New season new ideas

January is a time to clear the decor decks and add a fresh feel to your living space. ALANNA GALLAGHERselects some of the winners at the MaisonObjet home fashion showcase in Paris

FUN IN CAPITAL LETTERS

Andrew Martin brings a sense of fun and whimsy into the home with a funfair-themed collection. This included his chrome alphabet side tables that can spell out anything you like – at the stand they spelled "fun". You could also use them as a novel way to monogram a room. They cost approximately €1,192 each, ex delivery, through Martin's London showroom on Walton Street ( andrewmartin.co.uk, 0044-207-2255100).

TECH STYLE

La Boite Concept LD Series ( laboiteconcept.com) is an all-in-one laptop docking station available with high fidelity speaker system allowing the convergence of high fidelity and digital media. Simply connect the USB cable to operate the whole unit.

The USB DAC converter, a built-in sound card, will provide you with hi-fi audio, no matter what the audio output of your laptop. The desk comes with an anti-vibration blotter made of leather and speakers to the front and read to allow for wall sound reflexion. The lacquered frame comes in white, red, dark grey or black options. La Boite Concept is available to buy at Madeindesign.comfrom €980, ex delivery.

TIGHT FIT FABRIC

Neoprene is having quite a fashion moment, with Italian label Leghila’s two-tone G-Bags being proclaimed as this season’s it-bag. At just under €200, it is also quite affordable. In furniture, Roche Bobois’ Spoutnik chair by Sacha Lakic was a scene stealer. The neoprene two-tone design (pictured right) looks fun and feels fantastic to sit in. It also comes with removable covers.

Bel Air, designed by Sacha

Lakic with fabric by Missoni, marked the entry of Roche Bobois into the outdoor furniture market. Available in five different colour combinations, €1,350 at Roche Bobois (tel: 01-6531650) Beacon South Quarter.

FRUIT SALAD

Bull Stein’s ceramic sculptures will put a smile on the sourest of faces. Its bronze patinated apples (pictured right), part of a new collection created by Brazilian designer Lisa Pappon, really cooked up interest. They come in glossy crimson red, lapis lazuli blue resin and bronze. There is a whole fruit salad of shapes to choose from.

They range in size and cost from €100 to €6,000 through Helen Turkington on Dunville Avenue ( helenturkington.ie, tel: 01-4125138).

DECADENT DRAPING

For 2012, Tracy Kendal introduces Drape, a new textured wallpaper that pays homage to the saloons of the wild west. The black fringing also doffs its cap at the 1920s, a decade being liberally mined by fashion this spring. The design will work equally well in period and contemporary settings.

Disco bunnies should check out Tutti Frutti, this season's version of her Studio 54-inspired Large Sequin wallpaper. It's brash and looks like a dust magnet but in an after-dark premises it will feel fabulous. Kendal's designs grace the walls of Soho House and Anthropologie. The wallpaper can be ordered from her London premises at 116 Greyhound Lane ( tracykendall.com, tel: 0044-2076409071).

TIMBER FOR TEXTURE

Wood in its raw state was on show at almost every stand. Bleu Nature ( bleunature.com), the French company known for its rustic driftwood designs, introduced lllu, a contemporary line of outdoor furniture crafted in lacquered stainless steel and raw oak, which is harvested from French forests. Expect to see this collection inhabiting the pages of style bibles throughout the summer.

BATHROOMS GO ART DECO

Bathrooms embrace maximalism. The all-white space clinical space is a thing of the past. A houndstooth design by Aquamass ( aquamass.com) was just one of the many suppliers mining art deco for a fresh take on the classic bathroom. The houndstooth design is part of their Black Tears Collection by fashion designer, Olivier Lapidus, Ted Lapidus' son. Surface Ceramics (01-663 8991 surface.ie) in the Ashgrove Industrial Estate off Kill Avenue in Dun Laoghaire can supply the bath. Expect to pay upwards of €4,000.

PADDY POWER

Newry-based Orior By Design ( oriorbydesign.com, tel: 048-30262620) was one of the few Irish furniture companies exhibiting at Maison et Objet. Run by Brian and Rosemary McGuigan, their handcrafted furniture is made in Ireland and has attracted the interest of the new consumer spending blocks at the show: the Russians and the Asians. Some of the new pieces include Rudi, a lovely mid-century style sofa and a butter-soft tan leather elbow chair that they supplied to the Olde Inn in Crawfordsburn, Hollywood in Co Down.

TIPPING THE VELVET

Velvet was another material swathing all manner of upholstery and soft furnishings. One of the freshest ways to work the fabric was seen at Italian luxe bed company Letti Co where designer Paola Navola worked contrasting colours through piping around the frame. This style (below) is called Tray and is available from UK agent Domenico Scognamiglio (tel: 0044-2083732434).