Maison&Objet Curates a World of Surreal Collectibles for 2025

Our daily life is sometimes a grotesque misadventure especially when the news reads more like satire and expression becomes an act of resistance. But design is an invitation to dream, a conduit for escape from the slog of reality into distant realms. Thought leaders behind the 1924 Surrealist Manifesto – a collection of publications by rivaling artists spearheading the movement – believed that unlocking the subconscious, uninhibited flow, and rejection of rational thinking were paramount in freeing our imaginations. On the heels of its centennial, Maison&Objet taps into the creative potential of this other-worldly avenue with an exuberant show guided by the theme Sur/Reality.

Having taken place from January 16-20, 2025, I joined some 70,000 attendees to scope out the semi-annual fair at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre as well as activations throughout Paris for the affiliated showcase Maison&Objet In The City. From singular objects like Bottega Veneziana’s Blop Side Table, to custom collections like Hotel Uchronia by Julien Sebban, to entire studio spaces made public by brands like Veronese, it is clear that makers are embracing all their subconscious has to offer for uninhibited creation – daring designs not meant for the faint of heart. What’s more, the collective homage to Surrealist tradition is done so with honor in a way that avoids bastardization and opts for something truly contemporary. Think you can handle it? Continue reading for a roundup of sensual, surreal, and sometimes spontaneous designs from this year’s event.

A monochromatic vignette showcases Toogood’s sculptural language \\\ Photo: Celia Spenard-Ko

WOMANIFESTO! By Faye Toogood \\\ The Squash Collection Reimagined

Raw elemental materials, expressive doodles, and an eclectic mix of home furnishings came together in an artful, all-encompassing retrospective entitled WOMANIFESTO! showcasing multidisciplinary talent Faye Toogood’s many contributions to the creative landscape. ‘Disorganized’ into four chapters, the exhibition was a surrealist re-assemblage of Toogood Studio’s archive presented with site-specific, ephemeral artworks and reinvented iconic pieces – including the beloved Squash Collection in a slick tone-on-tone black. It comes as no surprise that its mastermind was honored as Maison&Objet’s Designer of the Year 2025.

Primary bedroom suite in Hotel Uchronia \\\ Photo: Felix dol maillot

Hotel Uchronia by Julien Sebban \\\ A Bedroom in the Round

At some point we’ve all fallen victim to some drab interiors that plague an otherwise exciting world of hospitality design. Architect Julien Sebban, founder of his studio Uchronia, presented Hotel Uchronia in a delightfully jarring response to the banal. The exhibit’s monolithic exterior opened up to over 2,000 square feet of interior architecture supersaturated in a bespoke palette of colors and paints crafted by Tonester. Sensory atmospheres embraced visitors as they experienced this one-of-a-kind immersive hotel concept space. The hyper-stylized boudoir featured a show-stopping custom bed designed in collaboration with artisanal manufacturer Tréca Paris.

La Poltrona XL sofa in situ as curated by Thomas Haarmaan \\\ Photo: Anne-Emmanuelle Thion

CURATIO by Thomas Haarmann \\\ La Poltrona XL Sofa

Thomas Haarmaan suspended reality within the walls of his installation CURATIO for Maison&Objet. The multidisciplinary creative liberated a careful selection of home furnishings and sculpture from ideas typical of their performance. Alongside some outlandish sculpture, the arrangement allowed visitors fresh perspectives on traditional objects with new and exciting forms. Among the fascinating objects in dialogue was the La Poltrona XL sofa from “La Collection Rotolo” designed by Stefano Giacomello of Studio Rotolo for BOON_EDITIONS N°2.

Photo: Courtesy Studio Franck Genser

The Morse Collection by Franck Genser \\\ Iridescent Seating

Universal design studio Franck Genser leans into anthropomorphism with their recently launched Morse Collection, which was on view for Maison&Objet In the City. Of particular note were the collection’s armchair and sofa fashioned from seamless neoprene and stained ash in aubergine, or eggplant for those in the States. The composition references attributes of the walrus from the gleaming surface material to the tusk-like legs.

Photo: Courtesy Veronese

Veronese Unveiled “Jardin d’Hiver” Space \\\ The ANÉMONE Collection

French design house Veronese opened its doors to their future-retro interior space filled with designs calling back to the 1970s and lighting crafted from Murano glass. The tendrils of zoomorphic design extended to this showroom, manifested in the ANÉMONE Collection of lighting by Maurizio Galante and Tal Lancman, which draws inspiration from the aquatic world. A multitude of glass elements shaped by hand invite movement subsequently mimicking sea creatures as they ebb and flow with the tide underwater.

Photo: Design Milk Staff

Superfurniture by Hello Again for SELETTI \\\ The Café Set

Equal parts pixel perfect and saccharine sweet, SELETTI’s Superfurniture collection designed by Hello Again pulled viewers into a digital space with an analog aesthetic. The figurative style employed unconventional upholstery, playful representations of early technology, and colors plucked directly from the 60s and 70s then slathered across geometric forms. The café set is bold, approachable, and an accessible entry into more exciting gestures in the home.

Photo: Design Milk Staff

The Ukrainian Pavilion \\\ The Strikha Chair Lounge

In spite of conflict, Ukrainian brands have been cranking out incredible works for a showcase of resilience displayed at the Ukrainian Pavilion at this year’s Maison&Objet. Furniture brand Tivoli presented the Strikha Chair Lounge with its joyful expression. The contemporary take on a classic home furnishing boasted snuggle-worthy oversized proportions, a secret swivel, and a scalloped base in a nod to traditional tassels.

Photo: Design Milk Staff

DRUGEOT MANUFACTURE \\\ The Organic Collection Expands

The artisans behind DRUGEOT MANUFACTURE are renowned for their audacious designs, timeless techniques, and material reverence for the solid oak with which their products are made. The company celebrated some playful new pieces in an expansion of their Organic Collection welcoming the Chaise HELIO as well as two versions of the FARFALLA Table in rectilinear and round. Passersby were able to see circular voids in play with solid spherical elements. And the most discerning of aesthetes may have noticed the subtle gestures to Art Nouveau in both line and form.

Photo: Design Milk Staff

Fresh Debuts From Studio Fermob \\\ The Funambule Cloakroom Bench

French furniture and lifestyle brand Fermob debuted a series of jubilant pieces for fans attending the show – myself included. The sleek 3-in-1 Funambule Cloakroom Bench serves as a seat, shelf storage, and coat rack without compromising on style. It’s fabulous for small, liminal spaces that must adapt to a variety of homeowner needs. What’s more, it brings a little dignity back to the forgotten foyer.

Photo: Design Milk Staff

WOOOD by De Eekhoorn Dutch Furniture \\\ The Merge Dresser

Dutch labels like WOOOD – a brand by maker De Eekhoorn focused on designing functional furniture that appeals to a wide variety of tastes – strike the perfect balance between minimalism and camp. Through ultra refined shapes and visual correspondence their 6-drawer Merge Dresser features handles that, when drawers are aligned, are reminiscent of a bolt or screw head. And the unique forms allow for easy opening regardless of user dexterity.

Photo: Design Milk Staff

Bottega Veneziana \\\ Blop Contemporary Murano Glass Side Table

Murano glass lighting manufacturer Bottega Veneziana previewed a handful of contemporary side tables outside their traditional repertoire. The three-legged Blops #1-4 are physically and visually sturdy in form complemented by brilliant, thick Murano glass table tops. Each piece may be customized according to desired color and is inherently unique due to the manual workmanship that goes into their production.

Photo: Design Milk Staff

Masiero Lighting \\\ Nappe Collection by Marco Zito

The Treviso-based Masiero atelier boasted a dazzling display of imaginative, artisanal lighting with an installation orchestrated by Nooii. Arguably the most stunning showcase of all was a cluster of custom, high-pigment pendant lights by Marco Zito. Aptly named Nappe – a derivate of the Italian term for tassels,‘nappine’ – the design distills a traditionally ornamental object into something equally as sumptuous through the use of potent colors, contrasting totem-like geometries, and the repetition of simple components.

Visit our archives to read more of Design Milk’s Maison&Objet coverage from over the years.