Maison & Objet: Part 2
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Unlike most other major furniture companies, who unveil the bulk of their new wares at Milan, the French family-owned brand Ligne Roset (and its affiliate Cinna) were fittingly premiering the whole of their new collection at Maison & Object. The dapper Antoine Roset took me on a tour. Here he is in front of the modular, endlessly customizable Mixte wall shelving by Mauro Lipparini. Roset described it as "kind of like LEGOs, almost without limit." -
Roset described Philippe Nigro, who designed a slew of new products for the company, as "clearly the up-and-coming designer in Europe." Here are some of Nigro's pieces, including the chairs that comprise part of Ligne Roset's first full outdoor collection. The angular bookcase in the background can be rearranged and reconfigured by stacking the components differently, or flipping them over. -
The fabulous new Ruché bed by Inga Sempe, which can be made in almost any fabric and was exhibited in an orangey mauve. "A beautiful bed, and a feminine one," said Roset. -
The Rewrite desk by GamFratesi provides a cozy, sheltered spot to pen a letter or work on your laptop. You can also pin things up on the inside walls. -
Don't get too attached to these Kasumi lamps, made of stacked layers of bubble wrap by Hiroshi Kawano. They're not UL-approved, so they won't be sold in the U.S. Too bad—they're cool. -
Cleverly, the compact Mobidec pouf by Pierre Charpin comes with its own built-in carrying handle, for easy transport. In the foreground is the Thot table by Pierre Paulin. -
The cartoonish Saint James chair by Jean Nouvel is now available in new fabrics. -
Roset demonstrating how the Philippe Nigro side table that straddles the Entailles couch is the perfect place to rest his iPad. Behind him is the Oka bookcase, which comes in three sizes that nestle together seamlessly to accommodate any book collection or wall. -
These Philippe Nigro side tables/ottomans transform, with a swivel of the tray-like top, into a place to sit. -
And here's Nigro himself, who generously took the time to personally walk me through his collection. "I'm developing the concept of two pieces crossing, coming together. I like to play with accumulation." Here he is with his coatrack for Ligne Roset, made from two intersecting ladders. -
Nigro demonstrates how his Stripes pendant lamps mesh together to form a "composition of intersections." -
The Bouroullec's 'Ploum' sofa was a huge hit—everyone who walked by seemed magnetically drawn to it, bending down to touch it or flopping down for a cushiony rest. It comes in both a loveseat and sofa size, and it's completely upholstered, even the feet. Roset's take: "It's almost like something from outer space." -
This is the elegantly folded Grillage outdoor chair by Francois Azambourg. The back has some good flex and bounce, so it's very comfortable. -
From there I wandered over to HAY, a good-looking booth full of brightly hued wares like this aptly named Colour Carpet by Dutch designers Scholten & Baijings. -
Scholten & Baijings also designed the new Colour Block Bedding, with a playful geometric pattern. I am a fan. -
The duo also contributed these fun felt ball rugs, which come in six color combinations. -
Additionally spotted at HAY: a clever fold-your own steel shelf. Here it is in its 'before' form. -
Here they are after a little D.I.Y. action. -
On to Donna Wilson's booth, where I was thrilled to run into the star herself. Here she is holding her favorite new item from the collection: a two-sided Fergus cushion. -
She also expanded her line of plates to include a Baby and 'Beardy Bob.' The latter character also featured on the free tote bag Wilson sent me off with, which reads: Use my head to carry your books. -
Riding the royal wedding frenzy, Wilson created these lambswool gloves, which she describes as a "not so tacky souvenir of the royal engagement." -
From there, Wilson steered me to the neighboring SCP booth, where her latest designs for the home were on display, including the Munro chesterfield sofa upholstered in her Bora Da fabric and a bunch of rugs, including the dynamic Scope rug leaning against the wall. -
The Pelutho coffee table by Lee Kirkbride is made of solid ash and has an innovative base with semi-circular end joints. It sat pretty atop Wilson's Fairisle rug. Stay tuned for my next and final dispatch from Maison & Object, featuring the best of the rest...
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