Happy new week, everyone!

I just returned from three inspiring days in Paris, and today I’ll share some of my favorite discoveries. After seeing so much in such a short time, it’s always good to reflect on what stands out most in my memory before even looking at the photos. For me, this time, it’s two highlights: Faye Toogood’s “Womanifesto” space at Maison & Objet (she was awarded Designer of the Year) and the incredible work of Pradier-Jeauneau in the city—both shown below.

What’s my overall take on this edition of Maison & Objet, themed “SUR/REALITY”? Inside the fair halls, I rarely see anything that feels entirely new or groundbreaking. However, it’s a great opportunity to explore new collections from a range of brands all in one place. This year, I enjoyed the fair more than in recent years thanks to the mix of big-name brands and interesting emerging designers, as well as some beautifully styled booths.

The part I always look forward to the most is “Maison in the City,” where galleries and pop-up spaces open their doors. Unfortunately, this year’s edition felt much smaller than before, which was a bit disappointing.

Faye Toogood - Womanifesto installation

I’ve mentioned before that I’m a big fan of Faye Toogood and her work—she’s such an inspiring creative person. This time, her installation featured four rooms celebrating drawing, sculpture, landscape, and materials—the core pillars of her studio today and for the future.

As she reflects on moving into the second half of her life, she wanted this installation to express her current energy and emphasize the importance of emotional connection. Each space had its own unique atmosphere:

The first room was dominated by nude and natural tones, with a beautifully drawn landscape in the background.

The second space took a dramatic turn, enveloped entirely in black, creating a striking contrast to the first.

The third room came alive with shades of red and a pop of rose, featuring a wall filled with captivating face sculptures.

The final space had a mystical vibe - it felt like stepping into a completely different universe. I particularly loved the furry fabric on the armchair in this room.

You could really feel how each room had its own energy and pulled you into a completely different world.

Rising talent award - Focus on Korea

It’s always exciting to discover new talent and see them given a platform to reach a bigger audience. Every time I’ve traveled to Asia, I’ve been blown away by the creative energy, so it was great to see a spotlight on Korea here.

Lee Sisan
I already knew his objects from instagram but loved seeing him awarded and also his objects in real life. I’m still a big fan of glas and steel together with rough stone.

Minjae Kim

His artistic take on chairs is amazing. They’re so sculptural and full of character.

Jeong Dahye

She already won a couple of awards and I think that’s more than deserved for her beautiful objects made out of horse hair.

In the city: Galerie Pradier-Jeauneau

Their gallery is not big, but it was a pure delight. Shapes, materials, colors - SO well done. Definitely a name to watch closely in the future. Especially the triangle shapes were quite eye-catching as the feet of the armchair or shelf.

But also the fabric with the gradient pattern in such nice colors, no matter if only as a cushion or an entire daybed.

In the city: Boon Room

Whether it’s Milan or Paris, Boon Room is always worth mentioning in every recap. Their curation is truly something special, and their gallery in Paris is the perfect setting for it.

In the city: Galerie Paradis

This was my first time visiting Galerie Paradis, and I can confidently say it won’t be my last. From now on, it’s a must-visit whenever I’m in Paris. Three levels filled with incredible treasures of old and vintage pieces—an absolute dream!

In the city: Aurelien Serre

Aurelien Serre’s space is small, but I really liked the 2 armchairs and sofa he showcased. Special shapes and really nice fabric.

Two very present colors: Light purple and ocher

When it comes to colors, the ones that stood out a lot to me (compared to the past) were definitely light purple and ocher.

Light purple
This shade feels less commercial than ocher and very connected to the digital world and its color palette. It also fits perfectly with the theme of surrealism. I especially loved seeing it paired with nude tones, browns, or burgundy

Ocher
Yellow tones are always evolving. Over the past two years, we’ve seen brighter and greenish yellows, as well as buttery shades. Now, a shift back to this more brownish ocher is noticeable. It’s warm with an earthy touch.

Popular shapes: Body parts

What was noticeable across many brands, as well as the “What’s new?” space was the use of body parts like hands, lips, faces, eyes etc in shape of deco objects, tableware or textile patterns or also as artwork.

That’s just a sneak peek of what I discovered over the past few days—if you’re curious for a deeper dive, feel free to reach out! Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead!