It’s always a bit difficult (for me anyway) to attend a major design show like Maison Objet two consecutive years in a row, with the second year measuring up to the excitement of the first.    Some of this is due, I think, to knowing what to expect the second time around.  The other factor, is whether this year’s show was as good as the last.  Although I admit that some of the exhibitors were familiar with little new over last year, still there were some surprises and genuine standouts.

Ms. Madison, your intrepid observer, distills some of this year’s highlights:

Frato: Portugal and Spain seem to be churning out a lot of great design these days and at a price point that makes their wares very attractive.  Frato, out of Portugal, exemplifies this year’s emphasis on luxe with rich lacquer finishes, shagreen upholstered casegoods and elegant hardware.

Roberto Cavalli: His home furnishings line is as luxurious and edgy as his clothing line.  Lacquer, graphics and rich fabrics say it all.

Bull & Stein: What’s better than colorful graffiti and gigantic ceramic fruit?  Nothing, except when they are combined to create this fabulous outdoor sculpture.   I’m dreaming about this one artfully placed near my pool.

Speaking of graffiti, it was everywhere at Maison Objet.  Here are some of my favorite graffiti inspired design images.

Brabbu: I’ve mentioned this line previously in this blog, but this line from Portugal manages to always delight and surprise.  Their use of metals, as in this fabulous brass fireplace surround and the gold dore over cast bronze dining table is pure modern luxe.

Koket: Color is still going strong and pinks and plums remain a dominant color theme. Koket’s use of intense fuschia in the butterfly wallpaper and very pink upholstered chairs was incredibly striking.

Delightfull: I discovered this line at last year’s Maison Objet, and they just keep getting better.  The Atomic Sconce from their latest collection combines 60’s cool with futuristic references with a dash of Gio Ponti.  Very fabulous.

Rue Monsieur Paris: I only comment on things that make my heart skip a beat and this line definitely did just that.  Completely made in Paris, this line manages to combine a sense of antiquity and be utterly modern at the same time.  The Moonlight Kaleidoscope coffee table, done in thin genuine marble veneer in a geometric marquetry design on brass base is stunning as is the accompanying Midnight Gallery buffet/console table.  The sculptural Altoum Chair made of wood inlay with resin finish is not only a piece of art that is comfortable, but completely waterproof, making it perfect for outdoors as well.  No wonder they were prominently featured in French Architectural Digest.

Michael Verheyden: This Brussels designer is crafting elegantly simple forms from materials such as marble and brass.  The results are functional objects that are design statements at the same time.  We especially loved his satin brass trays.

Paris Must See: The Picasso Museum, in Paris’ super cool Marais district, has re-opened after a 5-year renovation.  The collection and the space in which it is exhibited are much larger than when I visited 16 years ago.  The breadth of the work and the collection is staggering and spans Picasso’s work from the very earliest part of the 20th Century through the 1970’s.

Fondation Louis Vuitton, opening in November of 2014, is the latest tour d’force from architect Frank Gehry.  While the art collection leaves a lot to be desired, you won’t want to miss visiting this awe-inspiring structure, which is a work of art.  Don’t miss the exhibit filled with the real models constructed during the design phase of this building.  Amazing.

Deyrolle: Deyrolle is a magical place that feels like the Natural History Museum elevated to haute couture beauty. An institution in Paris since 1831, Deyrolle offers exquisitely preserved and displayed specimens ranging from rare shells, insects and butterflies, to the largest of perfectly taxidermied mammals. For design lovers or natural history buffs, not to be missed.