I was lucky to be able to head over to Paris last week for Paris Design Week, staying with my good friend and design collaborator, Hayley Alter. We went exploring some of the fantastic design exhibitions across the French capital, taking in some well-known tourist attractions along the way (amazingly, this was my very first visit to Paris!).

Paris Design Week signage on the Champs Elysees (oh la la!)

I arrived into Paris into the Austerlitz Station via train from Limoges, so our very first PDW experience was “Hybridations” by Alexis Tricoire, an installation in the hothouses of Jardin Les Plantes. I loved the way the man-made objects blended so well into the plants, becoming part of the flora. The lighting was fantastic too, which made photography that bit easier!

Little blue flowers

A swathe of flowers on the forest floor - created with individual blue paint brushes pushed into the ground.

Household object / organic flora

Up-close you can see that the flowers are made from various household brushes - perhaps a chimney sweeping brush and maybe a loo brush?!

Waterlilies

From a distance the effect is very subtle and convincing.

Hybridations

By Alexis Tricoire, in the glasshouses at Jardin Des Plantes.

We found an excellent exhibition of furniture and homeware in a gorgeous sunlit gallery (Galerie Joseph Turenne) in the Marais district. My favourite pieces were a beautiful curved wooden desk, chair upholstered with knitted green fabric and a series of weavings depicting the four seasons in Wiltshire:

BUREAU SCHLP

A curved desk by Weij Meubelwerk of the Netherlands caught the September sunlight! http://weijmeubelwerk.nl/portfolio/bureau-slk/

Knitted upholstery

Brazilian designer Regina Misk re-created this elegant mid-century style chair with a plush knitted upholstery, which I would love to snuggle into with a good book... http://reginamisk.com/en/

Wiltshire Landscape

This series of woven tapestries had me dreaming of the rolling English countryside in each of the four seasons. By Justine Randall.

Vessel - bath

Hayley and Sammy-dog intrigued by the hammock-shaped, luxurious gold bath! By Hampshire-based www.splinterworks.co.uk

Vessel - bath

A beautiful object - I loved the style and look of this bath but wasn't sure just how much of the bath would be filled with water?

"Lande" Coat Stands

By Fabrizio Constanza. It was really interesting to see how the silver and yellow stands were a progression from the dark blue stand. The curves and shaping were much more refined, creating a more 3-dimensional and sinuous feel.

I was struck by the high build quality and finish of the pieces on display. The exhibition was beautifully laid out, with plenty of space to let the objects breathe and benefitted from the large windows, tall ceilings and ceiling lights that made all the spaces feel light and airy.

And here's an obligatory tourist photo at the Eiffel Tower!

So cool... Actually, the Eiffel Tower was very cool. And surprisingly big - I mean, I knew it was very tall but the base is absolutely huge. Each foot has a building under / around it!