My Tastemaker sale on One Kings Lane!

We are live on One King Lane! Check it out!

Cautious...or risk taker?

Our ad. in Luxe Interiors+Design and in Rolls Royce Bi-Centenial book

When budgets are tight, it is really a tough decision to either go forward and invest in marketing and advertising, or sit tight and be cautious. I guess, I am more of a risk taker in my personal and professional life, and I chose at a time when business is the most challenging and tough, to expand the brand, invest in advertising, marketing, added an experienced  sales and marketing director to our team, who will be calling on architects, designers and  project specifiers for the hospitality industry.

The process of expanding the Interieurs brand, which is known for its industrial chic furniture and style,  was first to relocate  our New York hip Tribeca location to a contemporary 2 story space with outdoor terrace in the heart of the design District, on 58th by the D and D building. That was quite a risk and our clientele espressed really strong reactions to the move. However, I felt the brand was getting too locked into a specific look.

Did I make the right decision? ... I will find out. All I know is that I am more scared of inertia than being bold.

To describe Interieurs in 3 words...Modern...Global...Eclectic. 

I took a gamble and played our ad campaign (as seen above) on the modern luxurious side of Interieurs. We will also participate in Designing Greenwhich in early November and our booth  will be curated with furniture and lighting reflecting my vision of modern  eclectic.

I also display our antique and industrial pieces on  First Dibs, as seen above. We are actually in the process of changing our store front . I put together an advertising plan to give our first Dibs store front more visibility. I chose a mix of our latest lighting collection , the Simon Collection (introduced in my previous post) and my newest designs, contemporary Wave bench, the Xander sofa and the Ethiopia inspired Kamara buffet

Below is the ad campaign currently running on First Dibs. I would love to hear your opinion..

A Bientôt,

Francine

Avignon... A shopping trip: the "Deballage"

This year I missed the Maisons et Objets Paris show in order to look for deals at the "deballage " in Avignon. I have been going to these outdoor giant flee market of sorts for years. It resembles Brimfield market in Massachusetts in terms of lay out and concept, but this market is mostly for "chineurs" (a dealer's scout) and dealers who sell to other dealers. Dealers come with their trucks filled with antiques from all over Europe and buyers from all corners of Europe and the States come to buy, rain, shine, wind or bitter cold!


It was absolutely FREEZING....and I am someone who actually enjoys cold weather. Winds up to 70 miles/hour, temperature below 15 Fahrenheit... as you can see, I was dressed for the cold (I am actually the one bundled up, face covered, standing with my friend Michelle).


One needs to be very fast, know exactly what to buy and how much to spend. The good stuff goes incredibly fast. I am a haggler by nature and very tough when it comes to dealing for prices and I actually enjoy the process. With the unbearable wind (I was covered head to toe by white sand dust), negotiations went fast, I was done within 2 hours. I found some great mid century chairs, armchairs in need of some Tender Loving Care and some accessories. I missed out on quite a few pieces as some dealers beat me to it... this is a ruthless world.

Scenes of the "Deballage"

The wind was fierce!

Found these chairs, negotiated at Euros 40 a piece, an amazing deal...

Missed out on Mr Swan..

Almost got this...but decided to be wise

The famous Isle Sur La Sorgues Mill wheel in its frozen state.

Back to Isle sur Sorgues to work with Bernard on my industrial pieces. While in France, the only sales that took place at the showroom where industrial pieces, chests, side tables, armoire... Industrial is still going very strong. Thankfully our designers and their clients appreciate the integrity of original 18 to 19th century pieces, rather than go for copies made in Vietnam and China. I love this part of my work, going through yards filled with rusted industrial components, a reflection of time gone by. Through this experience, I have developed a deep fascination for the Industrial Revolution that took place in Europe and America, the harshness, the brutality of these times, but also the ingenuity and inventiveness of men. I'll show you a few of the pieces that bernard will work on for my next container.

A bank safe, before and after...

This is the original, to be transformed into this... as seen in my Interieurs Showroom

This cart will make a great side table

Love the displays

Aren't they fabulous chairs!

A Bientot,

Francine

Portrait of an artist: Jason

My Interieurs showroom is really a curated collection of artists, artisans, bench made furniture intermixed with contemporary pieces which encapsulates the essence of Interieurs' principal theme: "Modern Soulful Living"

I would like to introduce "Jason" an artist at heart, with a vision. We both share the same passion for bringing back the objects of our industrial past, a bygone era, that was once the greatest strength of America. I love to learn the harsh lessons of the past and my visit to Cleveland was as if I stepped back in time.

Jason invited me to visit his studio where he hand blows the shades for our glass pendants, floor lamps and vases. I was fascinated to watch him work, and it gave me a real appreciation of the skill and arduous efforts that go into every one of his creations.

One of his amazing chandeliers

I love rummaging  through old warehouses, industrial junkyards and visiting Jason's warehouses filled with industrial machinery taken apart, backyard covered with discarded wheels, bases, got my creative mode going full force. From pieces of huge industrial machines, he would salvage various fittings and create pieces of furniture thought after by the most famous designers. Thom Filicia, Clodagh, Ralph Lauren, Jeffrey Bilhuber, Steven Gambrel... just to name a few of our customers who love to incorporate Jason's pieces in their design work.

 

Jason took me to an auction where he bids on this now obsolete equipment. He strips these machines apart, and would keep this wheel for instance which will become the base of a floor lamp, or wheels for a cocktail table. The remains of the machine itself - after Jason has stripped it of parts for his creations - will be sold by the pound to be turned into recycled steel.

Jason's Grate tables frame the Stephane Sofa

 All these beautiful pieces and many others are available at

Interieurs.com. His lighting collection can be found here.

Jason appears here in a video premier for this blog, blowing one of his signature glass lamp shades:

Mountain Retreats

As a child I spent many months in the Pyrenees, a beautiful mountain range between France and Spain.

Upon my Doctor's order, the treatment for my anemic state was to live at altitude. As a result, I developed a deep love for mountains, snow, brisk cold weather and most of all skiing.

I was commissioned by a client to design her ski house out west. I was thrilled at the prospect of working in my favorite environment. We started the project in September and our installation took place during a massive snow storm just before Christmas of the following year.

Here are some images that reflect my thoughts and vision for the ultimate ski house and mountain retreat.

Stone and hewed wood beam construction

Soaring ceilings with wood beams and wide plank flooring

My client's entrance foyer

AD Italia; No 343 Dec. 2009

AD Italia; No 343 Dec. 2009

Elle Decor Italia; No 12 Dec 2009

Living rooms with a warm inviting fireplace

Antique leather Club Chair with cashmere throws

to wrap oneself upon return from the slopes

Maisons Cote Est; No 46. Dec-March 2009

AD Italia; No 343 Dec. 2009
Hotel Les Fermes de Marie, Megeves, France

A must: Iron hand-made lighting by Jose Esteves,

exclusively at Interieurs, cast the warmest light

Unexpected industrial touches will help create a warm rugged

feel to the space all while being extremely functional

A large dining table for fondue parties and other great mountain meals

I designed this custom table with reclaimed

teak top and a cast iron base

Elle Decor Italia; No 12 Dec 2009

Found on Internet; source unknown

Some of the great unique industrial dining tables we offer at Interieurs

Bedroom Sanctuary

We incorporated reclaimed barn planks into

the walls of this loft bedroom suite

A Master Bedroom ...

... with its own fireplace

A guest room option: Interieurs' Armande bed

AD Italia; No 343 Dec. 2009

Found on Internet; Source unknown

A must for any bedroom: A welcoming armchair

with soft throws and pillows (from Interieurs)

A small industrial desk for those short notes to friends

Coffee nook in the guest suite