Here, the art of living is given pride of place. Artists' portraits, contemporary furnishings, decorative items, beauty products and restaurants meet everypossible desire.
You have an appointment at Inove to discover sofas from Cinna, Duvivier and Leolux, but also offerings from Mourgue and Gomez for Cinna, carpets from Toulemonde Bochart and Lesage and lighting from Kundalini, a reference which has joined the list of Italian brands distributed by the store. 1 bis route de Montfavet, Avignon (04 90 86 48 10 et www.inove-cinna-avignon.fr).
Frescos, “trompe-l’œil”, ornamentation, fine gilding... For the past 20 years, with Patrice Borghese, painter and decorator with a golden touch, at the helm, the Studio Borghese has worked on countless prestigious projects on the Côte d’Azur, in palatial hotels in Monaco, but also in exceptional private residences all over the world. “We are currently concentrating on the design and imitation of precious materials.” The result is amazing : leathers more convincing than the real McCoy, pewter, rusted effects... The most daunting challenges are taken on, successfully. Motivated by sheer perfectionism, the Studio Borghese team is composed of talented craftsmen sharing the same passion and uncompromising artistic standards. 4 rue du Pertus, Nice (www.studio-borghese.com et 06 62 44 26 57).
Using materials from sustainable sources, encouraging local production and giving priority to deliveries in kits... Such are the principles adopted by Etienne Esmenjaud who has just launched his label “Desinature”. This native of Antibes now living in England, holder of a BTS in Industrial Design from Toulon La Grande Tourrache, is making a name for himself with his “Bud” ceiling light, made of birchwood and designed for use with an energy-saving bulb. Etienne is currently working on a line of lampshades made of coloured cardboard. www.desinature.com/shop
Ladurée has opened its first boutique outside Paris in Saint-Tropez. In a “Grand Siècle” decor, its irresistible macaroons are just as delectable in all four seasons, accompanied by chocolates, confectionery, select and delicate teas. And you’re in for a surprise : Ladurée’s very first range of beauty products comprised of creams, precious oils and bath foams... in candy-sweet fragrances, of course ! 1 rue George-Clemenceau, Saint-Tropez (www.laduree.fr).
Founded over 20 years ago, ATR specializes in the sale and rental of Panasonic telephone, security and video-surveillance equipment. Its team of technicians handles the installation, maintenance and repair of all these products. The key words here are availability, seriousness and a fast response. Working for companies, local authorities and hotels, ATR, which covers the entire PACA region, also meets the needs of owners of luxury villas and yachts, and proposes a surveillance system via iPhone which functions worldwide. ATR Côte d’Azur, 8 avenue Rochat, Antibes (04 93 24 83 91).
The Cavie Expo branch of the Squarelectric group has inaugurated its new showroom on an upper floor, wholly dedicated to home decor. Offerings from Scavolini, Angelo Po, Aquos and Geromin contribute to a wide and appealing array of kitchens, bathrooms, walk-in closets, well-being areas and pools, as well as a vast choice of materials (tiling, parquet, marble). A few rare or exclusive items are also included in the catalogue, such as the luminous Skyfactory ceiling. A design department using 3D will undertake redecorating projects from A to Z and come to your home to give tailormade service, even proposing a choice of armour-plated doors, solar heating systems, air purifiers etc... 6 avenue du Prince-Albert-II, Zone F, Entrée B, Monaco (00 377 97 70 53 00).
The Danish jewellery brand Pandora chose Cannes as the site for the July inauguration of its latest showcase. The smart, uncluttered boutique - white walls, light wood furnishings - displays all its collections whose originality relies on personalization of each and every piece. Clients can thus express their creativity by choosing from over 600 “charms” in precious metals : 14 or 18 carat gold, solid silver and precious gems, allowing you to wear unique combinations. 6 rue du Commandant-André, Cannes (www.pandora.net).
Rated “Best Cook of the Year” by the Gault & Millau guide-book, Michel Portos has just taken over the ovens of this institution in Marseille, a short walk from the Old Port. Soon spotted by the Phocean city’s discerning foodies, this enticing address proposes a “brasserie” style menu with traditional French dishes and a “Signature” formula with recipes invented by Michel Portos. You can also purchase the wine you have discovered during your meal, and invite family or friends (2 to 15) to dine, as if at home, in a private room ! 19 rue Fortia, Marseille (04 91 33 42 46).
You will discover the recently opened “Case de Cousin Paul” in the Old Town of Nice. Multi-coloured balls in different sizes sold in garlands by the metre, as ceiling lights or in packs. In a choice of over 50 colours, they will help you create dreamlike ambiances, ephemeral or longer-lasting ! 8 rue du Pont-Vieux, Nice ( 09 50 27 06 55).
With Blanc Pur, a wine cellar and bistro where you can also purchase or sample on the spot a selection of the best French, Italian and Spanish ham and cheese, David Emery reveals a new facet of his wide-ranging talent in a decor signed Exul. 850 avenue de la 2e-Division-Blindée, Les Angles (04 90 92 31 52 et www.blanc-pur.fr).
Marie-Hélène Lalande and Jean-Charles Pastori have designed a restaurant as chic as an art gallery. Trendy decor, a terrace with a view of the flood-lit gardens of the “Tête au Carré”, a long bar encrusted with LEDs, a water wall visually linking the floors… Nothing is missing in this quest for hip, which even includes a display of work by up-and-coming artists from the Villa Arson as well as jazzy live concerts. The chef proposes a menu full of enthusiasm, a real blend of genres ranging from classic gastronomy to offerings from distant lands : tuna tartare, spicy avocado, mango and Wakamé algae, fillet of sea-bass with shell-fish, green asparagus and trumpet courgettes, “mille saveurs” from Madagascar, a smooth cream with red-berries. After waiting quite some time for an address in Nice to meet today’s expectations, this is the place to be ! 64 boulevard Risso, Nice (04 97 19 36 21).
Thanks to Geberit’s “Sigma80”, one can now flush the toilet without any direct contact by simply passing one’s hand in front of a screen. In black or a mirror version, it is fitted with LEDs (available in five colours) and lights up with graphic lines when the toilet is in use. This device of irreprochable hygiene in fact won the IF Product Design Award 2012. 1050 ¤, www.geberit.fr.
After inaugurating it first Parisian flagship, Calligaris has arrived in Marseille. Present for the past 20 years with a corner store in Galeries Lafayette, the leading Italian Home Design brand is pursuing its development in France with several new launches. Five showrooms, including one in Montpellier, have already been opened since the beginning of this year and others are to open their doors before the end of 2013 ! Dedicated fans of smart Italian design will find in Marseille various well-known items and decorative objects created by the brand, with cornerstones such as the “Parisienne” and “Cream” chairs and the “Orbital” table designed with Pininfarina. 53 rue Grignan, Marseille (www.calligaris.eu).
Familiar with furnishings, fixtures and fittings for professional premises, Swedish editor Materia is stepping into the niche sector of selective sorting ! In-house designer Carl Ôjerstam has come up with a garbage bin entirely made of moulded polypropylene. “Pop” is available in selective sorting colours (yellow, red, green...). 384 ¤. 19 rue Gaston-Castel (04 91 46 18 40).
Dominique and Hélène from Nice have designed a bag with a high level of appeal. Its ADN ? Easy to use, impeccably cut, practical and made of organic or recycled materials. With handles made of vintage leather, each bag is unique and numbered. www.ilmeressemble.com
Interior decorator Valérie Wauters has just opened her showroom in Saint-Tropez : 75 m2 playing host to a selection of items with strong identities. Mixing uncluttered design, playful references and an ethnic style, furnishings, accessories and items signed Eichholtz, Now’s Home, Vical Home and Dôme Décoration stand alongside handcrafted pottery from Goïcoechea. The scalable premises are to host several exhibits all year round. 43 route des Plages, Saint-Tropez (06 89 94 24 51).
“For me, the term “pop” means being rock’n’roll and positive, living colourfully and totally in love.” When you discover the sculptures of TT, alias Thierry Trivès, you are immediately plunged into a “happy world” ! “My work is inspired by the ’seventies.” In his studio in Mougins, the sculptor creates his well-known “Peace & Toons” - a sort of panda stylized in naive fashion, up to 2 metres tall - but also many other rounded forms, minimalist and always colourful. Their point in common ? The material : PMMA, better known as perspex. When asked who are his main sources of inspiration, he mentions Keith Haring, Jeff Koons and Murakami. TT, who is working on a project for an exhibition on Times Square Avenue in New York for 2013, naturally belongs to a tradition of artists who bring cheerfulness and good humour into our lives and homes. Galeries Bartoux (67 rue Croisette) and Vieceli (142 rue d’Antibes), Cannes. www.trives.fr
Already extensive, the family of perfumes created by Serge Lutens is delighted to introduce you to its latest addition : Santal Majuscule (in a 50 ml spray). Clad in a golden dress, the fragrance is a blend of sandalwood, cocoa and Damascus roses. Both velvety and discreet, it will elegantly adorn your neck or wrist... www.sergelutens.com
The manufacturer of high-quality professional hearths “made in Belgium” has developed a vast range of models burning wood, gas and biodegradable fuels (bioethanol). With their sliding glass fronts benefitting from spearhead technology and sustainable materials, these hearths are meeting with resounding success. Combining the visual appeal of an open fire with the high yield of a closed hearth, the “Universal” range lends itself to harmonious architectural integration founded on simple, modern design. www.metalfire.eu
The 2013 collection from Ligne Roset invites us on a little trip back in time. Admire the “Fifty” armchair, the “Elysée” and “Pumpkin” sofas, the first public editions of those designed in 1971 for the private apartments of the Pompidous in the Elysée Palace, or re-editions of chairs by Pierre Paulin and Jean Nouvel... Lignes Contemporaines, 52 rue de la Bonneterie, Avignon (04 86 34 93 18)
