High-end Parisian home-fashion expo Maison et Objet kick-started the year in truly wild style. Its 2012 theme Crazy saw a range of quirky and outrageous decor pieces making their way into the design spotlight.
The five-day professional trade show - which ran from January 20 to 24 - featured eight halls full of varying interior items and encouraged designers to push their creative boundaries. The result? A feast of fresh, new forms with a twist in hues several shades brighter than in previous years. Think lively textiles, sophisticated tableware, geometric crafts, festive home accessories and look-at-me-twice decor. Danish designer Normann Copenhagen's Bau pendant light - made up of interlocking geometric circles in primary colours - saw its official launch at this year's show and was a massive hit amongst design aficionados. Missoni's wacky Seventies inspired macro-knit accessories were also a crowd-puller, building on a popular design that was first presented by the Dutch firm Snurk in its bedding range showcased at the Woonbeurs Amsterdam show in 2011.
This year Maison et Objet also featured the 2012 Designers of the Year award. The Campana brothers, who use random objects they have found to create their pieces, were one of three winners and they displayed a sculptural corrugated cardboard lighting design reminiscent of overgrown, extraterrestrial trees, while Hubert le Gall - a contemporary sculptor - showcased an asymmetrical wooden table and silver and gold-plated wall sconces. Tokujin Yoshioka was the third winner, showing a range of naturally growing crystallised sculptures addressing the existence of natural disasters and their interactions with society, with the aim of encouraging people to rethink communication between nature and humans.
