Written by Michelle Lamb
New trends are highlighted in the January issue of Maison & Objet. It is interesting to see that so many new colors, materials, textures and surface designs are ready to offer options for updating his 2024 assortment.
Many color stories have gained attention, but the most notable are rising green. Whether for indoors or outdoors, the best new shades fall between dark neutrals and deep values. The natural, warm plants have names like olive, cactus, fern, and algae, an unexpected choice from a company like Echimo. I don't remember the name of this color recently, so maybe it's because of algae.
Although algae is often used alone, it is also included in the Precious Earth palette. This range extends beyond the neutral earth tones of yesterday to encompass the many colorful natural hues found in terra firma. Amethyst, turquoise and tiger eye also join the algae, which have a dual role as semi-precious stones. Amber and clay serve as accents. Kersten's textiles exemplify the influence of this expanded palette.
The popularity of the Brown family continues to grow. The established mocha and milk chocolate hues are just the beginning of the story. Bronze is popular at this fair. Metal finishing plays an important role in that advancement. My favorite application is from Cinabare Gallery, where scattered metal twigs are layered over a ceramic lamp base. Bronze also has its moments in glass. At Giovignara, the attractive bronze-colored tabletop has an interesting edge treatment designed to suggest his twice-thick glass, which is not actually present. This bronze expansion is directional.
It's important to note that the earthy sensibility seen in these color stories is also central to the push towards organic forms and the natural, rough textures of materials such as marble. These factors work in tandem with a growing focus on authentic materials, sustainable sourcing, and low-impact production that has become the norm rather than the exception.
Walnut finishes have held up very well for so long that there is little upside potential left. No wonder light, white oak and light ash occupy a larger share. But new wenge pieces that have appeared on some stands may offer a hint as to how the brown wood look can remain important in the future.
By the time 2022 began, Velvet had already taken a backseat to Bouclé. Two years later, Bouclé fatigue has led vendors to consider other textile options. Low, flat jacquard fabrics certainly benefit from a reduction in fuzzy texture. And prints are appearing on directional stands.
This is in line with a larger trend toward more prints and patterns seen in nearly every product category at the show. We are also looking for new layouts for the pattern. For example, when you turn over the gold-edged white porcelain plate developed for Vista Alegre's 200th anniversary, you'll find all the logos from the last 200 years printed on the back. Radar's serving bowl features embossed leaves across the exterior and a solitary leaf motif discreetly hidden inside. The Atelier Plus Montecarlo table features a border made from 12 different types of marble, creating a uniquely patterned edge.
List of top new patterns starts with stripes, the two-color version is leading the way. One encouraging aspect of this striping resurgence is its application to hard materials. Case in point: Dooq's low table made from alternating oak and walnut, and Val Pottery's white-on-color striped vase. You can see some broken stripes between the vertical and horizontal versions, but the really notable stripes are the twists. In fact, twisted stripes affect not only the pattern, but also the shape of materials, especially ceramics and glass.
Other trends we're tracking from Maison & Objet:
– Organic form
– Textured glass
– Appearance of molten metal and glass
– New interest in straw
– Metallic threads are used in the weave of the fabric to achieve texture rather than shine
– Manipulate light and shadow to create patterns
– floral design
Michelle Lamb is the founder of The Trend Curve and one of HAT's Trend Advisors.
