In the mood…for a little romance, dream and beauty

Quite a long title, but it indeed encompenses our unveiling of my Showroom INTERIEURS holiday windows and the latest Jose Esteves Show.

I could not have dreamed of a more festive, happy,beautiful party. Champagne flowing, editors, clients and friends talking and laughing into the night. Everyone chatting with Jose about his inspiration and work.

We transformed the showroom into a "cabinet de Curiosite" with webs and stars floating. Exhausted but thrilled, after the last guest and member of team Interieurs left, I closed the door, shut down the light, sat in my favorite chaise and closed my eyes. 2013 is almost over, the thrills, the pains, the worries, my african adventure, the constant fear of the unknown… is it really all worth it? Then I summoned all energy left in my body, YES it is! How lucky I am to have met creative brilliant kind talent such as Jose, my team…yes we bicker, yes I get upset and demanding, but we laugh (especially when I start dancing the twist to loud vintage rock music past 8pm… trying to crunch the last invoice) and I truly love everyone in my team, my work and the little moments of pure elation when we make a difference in our client's life by bringing beauty, peace and joy.

MERCI!

A Bientôt,

Happy Holidays!

xx Francine

Unveiling Jose Esteves latest creations

The Christmas windows are up and Interieurs' atelier is "joujed" to inspiration perfection.

If you are in NewYork, please do come and meet Jose and have a toast to the Holidays,

Francine

If you would like me to create your personal and ideal home, contact me about our Interior Design Services

A Pinterest sale

If you happen to be in New York City, you may notice the word SALE on store window after store window. New York has really been suffering from retail depression. Being in the center of New York design district, facing store windows with "Going out of business Sale", "Grand opening Sale",can really be depressing, especially when business is on the more "morose" side. Time for a  FLOOR MOVE ! These two words, floor move, mean floor planning, bringing furniture in from the warehouse, moving furniture, re -arranging, changing our mind, this armoire (300 plus pounds) goes upstairs...it looks out of place, back downstairs... keeping in mind our furniture is not lightweight, heavy steel, solid wood, large sofas, tables, buffet. Finally we have a plan that works, enhancing the mood and lines of the furniture, showing the possibilities of beautifully appointed eclectic rooms. At that point, we are starved, no time to eat, exhausted and our backs are wrecked... Movers gone, we now need to "merchandise". Pacing back and forth, throws piled up, lamps and accessories on tables, we must create  a visual that is both enticing and yet restrained. The goal is not to pile up accessories on tables as in a table tops show, but present each piece as a unique important and curated object. this is actually the most challenging part of the day's turmoil...late into the evening, exhausted to the point of not wanting to move a muscle any more, we take one last look...This was worth it! the showroom feels revived, welcoming the fall and winter to come with its warm soothing tones, its soft thick cashmere throws and pillows, Chaises and sofas to nap or read..warm glow of handmade lamps .

Now time to advertise our SALE to our clients, no huge sign on the window, simply an email blast with a link to our Pinterest flash sale board. I am border line addicted to Pinterest and actually use the secret boards to collect inspirations for my clients... We worked on a secret board with all items on sale with description and pricing and made it live yesterday. Clients called, came in, kept commenting how beautiful the showroom is and...YES, they did buy!

Want to see our sale?

Click Here

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A Bientôt,

Francine

If you would like me to create your personal and ideal home, contact me about our Interior Design Services

While in Paris...

I just received an email from my dear friend  and fabulous artist, Jose Esteves, with pictures of his latest designs for the world renowned Pierre Gagnaire's latest restaurant. It befits perfectly that I should write about the sanctum of extraordinary culinary experiences, after my post on secrets of good health

Jose Esteves lighting creations have been the focus of our unique, creative lighting collections for the past seven or eight years. All creative juices are at their best when Carolyn Quatermaine, stylist extraordinaire, has free reign of a project. If in Paris treat yourself: Pierre Gagnaire, 6 Rue Balzac Paris 8eme. If Interieurs were a restaurant in lieu of a Showroom, this would be it!

Enjoy!

All above photos by Pierre Gagnaire

Jose at work

More of Jose's work on  http://interieurs.com/collections/jose_esteves

A Bientôt,

Francine

If you would like me to create your personal and ideal home, contact me about our Interior Design Services

ICFF International fair 2013

It never ceases to amaze me  how adaptable we are. From the bush of Africa to the world of consumerism and contemporary design. If I were to choose...I would run (or rather fly) back to Africa. I miss it terribly...

Working on a few interior projects and constantly on the look at for new products and technology, I was, first thing in the morning, at the doors of the Javitt center in New York City for the 2013 International Contemporary Furniture Fair. It was actually wonderful as I walked the aisles of the show, I bumped into my favorite people, Clodagh, the most talented designer of our times, Arlene Hirst of the NY Times and a judge for the show, Tucker Robbins...we could talk for hours... just to name a few. I realized how long i have been in this industry!

I ended up placing some orders for the showroom, found great technological products for my clients.

I forgot my camera and my iphone ran out of battery...I guess i am still in lala land....

Forgive the poor quality of the shots but i captured what caught my eye and the contemporary trends...

By Caleb Siemon and Carmen Salazar to be seen soon in my Interieurs Showroom

The Siemon Pendant part of Interieurs lighting collection

Siemon Collection, soon to be seen at Interieurs

Love this multi dimentional textile weaving technique by a Japanese designer

Will be specifying this fabric from the same designer as above

Love this wallpaper

If you would like to find out about the designers behind these pieces, do send me an email and I will go through my catalogs.

Now, I am off to put my rain gear on and head out to my garden to plant all vegetables and annuals.

A Bientôt,

Francine

If you would like me to create your personal and ideal home, contact me about our Interior Design Services 

Jose Esteves celebration of light in Cote Sud

The greatest thrill in my job is to work side by side with creative minds. I love the thought process, the inspiration, the moment when something clicks in your mind....and you know...that's it! This is what i envisioned... I will be going back to Paris in january to work with Jose on our annual show of signed unique lighting sculptures. Jose is commissioned all over the world for his lighting creations... to think I found a pic of a small lantern in a copy of Cote Sud a few years ago and searched for the artist for more than a year! Tenacity paid off and Jose and I not only have an amazing working relationship, but became close friends as well. 

His work has been often published, enjoy this latest issue of my favorite magazine, Cote Sud...

Let's dream..

Interieurs represents Jose exclusively in the US. Please check: http://www.interieurs.com/collections/jose_esteves

A Bientôt,

Francine

Clarity...

Light defines human existence. Everything we see is in fact no more and no less than either projected or reflected light.

I am thrilled to introduce our latest lighting collection of handblown glass creations by artist Simon Peleg. The artist has captured the subtlety and intrinsic beauty of light. In his work, light is transformed and the space it occupies glows in infinite reflections. 

We recently installed this custom light in one of our on going project in TriBeCa, New York

We designed this chandelier for the same client

As seen above the dining table (project in progress, whereas the unfinished look)

Our Storefront window

A Bientôt,

Francine