An interview with Philippe Delhomme at Maison&Objet 2025

This year, the fair has a different approach. Can you explain why this year Maison&Objet has focused on hospitality during the January fair in Paris?

Philippe Delhomme: Initially with Maison&Objet, we presented during the event all the different sectors relating to decoration. We attract three different profiles of visitors. First, we are obviously attracting people who are owner of small retailers, independent retailers and big buyers from very large retail department stores. The second type of profile is architects. What we noticed is that there are more and more architects who are not only focusing on residential, but also on hotels, restaurants, catering areas and so on. It’s why we gave more visibility for the hospitality sector.

A lot of exhibitors are also now developing products not only for the residential profile type of visitor and buyers, but for hospitality too. This is why we have decided to push this segment. We have organised  a specific area under the event which is named Hotel Uchronia, which is done with the Uchronia studio, who is a quite well-known designer, which is fully dedicated to hospitality, because we have asked him, uh, to present his views and his thinking relating to hotels and how a hotel should be organised, complete with a room, a lobby, spa area, and so on.

Can you tell us a little more about this new initiative on Women in Design?

Philippe Delhomme: We’ve noticed that women are more and more important in driving new trends and thinking in décor, which led to the development of ‘Women in Design’, which is a new initiative by Maison&Objet. Our objective is to bring together women who are influencing new trends in design and to make them more well known. Thanks to Maison&Objet, we are able to connect with the key people to achieve this. Right now, we are implementing it in France and we hope to organise a similar dinner in Dubai. We are thinking of Dubai because there are lots of very interesting initiatives and young designers who are bringing new ideas. Our intention is to give them an international platform.

Can you tell us little bit about Maison&Objet’s plans for the Middle East?

Dewdrops table by Karim+Elias, part of the UAE Design Oasis at Maison&Objet

Philippe Delhomme: We have had several visitors to Maison&Objet from people in the Middle East. Year on year we have discovered new talents in product design. Keeping this in mind, we have brought in a new stand of UAE Designers this year. I’m pleased to have it, because there is a nice expression of new and talented people in design from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are key for us to bring new and talented designers to Maison&Objet. We are not only focusing on trying to bring more people as visitors, but also to showcase the new designers who are coming in from the region. On top of that, we are looking to do a capsule version of Maison&Objet in Dubai, presenting the brand. This is still in the planning stage. We are also targeting the Saudi Arabian market as there are a lot of upcoming talented designers there.