Caro’s postcard from Paris

Elsewhere, exhibitors presented countless inspiring pieces across 15 interior design categories. Textiles, ceramics and leather goods exemplified the trend for ‘quiet luxury’ with high quality materials in raw untreated finishes delivered in a palette of pale neutrals.

A spectrum of pastels and rounded shapes across furniture, lighting and accessories showed that grown-up interiors can also be soft and playful, while a range of brands presented ultra luxe home workout equipment in chrome, glass, walnut and leather, offering a high-polish counterpoint to the sweetness.

A focus on marine-derived biomaterials in trend forecaster Elizabeth Leriche’s fascinating What’s New? installation provided food for thought, and it was a joy to chance upon these innovations in practice, with boutique fragrance brand La Petite Madeleine’s exquisite packaging made in part from discarded seashells shown by the family company’s founders in Hall 3.

Close by, in the Wellbeing area, we were thoroughly rejuvenated by an immersive 10-minute light therapy experience courtesy of must-visit Marais wellness spot Ho Karan. A dynamic talks programme in French and English added to the sense that M&O is still an unmissable marker in the international design calendar.

Back on the Left Bank for Déco Off, Saint Germain was lit up by a wealth of noteworthy presentations in showrooms and galleries, with the Hôtel de l’Industrie taken over by floor after floor of covetable textiles, and an exquisite installation by Cake Design for Zimmer + Rohde juxtaposing luxury fabrics with impeccably chosen antique vases at Galerie Zidoun Bossuyt.

ClassiCon’s Eileen Gray: Non Conformist Artist exhibition at Silvera was another highlight, with the legendary designer’s original works displayed alongside rugs from the collection, while Liberty London showed fabric designs inspired by Futurist art at their Rue de Seine pop-up.

From here it was a short walk to French brand The Socialite Family’s triumphant La Scopa installation. Taking over an entire private townhouse, pieces from the antique markets of Saint Ouen were mixed with items from the brand’s collection, contemporary art loaned by The Curators, and a staircase mural by Franck Lebraly to stunning effect.

Rounding off a supercharged few days of inspiration with Maison&Objet In the City, we visited our friends and clients, Lodes whose collections shone at Nova Luce, and enjoyed a warm welcome from Secto Design at their new showroom on the Champs Élysées.