Wild Apple designer Laura Marshall
Ten years ago I set foot in Paris for the first time and fell in love with the city. The architecture, shops, cafés, and the people were practically begging me to take photos of them. Paris was where I fell in love with photography. I have been lucky enough to pass through Paris several more times in the subsequent years, each visit bringing a new favorite café, a new cobblestoned street to photograph, and a new unforgettable experience. When I was asked to attend the Maison & Objet show in Paris this year, and photograph the city, I couldn’t believe my luck. Paris has been instrumental in my development as a photographer. To be asked to go on assignment to photograph the city felt unbelievable.

Trending In Paris

As soon as my overnight flight landed at 8am, I hit the ground running. I stashed my bags at the hotel, grabbed my camera, and set off for the Marais to absorb the new Parisian trends (after a quick stop at a café, of course). Pastels, geometrics, and quirky illustrations greeted me in almost every shop. My favorite shop was Fleux, a trendy home décor store that spanned several streets, winding through alleyways and up narrow staircases. I was overwhelmed with inspiration that I quickly filled several pages in my notebook with ideas.

Next Stop Maison & Objet

For the next two days I attended the incredible Maison & Objet show, which echoed many of the trends I had seen in the Paris streets the day before. The show also gave me a taste of some unexpected, upcoming trends including pinecones, vintage balloons, and pineapples. Many trends and color palettes were still going strong from years past such as spice colors, neutrals, and feathers. My favorite trend, which almost every showroom had incorporated, was botanicals. From photographs to old bookplate charts, minimalist illustrations, and the soft, natural green palette, I hope to see much more of these trends in the future.  

Au Revoir Paris

On my last day in Paris, the overcast skies finally parted and I spent the day wandering through winding cobblestoned streets taking photos of cafés and shop windows full of colorful macaroons, miniature hot air balloons, and antique scales. I could have wandered those streets for days, finding more things to photograph with each step. I ended my trip with a sunset walk along the Seine, the Eiffel Tower in the distance, and my mind full of inspiration for the months to come.