Maison et Objet’s January show proved a positive start to the year, with all the usual hustle and bustle of seven halls full of buyers and sellers from all over the world. Strong new products were very much in evidence but a few companies chose to pare back the number of launches and focus on a small selection of key designs.

Lurking behind Hall 7 was the shell of a new building, which will increase the venue’s capacity even further, so we can look forward to seeing even more beautiful products when it opens in 2011

Strong new products were very much in evidence but a few companies chose to pare back the number of launches and focus on a small selection of key designs.Lurking behind Hall 7 was the shell of a new building, which will increase the venue’s capacity even further, so we can look forward to seeing even more beautiful products when it opens in 2011.

Alessi
Alessi showed a selection of charming and practical pieces from a host of famous design names. The bamboo forms of the Blow Up collection, designed by the Campana brothers, included this 44cm-high table.
www.alessi.com

Art et Floritude
Art et Floritude’s stand was designed by French interior designer of the moment, Pierre-Yves Rochon. The company originally made ceramic flowers and these skills have now been extended to lighting.
www.artetfloritude.fr

BD
Jaime Hayon returns to bd to create this Lounger chair. Minus the quirky elements which feature in his work for other brands, this chair is elegant and classic, in various colours with leather either or fabric upholstery.
www.bdbarcelona.com

Imperfettolab
This is the trademark of Italian designers Verter Turroni and Emanuela Ravelli who are based in a small town near Rimini. This new striking piece, Lucilla, over two metres high, is cast from fiberglass.
www.imperfettolab.com

Neology
Christian Ghion presented his first work for Neology at this year’s show. The Stone sofa comes in a two- and three-seater version. The latter is shown here in leather over a solid beech and polyurethane structure.
www.neology.tm.fr

NOCC
Soundwaves morph into design in a series of pieces by Paris-based design team NOCC. The name of an object is spelled and recorded and the resulting soundwave is then rotated into a 3D form.
www.nocc.fr

Brinkman
Brinkman is based in Barcelona but has its roots in Holland (thanks to Dutch founder Anne Paul Brinkman). Its Paris 2010 selection included fabric, wallpaper and this Universo light.
www.brinkman collections.com

Pouenat
Pouenat, the French specialist metalwork company, showed some striking pieces in its Michel Jouannet collection, including this TB9 coffee table. Its off-centre glass top pivots on the raw steel base.
www.pouenat.com

Ligne Roset
Ligne Roset continues its strong performance in seating with pieces from Noé Duchaufour Lawrence (Ottoman, pictured top), Inga Sempe (Ruche, middle) and Eric Jourdain (Harry, bottom).
www.ligne-roset.com

Tacchini
Fluorescent colours and contrast stitching bring an extra dimension to the regular geometry of the Quartier ottomans, designed by Claesson Koivisto Rune for Italian manufacturer Tacchini.
www.tacchini.it

Dar en Art
Dar en Art was launched in France in 2007 to promote contemporary Moroccan design. Here Mostapha el Oulhani has used hexagonal forms in lacquered wood to create the Ruche library. It is available in back, white and orange.
www.darenart.com

This article was first published in idFX Magazine.