Earlier in September, our team traveled to Paris to visit the MAISON & OBJET trade fair and get the latest updates from the brands we carry. We also used the opportunity to handpick new items for our Bangkok showrooms. And here are the highlights of our finds.

Ethnicraft 

One trend we saw a lot of at the fair was brands designing for co-working spaces. Though the concept is not new, it has become more popular in recent years as offices around the world adopt a more relaxed work culture. In Bangkok alone, new shared office spaces have been popping up like never before due to higher demands as people move away from traditional office environments.

This year at the fair, solid wood furniture manufacturer Ethnicraft was one of the brands with the co-working space concept. A lot of the pieces we saw were of existing products transformed for the office space; however, a few items were also launched especially for the show, such as the Oscar desk made of solid teak wood with an optional drawer unit for extra storage. Their existing Stairs sideboard inspired the creation of square-shaped wood lockers on display at the booth. Lastly, the Rise side table was the star of the day with its wireless charger incorporated as part of the tabletop, compatible with phones that feature glass back panels.

In just a few months’ time, you will be able to find these Ethnicraft items at CHANINTR’s upcoming co-working space in Sukhumvit 26 and our new Thonglor showroom.

DCW Éditions

Always the most striking booth at every furniture fair, Parisian brand DCW Éditions stood out yet again at this September’s MAISON & OBJET. Adorned with rows of the new VVV light, the walls were painted in deep green on the exterior, and decorated with mustard yellow and different shades of brown. The stand showcased iconic lighting such as Lampe Gras, In the Tube, and Here Comes the Sun, as well as new releases like In the Sun, Boucle, and Respiro. We love the idea that the benefits of lighting are twofold: functional and decorative, and the booth was well-executed for both purposes. DCW Éditions is available online through Chanintr Craft and is coming soon to our new showroom in Bangkok.

Giobagnara

Italian leather producer Giobagnara set the trend for home accessories this season with designs that express luxury under the artistic direction of Creative Director Stéphane Parmentier. The brand’s most popular pieces are made of calfskin, whether in smooth leather or waterproof saffiano. Even with the  wide range of styles and colors available, users tend to gravitate towards neutrals like the grayscale, ivory, cream, or navy. Tray items are among the bestsellers here. Giobagnara accessories are available at CHANINTR Siam Paragon.

Photo credit: Giobagnara

Serax

Manufactured by skilled craftsmen, Belgian brand Serax caught our attention with their crafted and contemporary designs with a touch of fun. From the Collage teapot and wood tea cup that are both functional and decorative, to Piet Boon’s simple and sleek tableware, Serax also displayed a quirky collection of Fish & Fish bottles and jars in transparent green hue.

Launching at MAISON & OBJET was Antwerp Six fashion designer Ann Demeulemeester’s first ever homeware and lighting collection. One of our favorites was Dé tableware with their edges painted by hand in several layers to create meticulous interplay of lines, making each plate unique. For cutlery, Demeulemeester introduced Zoë collection with a three dimensional approach where the knives, forks, and spoons take on sculptural shapes.

3DCork

3DCork stood out to us with their slogan “100% Natural. Renewable. Recyclable.” The company was founded in Portugal by cork expert Bernardo Nunes who had spent more than 20 years working as an industrial and commercial engineer in the cork industry. This brand showcased items made of recycled corks, such as cutting boards, placemats, coasters, trays, candle holders, and jars with cork lids. It was refreshing for us to see more and more brands make an effort to be environmentally-conscious, especially on a global scale like this.

And that’s a wrap on our MAISON & OBJET highlights of September 2019. Visit CHANINTR Blog again soon to read about our new discovery of French cuisine during this trip to Paris.