After having to host a strictly online-only version of their trade fair last year because of the global pandemic, Maison&Objet made a grand comeback to their in-person physical event this year. The event saw an overwhelming response, with as many as 1476 participants and over 80,000 attendees getting together to help propel the design industry forward, and allow design businesses to thrive. The event was spread out among 7 halls, covering multiple different themes, spotlighting thousands of businesses and design studios, and showcasing a dizzying variety of new and classic products. Here in this list, we handpick a few standout designs that we absolutely loved at the Maison&Objet fair held at the 2021 Paris Design Week.
a.bsolument Vintage-inspired Bluetooth Radios
Didn’t you know retro is back? Well, if you’re going to be listening to retro throwback music, what better device to listen to it on than an a.bsolument radio? The France-based company takes antique radios from the 60s and 70s, and upgrades them with more modern innards, like better speakers and even Bluetooth capability. It isn’t easy sourcing these radios from more than 50 years ago, but a.bsolument’s somehow managed to get their hands on a MASSIVE bunch of small transistors, pocket radios, home radios, and many more, and they’re all being refurbished to give them a new lease of life. Most of them still look incredibly classy, if you ask me.
koziol Pascal Lunch Box Cultery Set
The Pascal is a nifty, all-in-one lunchbox with its own snap-on cutlery set that lets you grab a quick bite anywhere. Made from environmentally friendly materials, the lunchbox is food-safe, modular, and can suit a variety of cuisines. It comes with 3 containers and koziol’s KLIKK cutlery set, and can be infinitely reused, so you never have to worry about single-use takeout containers or cutlery ever again!
Horl Rolling Knife Sharpener
The key to grinding your kitchen blades perfectly lies in a number of factors, two of the most important ones being A. angle, and B. directional consistency… both of which the Horl Knife Sharpener take into careful consideration. Designed to be easy enough for amateurs to use, Horl’s foolproof process results in knives so perfectly whetted, they look like they were sharpened by experts. The setup comes with a sharpening stone mounted on a rolling barrel design, and a unique jig that holds your knife at an exact 15° angle as the roller grinds the blade. This way, both the angle and directional consistency are taken care of and all you need to do is mount your knife on the magnetic jig and roll the sharpener up and down a few times.
Wunderkey Key Organizer
A standing example of German efficiency, the Wunderkey is a functional bit of EDC that organizes your keys into a small, Swiss Knife-inspired stick that’s slim enough to fit in your pocket. The Wunderkey makes it easy to organize and access your keys, and if the sound of jangling keychains annoys you, the tightly packed design ensures you don’t sound like a one-man Mariachi band. The Wunderkey comes in a choice of materials, including a modern aluminum body, a classic leather exterior, and if you’re feeling fancy, carbon fiber!
Prêt à Pousser Nano Modular Indoor Planter
If you remember the Nano Garden from back in May, Prêt à Pousser has now expanded their ecosystem to make the Nano even more modular and suitable for households. Instead of opting for individual Nano planters, you can now get stacks of 3 and even modules of 4, allowing you to expand your home garden with a selection of floral plants, purifying plants, and even kitchen greens! The planters still come with the self-watering feature, the soil-free design, and the sun-mimicking lamp that nourishes your plant!
Kreafunk Bluetooth Speakers
With a wonderfully contemporary Danish design, Kreafunk’s speakers look as beautiful as they sound. The way they’re designed makes them blend beautifully into home interiors, with their use of metal, plastic, fabric, and occasionally leather, all combined together to make something that rivals even the best smart speakers. Shown above is the aCOUSTIC, a pretty slick-looking wireless speaker that pumps out a good 30 hours of music on a full charge. It comes with a handle that makes it easy to carry around the house, sports an IP55 dust and water repellent design which means you can carry it outdoors too, and here’s the best part – it supports wireless charging, so you can easily place the speaker on a charging pad when the battery runs low!
Lexon Oblio Wireless Charger + UV Sanitizer
Put your phone right into the Oblio’s slot and it immediately begins sanitizing as well as wirelessly charging your device. A 10W wireless charger at the back juices your phone in just 20 minutes, giving the Oblio enough time to use a front-facing UV-C lamp to sterilize your phone’s screen. The Oblio’s unique form factor not only makes it look like a chic little planter around your house but also cleverly hides your phone from view, so you’re less likely to constantly fiddle with it during the charging/sanitation cycle. It’s a clever bit of design, tech, and a behavioral-change solution all wrapped in one!
Kikkerland Crab Multitool
Most crustaceans belong in the sea, some in the kitchen, but the Crab Multi-Tool by Kikkerland definitely belongs in the latter! The Crab comes with a beechwood body and 6 multitools, comprising a pair of scissors, a bottle opener, a 3/16 flat head screwdriver, a can opener, a mini knife, and a rope saw. Fold them up to make the multi-tool look compact, like a meditating crab. The minute you need a helping hand (or claw), unfold the crab’s many arms and it’ll show you just how useful it is!
