MERCI Y Design party & Meeting Paola Navone

Visiting Paris... something I should do way more often, as it is only 3.15 minutes from Amsterdam...  is not complete without passing by concept store MERCI. Last time while being in Paris for the Maison & Objet, we did not even shopped that much but still found ourselves several times at MERCI. I think if you have the time and the right company you could easily spent half a day there...

Starting the morning with coffee and one of those amazing detox drinks at the used book cafe.. I still think the lady in white who runs the place is an amazing vibrant and happy person and I love people who can give you this kind of energy , only by their appearance! Then wandering around the store and having lunch at the cinema cafe, I just love the whole concept and the stylish design vibe the store has! ..... so yeah ;) there we were sitting in the sun in front of the store. Enjoying Paris and the people around us.

One must see this time was the new Brooklyn tile wallpaper from NLXL in collaboration with MERCI. I also made some pictures of it at the Marie Claire maison cafe at the exibition and I find it truly amazing en beautiful. And then isn't the styling just beautiful and simple. And yet a real statement.

The little red fiat 500, covered with phrases as Digital Natives and Net Generation and the decor in the store itself, such as the headphones hanging from the ceiling, was referring to the Generation Y

So was the Y Design party for the Salon and the Paris Design week. And what a great party it was! Not only was the atmosphere in the store amazing that night with the big black wall covered with phrases and the large tables in front of it ... filled with champagne. We met so many nice and inspiring people as well.

But the absolute best part of the night was when I got to meet and talk with Paola Navone. I am admiring her work and the homes she designs for years and it was so nice to finally meet her. We had a little chat and a good laugh and made some pictures together heavenly arguing the use of the camera. It did not felt like I was talking with the one person I wanted to meet for so long as we chatted along in Italian really easy... the perfect finish of a perfect day in Paris that will have a follow-up in Milan some day soon.

Maison & Objet - Ay Illuminate in Paris

Some more pictures from Maison & Objet in Paris this month. These are from Ay Illuminate. On the pictures some lamps out of their new collection. I have written several times about the bamboo and cotton lamps on the blog, like here: A kitchen update and showed that home in Italy decorated by the team: Ay Illuminate goes Italy.

Seeing the whole collection together was a little party of recognition, as was finally meeting the lovely team. Thanks for the lovely chats and coffee's and see you soon again.    

Maison & Objet - An impression with Rick Owens - Ethnic chic + Merci tin wallpaper at the Marie Claire Maison Cafe

The night before going to the fair we went out for dinner with my Italian friend Stefano and we made an appointment in front of MERCI As the shop was still open I went in for a quick look to see the new Brooklyn tins wallpaper NLXL designed for MERCI.

I happened to have a chat with Daniel Rozensztroch, Art Director of MERCI who was in the shop. And he showed me some pictures on his cell phone of the Marie Claire Maison Cafe he designed for Maison & Objet, where he used the Brooklin tin wallpaper in combination with a different one. So the next day the cafe was on our long list of things we wanted to see... 
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I was blown away a bit by the dark mood at the booth of Rick Owens at Maison & Objet. After all the organic shapes, the natural material and the beautiful fabrics and lines I just admired, it seemed a bit of a hard and dark world. Now as much as I am attracted to white, naturals and grays in all kind of shades. I do like a good dose of black a lot!

The unexpected conversation I had with Michele (actually she was talking to me) was kinda of funny ... she looked at me and before I could say a word she asked me if I understood how on earth 'they' could do this (pointing at our bright pink lanyards) to us woman. What else to say I agreed... as it looked a bit out of the box in their boot and on the lady herself... Loved the big table in the middle with the heavy bronze plates on it and the leather boxes a lot.

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Hall 1 said 'Ethnic chic' and at the entrance there were hanging some beautiful blankets and carpets in black and white. A man sat on the floor weaving in a traditional way... a booth from Desire Maurice Ouedraogo  Founder of SOS - Save our skills

 More Inspiration and pictures on Pinterest: Maison & Objet 2012