Here, the art of living is given pride of place. Artists' portraits, contemporary furnishings, decorative items, beauty products and restaurants meet everypossible desire.
Thanks to Rive Gauche, there is no space, inside or out, which cannot find a solution for floor or wall coverings ! In her showroom of 300 m2, Christine Bérard displays her product lines ranging from ultra-classic to highly contemporary, in both trends and formats. Rive Gauche also offers a choice of products dedicated to outdoor areas : paving for terraces, natural stone, mosaic for pools, ornamental facing… Here, the idea is to go beyond simple esthetic advice to address technical aspects in very practical terms and enlighten a growing number of private clients who take on the task themselves. Rive Gauche also stocks bathroom fittings, faucets and other accessories. 2148 route d’Avignon, Châteaurenard (0 977 903 759).
Organizing a bubbly picnic without saddling oneself with a champagne bucket is now possible ! At the request of Veuve Clicquot, designer Mathias van de Walle came up with an ingenious idea to chill a bottle of (pink) champagne… Pink being the colour of the Clicq’up adorned with “Veuve Clicquot” chrysanthemums by Japanese graphic designers Erotyka. Presented in a box next to the bottle, the Clicq’up travels easily and can be stored after use. 52 €. www.veuve-clicquot.com
Mermet proposes a range of hi-tech textiles for homes and gardens guaranteeing a high level of protection from the sun. Made of glass fiber, these “smart fabrics” offer very high performance : as well as cosiness and their self-evident decorative function, they filter sunlight, avoid dazzle, lower room temperature, limit the fading effect of the sun... Available in 11 product lines and 436 colours. www.sunscreen-mermet.com
“Colors”, the latest blown-glass creations from Philippa Martin and Gwendoline Bonnet, borrow their cool, dense hues from the colours of Provence. These master glass-makers from “Verre l’Essentiel” recently gave fans another facet of their art and artistry : they designed a superb chandelier in collaboration with wrought-iron artist Jean-Philippe Fally. ZI Saint-Martin, Hyères (04 94 36 10 65). www.verrelessentiel.com
Gone with pervasive smoke, long live practicality ! By combining usefulness with pleasantness, the lastest absolute must from Bodum is a picnic grill which runs on Fyrkat gas, reconciling fast cooking times with very easy use. Ideal for terraces, this safe and clever device is also suitable for the nomadic life thanks to its reasonable size. Another indispensable item in the brand’s new offerings is the “Bistro” spoon-holder : this silicon kitchen utensil designed for everyday use makes life easier and enables everyone to cook like a chef ! www.bodum.com
Vintage baroque decor, the most sublime view of the bay of Villefranche, up-to-the-minute cuisine blending southern influences and the call of the sea, Le Béluga has been, since 2005, an address acclaimed by a select and discerning clientele as soon as fine weather makes its appearance. Open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Richard and Aline Rouah’s restaurant serves tasty cuisine of the sun giving priority to lightness and simplicity : tagliata with fillet of beef, roquette salad, Parmesan and truffle oil ; oven-baked sea-bass with seasonal vegetables, or pan-fried Saint-Jacques scallops with a creamy risotto… Guests flock in for lunch or dinner, drinks with friends, a romantic evening or simply to take advantage of the amazing terrace which seems to have adopted the Mediterranean as its own ! 3 quai de l’Amiral-Ponchardier, Villefranche (04 93 80 28 34).
Perfumed and shimmering with the brand new oil concocted by Olivier Polge for Jimmy Choo, the skin becomes silky, soft and slightly intoxicating. The elegant pink tube contains a real shower of gold with a dry texture and precious vegetable oils (sweet almond, hazelnut, argan, macadamia and wheat germ). This summer, skin will indeed be sensual... 32 €. www.sephora.fr
Whether it’s black or green, aromatized or classic, named Detox, Sweet Love, Boost, Be Cool, Fraise Givrée, Vert Bouquet, Irish Blend, Prince Wladimir or even Euphoria (the latest proposal), Kusmi tea is a delight for both the eye and palate. Loose or in little muslin bags, in gift-sets or attractive tins, it offers all the best-loved flavours. In south-east France, fans of the brew and its accessories, and all those looking for gift ideas, finally have their own address. 2 rue des Bagniers, Aix-en-Provence (04 42 38 00 38).
An interior decorator who works for both private clients and in the more ephemeral sphere of special events (weddings, receptions, congresses, seminars...), Sonia Gottsleben proposes in her showroom a comprehensive array of products required for interior decoration. You’ll find Bopaint paint, Wall & Deco wall-paper and fabrics signed by the greatest names such as Lelièvre, Frey and Nya Nordiska, as she has also taken over Doreau’s furniture upholstering activity. Sonia Gottsleben also sells a selection of furnishings and lighting by brands including Arketipo, Miniforms, Kundalini, Lucente and Leucos. From time to time, the showroom also hosts exhibitions. 178 rue Paradis, Marseille (04 91 37 54 07 and 06 20 93 57 97).
Spa specialist Kinedo is perfecting its offering by introducing new side panels made of rattan. With this cladding of plaited fibre, the spa finally fits perfectly into contemporary outdoor settings. Beyond its good looks, this product also ensures improved accoustic and thermal qualities. The showroom is open to private clients solely by appointment. ZI Athélia III, voie Antiope, La Ciotat (04 42 71 56 00).
For its latest collection of optical and sun glasses, the Japanese brand Miyake has remained true to elegant and rigorous design while revealing its concept of “Streaming” side-rims at the spearhead of innovation. With this technology which bears an exclusive patent, Issey Miyake demonstrates that creativity can be cultivated through high demands for details and finishing touches ! www.isseymiyake.com
Who would have thought that Nordic sobriety and minimalism would suit the highly personal vision of Karim Rashid so very well ? Setting aside his extravagant and flashy world, he has put his signature to this “Ottawa” homage collection. Which is also a first for BoConcept, which decided to call on a celebrity from the world of design rather than use its in-house studios. Among the collection’s major pieces, one finds an extendable dining-table large enough to seat 15 guests. The sideboard and practical storage unit, like a safe, feature practical, coloured handles. The chairs with their organic lines are the expression of a certain sensuality and a return to instantaneous emotion. A ceiling light, retro-style table lamp, wool and cotton carpet, containers and a set of vases comprise a full range of items for a dining-room brimming with freshness. And don’t miss the series of cups whose patterns recall periods in the designer’s life : New York, Egypt and Canada, the “study” period during which the star focused on Scandinavian design ! www.boconcept.fr.
A contemporary waltz of Italian inspiration for Toile Blanche which proposes seven guest-rooms and a luxurious ambiance down below the legendary Saint-Paul-de-Vence, with an unimpeded view of the valley and village. The striking interior decor features graphic lines and warm colours, the cuisine is inventive and the paintings by the Leroy Brothers provide an echo to the Maeght Foundation and the artistic soul of Folon. www.toileblanche.com
Since 1994, this Italian kitchen and furniture manufacturer has delighted fans with solutions brimming with panache. To remain distinctive and please its international clients, it offers very persuasive arguments ! Such as subtle finishing touches for its “Contemporary” and “Classic” programmes with work surfaces and islands in shiny lacquer and satined glass. Prime materials, ergonomics and efficiency, to meet the highest demands ! www.doimocucine.it.
Unbreakable and rechargeable, Smart & Green cordless bulbs help to protect the environment. Offering clean, sleek design, their intense and colourful light can be used to create different moods. With its 52 LEDs, “Disco XL”, a large, bright flowerpot 100 cm high with a crumpled effect, and the “Tango” flowerpot-holder offer a blend of refined taste and chic design. www.smartandgreen.eu.
Schüco’s new ADS 60 DL Isopano door is ideal for your new or renovated home. Made of recyclable aluminum, with a contoured cut, proposed in 180 models of customizable panels, solid or glazed, offering a vast choice of colours and an extra-thin threshold to facilitate access for people of reduced mobility, it even ensures a high level of thermal efficiency. www.schueco.com
It’s a charming tale, a beautiful story... That of Philippe Starck, who imagined “a fisherman’s cabin by the sea, friends, sunshine”. With a wave of his magic wand, or rather his usual dose of creativity, A’Trego came into being. On the Cap d’Ail harbour, at the water’s edge, the restaurant unravels the plot of a scenario. Here, crocodiles clinging to the walls of the staircase. There, jewellery on a shelf. And then, on three floors, a sense of luxury, but without any ostentation : a shelter built of planks covered in coal-tar, like the hulls of boats, mahogany flooring, grey wood panelling, a terrace designed to resemble the deck of a sail-boat… Nautical codes mingle happily with items unearthed all around the world. www.restaurantatrego.com
Brozart Studio and ambiance-live.com propose a limited series of stickers designed by contemporary artists and representing some of the greatest international stars, as well as trendy places such as London or New York. Printed in high definition on high-quality self-adhesive vinyl, they can be 150 cm high and 250 cm wide. Walls can then be brightened up in a very original and trendy way. www.ambiance-live.com./stickers-brozart-xsl-411.html
“Au Tombeau de la Vaisselle” has been and gone. In its place, TOC (“Trouble Obsessionel Culinaire”) sets the scene : with this new concept-store, your fondness for cooking will take on new horizons. In premises of 160 m2, among over 3,000 references, you will find the equipment and utensils you need to follow all your recipes. At the heart of the store, a kitchen even allows you to carry out a few tests. No doubt about it, you’re the chef ! 3-5 place Saint-François, Nice (04 93 85 84 10).
Originally, CP Concept was a team of engineers specializing in composite materials in the fields of aeronautics and shipbuilding. A team which then worked on developing these products to extend their use to home interiors and decoration. CP Concept thus now offers two ranges to designers and architects : Crystalline and Opaline. They consist of transparent “beehive” panels made of polycarbonate and their translucent version, all available in different colours. Which gives rise to many ideas : lamps, furniture, displays, supports for posters, wall coverings, technical and decorative ceilings… By way of example, full marks to Lacoste which was inspired to fit out its stores using these smart structures, the Casino of La Rochelle which has treated itself to a luminous ceiling, and the superb interiors designed for CNB (Group Bénéteau). www.cpconcept.fr
