trademark? Its unique ability to generate connections and accelerate business, both during trade fairs and via its digital platform, but also through its unique talent for highlighting trends that will excite and inspire the home decor world. Maison&Objet’s mission is to reveal talent, spark connections and provide inspiration, both on- and off-line, thereby helping businesses grow.

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here to find out more.