Dubbed “Fashion Week for the interiors industry,” Paris Déco Off marks the annual reveal of what’s to come in fabrics and wall coverings. Let’s not forget about the passementerie either: Glimpsing the latest in trims, tassels, and fringe can leaven any nippy winter day in Paris. While in town, we also recommend spending a day or two roaming Maison & Objet, where some 2,300 home and lifestyle brands take over the halls of the Parc des Expositions de Paris Nord Villepinte to present their latest collections.
What, When, and Where
For Paris Déco Off, the world’s leading textile houses take over 100-plus showrooms along the Seine, primarily in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Mail, and Madeleine neighborhoods, to preview their collection launches for the year ahead. (You’ll know you’re in the right place when you spot fabric lanterns fancifully decorating fair main streets.) The show, which draws some 40,000 visitors, will be held January 14–17.
Meanwhile, semiannual design fair Maison & Objet will spread across seven halls at the Parc des expositions de Paris Nord Villepinte. The trade-only show is divvied up into six category sectors—designers’ signature pieces, cooking, and craft among them—for more efficient discovery. Show days span from January 15–19, and include a city-wide events lineup as part of Maison & Objet In the City.
What to Know About the Fairs
AD PRO members enjoy exclusive benefits. Get a year of unlimited access for $25 $20 per month.
Paris Déco Off is free and open to the trade and the general public. While showroom walk-ins are welcome, the fabric houses recommend setting up an appointment with a rep ahead of the show. Brand outposts are fairly compact within the neighborhoods, so walking from showroom to showroom is completely manageable. The fair also provides a free shuttle service between the Left Bank and Right Bank during the five days of the show, with pick ups at Place des Petits-Péres (Right Bank) and Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés (Left Bank).
Maison & Objet is open to the trade only, and a ticket purchase is required. With seven halls’ worth of ground to cover, we recommend allotting at least two full days to peruse the fair. Designer attendees should prioritize the Signature Hall, which showcases the latest from luxury home labels in clever and conceptual pop-ups. The Parc des Expositions de Paris Nord Villepinte, home of Maison & Objet, is located about 30 minutes northwest of the heart of Paris, so getting there will require driving (or requesting a taxi or a ride-sharing service, such as Uber) or taking a train from Gare du Nord. (The RER B line drops riders off directly outside of the Parc des Expositions de Villepinte.)
Where to Eat, Drink, and Stay
As the birthplace of café culture, Paris is brimming with quintessential spots for a bite between appointments or a jaunty nightcap with industry pals. Take a rec from part-time local Timothy Corrigan: “Beautiful architecture, food, music, and art come together in Restaurant 1728, located in the restored salons of the 18th-century Hôtel Mazin La Fayette,” he shares. He also favors Le Grand Véfour in the Palais-Royal, as well as Restaurant Guy Savoy, the incredibly dapper eatery within the Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint). Newly renovated Le Chardenoux offers a glamorous Belle Époque setting to enjoy some of the city’s best pastries, and triple-Michelin-starred Épicure in hotel Le Bristol offers a dreamy courtyard ambiance in addition to light French fare.
When it comes to accommodations, few cities come close to Paris’s plethora of tony escapes. If you want a room with a view, Cheval Blanc is perfectly positioned for taking in the Eiffel Tower. Saint-Germain-des-Pres is where most of Déco Off takes place, and the Prince de Conti is nestled in the Seine-side neighborhood. Some of our other favorite luxury hotels about town include the colorfully crisp Le Grand Mazarin or the garden-inspired La Fantaisie—both visions brought to life by AD100 talent Martin Brudnizki. There’s also the Hôtel de La Boétie, with playfully chic interiors from AD100 designer Beata Heuman, or Fabrizio Casiraghi’s Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs for those coveting a quietly luxurious retreat. AD100 designer Laura Gonzalez, who hails from the city, is the interior vision behind both the Saint James Hotel, which is imbued with an Art Deco flair, and the new Japanese–inspired Hotel Hana.
.jpg)
Design Happenings Not to Miss
Before Paris Design Week officially begins, take it from AD PRO: early bird fair-goers will be in the French countryside, where on January 13, the historic Château des Joncherets will unveil the first phase of its multi-year renovation with what’s touted to be a show house for the ages. Seven designers, including Natalie Kraiem and Le Blue 43, have reimagined the ground-floor rooms of the 1620 chateau, which was originally designed by Versailles landscape architect André Le Nôtre. The rooms will be in place for at least five years, as the chateau primes itself to become the ultimate event and vacation destination.
About the Author
