Elizabeth Leriche showcases an Archaeology of the Future at Maison & Objet 2026 – Photo by Anne-Emmanuelle Thion.
Design. At Maison & Objet 2026, trend expert Elizabeth Leriche unveiled the What’s New in Decor immersive scenography, celebrating the enduring power of heritage in shaping tomorrow’s design language. Drawing on archetypal architectural forms, the showcase unfolded as a journey through imagined worlds where innovative crafts, furniture, and lighting consciously looked back to move forward.
“In a time of uncertainty, the past offers reassurance — a way to reconnect with our roots and to project ourselves into the future,” said Leriche. Conceived as “Archaeology of the Future,” the exhibition greeted visitors with a monumental pediment and colonnade. Beyond this threshold, ceramics and singular objects were carefully staged along a central aisle, setting a calm, almost ceremonial rhythm.
The journey continued through a sequence of evocative settings: a neo-Greek aesthetic explored through furniture and ceramics led into a neo-Roman atmosphere, before transitioning into a reinterpreted Art Deco space. Each era flowed naturally into the next, ultimately culminating in a neo-futuristic vision that felt both speculative and reassuring.
The selection ranged from a marble table and a travertine bench by Stéphane Parmentier for Giobagnara, to the hand-painted ceramics of Onofrio Acone and the amphorae crafted by Silver Sentimenti and Lisa Maiofiss. Paola Paronetto showcased her paper-clay vessels. A stunning marquetry table by Collector perfectly embodied the revival of decorative arts.
Several standout pieces also captured the spirit of neo-futurism. Highlights included pieces by Uniqka, 101 Copenhagen, Utopia, Manifeste Edition and others. Together, they formed what Leriche herself described as Archaeology of the Future, a narrative in which material memory and forward-thinking design coexisted with ease.
When asked about the ideal interior of tomorrow, she added: “It will be increasingly modular, adapting to evolving lifestyles. The pursuit of well-being, comfort and emotional reassurance will remain central for consumers. It will be an interior that invites us to reconnect — with ourselves, with others and with beauty!” In this sense, Archaeology of the Future felt less like a trend forecast and more like a warm invitation.
A thoughtful, warmly staged manifesto, the scenography gently reminded us that tomorrow’s interiors thrived when memory, craft and imagination collaborate—offering comfort, continuity and quietly optimistic beauty for contemporary living today.
Photos are by Anne-Emmanuelle Thion, courtesy of Maison & Objet.
