2019 began with a visit to the city of lights, to attend the annual textile event ‘Paris Deco-Off’ which celebrated its 10th anniversary year. Textile, wallpaper and trimming houses and ateliers throw open the doors to their Parisian showrooms allowing everyone to discover and be inspired by their new collections, collaborations and of course hosting the all-important champagne soirées. On the sidelines of Deco Off in the Rive Gauche, the DiMore Studio presented their new brand Dimoremilano collection of indoor and outdoor fabrics #ProgettoTessuti. Jacquards, knits and velvets were layered in haphazard combinations and draped over royal blue cording that traversed the width of the shop like washing lines, the textiles secured with gleaming brass clips. The combination of the Twin Peaks soundtrack playing softly in the background, a heady scent filling the space and journeying through the layers of billowing fabric, was a joyful experience. The simplicity of this presentation let the fabric patterns, textures and colours do all the talking.
Here are some other showroom launches that caught our eye.
Dedar had a wonderful new showroom presentation. A long yellow silk velvet upholstered sofa, and their new fabric Scaramouche seen on wall panels and upholstered onto chairs. Pure eye candy.
de Gournay presented a debut collection with designer Alessandra Branca, showcasing hand-cut and appliqué wool, velvet, and silk embroidery on the hand painted silk wallpaper.
The flagship showroom window of Lelièvre looked fabulous with a KOKET’s Vamp II sofa upholstered in their new ‘Nature Precieuse’ fabric called ‘Merlin Heure Blue’
Our takeaway for 2019 Paris Deco off: The desire for exquisite craftsmanship is here to stay with brands in particular showing the emotion, artisanship and time it takes to create luxury interiors, the bling and branding were scaled back. Soft pastel shades and blushes were popular especially in corals and tangerine colours. Busy prints were seen on fabrics and especially wallpaper, geometrics, florals or Japanese inspired.
Back on the Rive Droit, we could not resist a quick stop into the Gio Ponti retrospective at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, open until 19th May 2019. The exhibition tracks the highlights of the revered designer’s career. Showcasing product from his time with Richard Ginori, Cassina (Superleggara chair), Fontana Arte and his architectural legacies – Pirelli Tower, Taranto Cathedral as well as his home, hotels and villas.
Last stop of the day was for cocktails at the fabulous Le Bristol, hosted by Emma Redmayne, House & Garden’s publishing director. The soiree was held in the famed Salon Castellane, decorated with fabrics from Rubelli, a stunning 18th century tapestry from the Manufacture de Lille and Baccarat crystal chandeliers. Une bonne fin de journée!
