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Wurmbrand was drawn to organic forms and natural textures. Wurmbrand’s sense of humor couldn’t resist a snap of this “paparazzi fabulous” boudoir.

One of the largest home-interior shows in Europe, with an emphasis on home accessories, decoration (furniture), textiles and tableware, France’s Maison et Objet is also one of the most influential in determining which designs make it to market.

We spoke with three Seattleites who attended the show: interior designer Amely Wurmbrand; Jeff Vandiver of Seva Home; and Terry Draheim, owner of Terris Draheim.

Traditional with a Twist
“We saw many familiar materials; what’s new is the context in which they are used: the line, form and shape,” explains Seva Home’s Vandiver. “It’s the quality of detail and execution that is so fascinating.”

The Italian manufacturer Porada wowed him with a dining table that had traditional turned legs in high-gloss black lacquer. The unexpected contrast was a double-thick fused-glass top with a thin pinstripe. “It’s very glam but can translate to a traditional home or a condo,” he says. “When people mix here in the Northwest, it’s the old with the new. A piece like this is a beautiful fit.”

Softening Lines
It wasn’t just unexpected fabrics and artistic embellishment; the forms themselves are getting curvier. “It’s not that they didn’t have the modern B&B Italia look, but it wasn’t dominating the show,” recalls interior designer Wurmbrand. “I saw a lot of round, soft forms and bounded shapes.” Among her snapshots: a sculptural plywood chair from the Japanese Yamagata Koubou workshop that is the ultimate example of flowing lines. 

Primitive Elegance and Faded Tones
Just as lines are softening, many surfaces are rough-hewn or natural. Wurmbrand saw many organic forms and materials at the show: “We’ve seen gorgeous stone tubs before, but now the outside looks more like an actual rock. Or you find a crystal chandelier set in a framework of tongue-and-groove wood. It’s Provençal work, but raw.”

Her digital scrapbook includes finishes that resemble weathered wood. “We are big on natural materials in the Pacific Northwest,” she says. “I see this sophisticated yet primitive trend coming here—not just in forms, but also in colors. I saw dark charcoal walls with blue-gray and slate colors, as well as dark rooms with lighter furniture.”

Getting Comfortable with Luxury
Draheim reports seeing an overall direction toward luxury that’s comfortable. “At Maison et Objet, I found things finely executed and beautiful without being haughty or highhanded,” he says. “It’s less about a highly visible luxury name and more about actual beauty of the goods.”