Janos and Jasa, two new cotton-polyester-silk-blend fabrics from Missoni Home, will be available to the trade for $836 a yard at Stark, 979 Third Avenue (59th Street); for other locations: (877) 746-7699 or www.starkfabric.com. (Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times)

Vinyl rugs designed in France by Arzu Firuz, and made by Polystyl, come in a range of sizes, from 40 inches in diameter ($150) to 75 inches in diameter ($350); to order at Distant Origin, 153 Mercer Street (Houston Street), (212) 941-0024.

Eplaff, Ligne Roset's lacquered stainless-steel fruit bowl, is 23 inches in diameter and sells for $265; for locations: (800) 297-6738 or www.ligne-roset-usa.com. (Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times)

A folding table with an ebony veneer top and nickel-plated steel legs is 33 inches square when closed, but opens into a 33-by-67-inch dining table or desk; $2,250 from Pylones, 69 Spring Street (Lafayette Street), (212) 431-3244.

Medusa, a ceiling-mounted crystal LED fixture by Géraldine Gonzalez, a French artist, comes in a version wired to operate in the United States for around $9,100; for information or to order: 011-33-1-4700-4440. (Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times)

Handmade ceramic vases, from a collection by Kose, come in white, black or gray; $675 to $985 from H Groome, 9 Main Street (Jobs Lane), Southampton, N.Y., (631) 204-0491. (Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times)

A new acrylic chair by Aïtali, an Italian company, recalls certain furniture designs from the past. The new chair will be available for $695 at Maison 24 at 2424 Main Street, in Bridgehampton, N.Y., a store that is opening in May; to order in advance: (917) 273-1620.

Fabrics from three coordinating collections, Velvet Lounge, Glam and Modern Palace, are made of cotton, cotton blends and silk; $190 to $375 (to the trade only) at Zimmer + Rohde, 979 Third Avenue (59th Street). For other showroom locations: (203) 327-1400. (Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times)

The Waterproof Boot, a porcelain vase by Qubus Design, comes in the shape of a right or a left shoe; $298 from the Future Perfect, 115 North Sixth Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, (718) 599-6278.

Ice Lights, Murano glass antlers designed by Nicolas Thomkins for the Fendi Casa collection, come in table, wall, floor and ceiling versions. The 10-horn ceiling fixture is shown. Prices range from $1,830 to $11,710; for showroom locations or to order: (202) 479-0990. (Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times)

A polyurethane table runner and 10 placemats come in round, square and rectangular shapes; around $585 for the set from Bobdesign in Paris, 011-33-1-42-77-77-00. (Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times)

Anemone, a handmade ceramic vase designed by Ellen Borst in the Netherlands and made in Thailand, is available in black or white; about $510 from Gutzz, the Dutch manufacturer, 011-31-40-222-0147. (Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times)

The Bibliochaise Home, a multifunctional chair that doubles as a library, can be ordered from Nobody & Co., in Milan, for about $6,400 to $7,200 depending on the cushions; 011-39-02-46-74-47 or www.rossanaorlandi.com. (Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times)

Ex Libris has a lacquered glass top and holds books in its legs, allowing it to function as both a dining and a library table; $5,760 to $6,470, depending on size, from Dune, 88 Franklin Street (Church Street), (212) 925-6171. (Photo: Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times)

Among other themes, a new restraint was evident at last week’s Maison et Objet, the twice-yearly trade show held outside Paris. Unlike shows in the recent past, where home furnishings followed fashion, and color palettes were bright and changed radically from season to season, many of the products at last week’s show seemed to suggest a desire for staying power.

Fewer designers and home furnishings manufacturers were covering their work in explosions of chartreuse and orange or pink and turquoise, colors that would look outdated after a single season. Instead, there was plenty of black and white, and a few shades of gray, though what inspired the sudden sobriety was unclear.

“Black and white is the perfect neutral,” said Richard Mishaan, a New York interior designer. “If you’re starting out you can always add to it, and if you have lots of colorful things already you can carefully add them to a background of black and white.”

François Bernard, the French trend-spotter responsible for designing a stylish, all-white exhibition at the front of the trade fair hall, offered another theory. “For me, white is a sign of luxury,” he said. “Designers can hide behind color, but they can show off forms in pure white.” By MARIANNE ROHRLICH www.nytimes.com