One of the things that began to stand out while visiting the booths at Maison & Objet was an embrace of unusual material pairings. The juxtaposition of unexpected materials, finishes and textures makes for pieces that are memorable, sometimes for their unexpected beauty and sometimes simply due to the shock of the mix…
But, reactions to individual pieces aside, it was definitely a design construct that was prevalent enough to feel like a real direction. Done right, I think it's quite exciting and am sure it's something we'll continue to see plenty of, especially from cutting edge brands and designers.
Shown above, top row, left to right:
1. Ceramic and twine: Les Artisans de Tunisie
2. Neon acrylic and wood: Jean Marie Massaud with Christina Morozzi at Skitsch
3. Fur and glass: Nativo Campana
4. Marble and logs: Stephane Parmentier
5. Acrylic and logs: Bleu Nature
Middle row, left to right:
6. Glass and rope: Eno Studio
7. Leather and lacquer: Memento
8. n/a
9. Wood and leather on a cutting board: Memento
10. Logs and lacquer: Bleu Nature
Bottom row, left to right:
11. Crochet and mirror: Wonderable
12. Wood and brush fringe: ALKI
13. Rope and ceramic: Reiko Kaneko
14. Leather and glass: Nativo Campana
15. n/a
What do you think? Do you like the concept of making materials mix?
Images: Janel Laban
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I think this speaks to the same awareness a good cook has with flavors, or a photographer has with light, or a musician has with harmony. Good designers in any space make use of a foil, or contrast. The observer's (taster's, viewer's, listener's) perception of the contrast between two elements is the mental experience that grabs attention. Blue is bluer next to orange. Spring is sweeter after a dark, dreary winter. A chocolate covered pretzel is both sweeter and saltier than either alone. In this way, these peices (above) are all self-aware design experiments -- does this work? does that? Some combinations will have enough appeal to stick with the masses (chocolate pretzels), and some won't (day-glo accessories with nude or neutral clothes).
We've also seen quite a bit of mashing a french chair frame with modern fabrics and lacquer paint. While a mash-up of contrasting materials isn't the same thing as mashing up periods, it's contrast that makes for high visual drama and interest.
Does an accidentally spectacular mash-up speak to design genious? or it is no more genious than the genetic accident of the human brain? A really good interior designer seems to have a knack for amazing contrast-- hence they get credit for intentionality-- and the rest of us, well, we copy a little inspiration here, a little there, and sometimes we get really really lucky.
Sources of these things would be great to know.
Love this post. I can appreciate the design & creativity even if it's not my cup of tea. That said, my curiousity has the better of me. What IS that nappy looking thing in pic #3?
Do tell.
Wow, blatant spam.
I love a few of these things, the rustic/modern mixes. Some of them are totally indiscernible, like number 3, what the heck?
I like the idea as a whole though.
@jamesg
I agree that this post was light on the details (you'd think there could be more description of the objects themselves and their materials) but if I'm not mistaken the source for all of these should be Maison&Objet.
LinnyBee (and everyone else): for blatent spam, click on the username & then click the 'report spam' button on the user's profile page. : )