Here, the art of living is given pride of place. Artists' portraits, contemporary furnishings, decorative items, beauty products and restaurants meet everypossible desire.
Pack your bags with Incidence ! From tote-bags to toilet bags, bags for shoes, cables, cameras and even bath towels, this brand takes care of everything and simplifies the rather tedious task of packing. Everything is in its place and you can look forward to your trip in all peace of mind. Incidence, 47 rue Grande, Manosque (04 92 72 93 25).
In a town mansion on the Place des Quatre Dauphins, where they recently opened the “Jardin Mazarin” restaurant/tea room, Dominique and Alain Denjean offer a superb apartment for rent. For a stopover in Aix, this top-notch address of 120 m2, nestling on the 1st floor, can sleep up to 6 guests. It can also be hired for special events (birthday meals, business meetings, cocktail parties...), all in a warm, stylish and original setting. 15 rue du 4 septembre, Aix-en-Provence (06 46 15 28 97).
Signed Thomas Pedersen, the Stingray armchair is just as comfortable indoors as out. Its PVC shell in black or white rests on a stainless steel base. The most comfortable positions can now be tested out by the fire or alongside the pool. 1745,90 €. www.midiune.com
Lofty volumes, monochrome design, noble materials (stone floors, leather, lacquered glass, stainless steel worktops) create a velvety ambiance for this showroom. There is one of the brand’s “best ofs” : the mono-block Stradi kitchen island. Originally reserved for cooking pros, it now meets the requirements of “Top Chef” fans. The new “Dune” kitchen model from Pedini with its innovative shape has been designed with environmentally friendly materials. Next to the kitchens one finds bathrooms, walk-in closets and even wine and champagne cellars. In fact, Universal Décoration now has its own carpentry workshop. To produce home products that will hold their own with others presented in the showroom, signed Pedini, Agape, Moma or Mill-due. 27 boulevard Maréchal-Leclerc, Beaulieu (04 92 00 33 20).
When Guerlain and Emilio Pucci put their heads together, they came up with the “Terra Azzurra” collection : elevan make-up products, including “Météorites Perles d’Azur”. In six different colours with three complementary purposes : correcting, unifying and illuminating. A powder to perfect a tan for a zero-defect complexion. On sale from perfumeries. www.guerlain.com
Philippe Chapon went from the world of music to that of interior decor, with a passion for the exceptional, such as these oddities which created the legend of “curiosity cabinets” : sharks’ jaws, glass globes filled with shells, coral, items made of ivory all combined with casual elegance with medical instruments, 1950’s furniture and industrial lighting. Always off-the-wall but esthetically pleasing, the rare pearls in this chamber of wonders are paradise for those in search of originality. 16 rue Emmanuel-Philibert, Nice (04 92 04 02 81).
Régis Boulard, the Parisian decorator who has adopted distant lands as his signature theme, takes guests around the world by assigning a different continent to each floor of the superb 4-star Crowne Plazza Montpellier ! Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, India... Directly connected to the Corum by a footbridge, this new hotel with 142 rooms and 4 suites appeals to both business travellers and tourists who appreciate its amenities and central location. 190 rue d’Argencourt, Montpellier (04 67 72 22 22 and www.crowneplaza.com/montpellier).
Thinking of a weekend in Provence ? Not far from Salon-de-Provence, a former Romanesque abbey, nestling at the heart of nature, awaits you ! Green tourism, you were about to to say ? Yes, but emerald green, better to evoke the luxury and sophistication that characterize the Abbaye de Sainte-Croix. Almost 50 acres of untamed nature serve as the backdrop for this hotel gem, a Member of Relais & Châteaux : 25 rooms in former monks’ cells with breathtaking panoramic views encompassing the Camargue and La Sainte-Victoire ! Sober, elegant decor giving priority to comfort and space, in a chic and enchanting ambiance. A magical atmosphere echoed in the classic French garden, the small vaulted chapel and the restaurant, where the chef reinvents southern cuisine full of lightness and flavours. For blissful getaways to the heart of a land of light and culture. Salon-de-Provence (04 90 56 24 55 and www.relaischateaux. com/saintecroix and www.garrigae-resorts.com).
All dressed up, Cocktails Dolls hold paper napkins. After the “Paris” collection, Aurora d’Estaing has had fun designing the “Saint-Tropez” collection to liven up your summer evenings. More sexy than a serviette ring, these adorable dolls fulfill the same purpose. Once undressed, their sculptural silhouettes decorate your table and stand ready to take new “dresses”... On sale from Monoprix and Galeries Lafayette. www.auroredestaing.com
Bernard Fauroux is something of a sculptor. His signature theme ? A play on transparency. In his work, light is omnipresent. He introduces off-sets, piercings, volumes that he then empties. The house is not a “wall”, one’s gaze penetrates the plans and the exterior remains visible. In his contemporary Mediterranean villas, he also loves roof terraces, clean open spaces. Simplicity and user-friendliness are the keys. 16 rue d’Opio, Valbonne (04 93 12 06 05 et www.fauroux.fr).
Depending on your outdoor space, its surface area and orientation, the Atelier Aude Cayatte will propose a Tuareg tent or large sails to protect you beautifully from the harmful rays of the sun, burning heat, wind, rain or even prying eyes. A visually pleasing backcloth made of high-quality materials which make all the difference... www.audecayatte.com
Specializing in on-line printing services, Pixartprinting now offers the possibility of photo-prints in 20 x 20 cm or 40 x 70 cm format. Your digital photos thus become magnificent decorative pictures enabling you to adorn your walls, mount an exhibition or make an original gift. This option is available in the site’s “Large Format” space. You can, of course, still order your usual products : posters, catalogues, postcards, visiting cards, labels, stickers, display units… And don’t forget to consult the Pixartprinting page on Facebook on a regular basis ; you’ll find “Promo flashes” and the opportunity to test new products. www.pixartprinting.com
You’ll fall head over heels for the selection presented by John Gormsen at Art of Design ! This Danish artist shares his taste for Nordic design with items chosen from leading Scandinavian brands. Luxurious or playful, always useful, these objects dedicated to the art of the table, the kitchen or home decor are signed Stelton, Orrefors, DZN, Design House Stockholm, Royal Copenhagen, Iittala... You will also find gems by Georg Jensen, the most prestigious silverware from Denmark whose cutlery can also be ordered. 13 rue Joseph-Vernet, Avignon (04 86 65 43 60 and www.gormsen-artofdesign.com).
In a dead end perpendicular to Rue du Commandant-André, Sushikan is a trendy Japanese resto where Zen-like austerity has made way for “gourmandise”. Influenced by western fads, the decor is a refreshing surprise : a fashionable black universe with blood-red walls. The menu offers a wealth of recipes, from traditional to off-beat, from slim sashimi for those on diets to maki with “foie gras” for gourmets in search of novelty, not forgetting startling chocolate and banana nems ! We’re ready to bet that Sushikan will become the headquarters of youngsters in Cannes ! 04 93 39 86 13 and www.sushikan.org
Guerlain’s “Petite Robe Noire” continues to cast its spell. The heady fragrances of which it is composed include black cherry, patchouli and roses. Its chic bottle, inspired by that of “Mitsouko” and “L’Heure Bleue”, has the same stopper in the form of an inverted heart and the same sensually curved shoulders. It bears the silhouette of the famous little black dress. Finally a dress we can wear every day ! On sale in perfumeries. www.guerlain.com
When Rudy Flament settled in Gordes in 1998, he brought with him the architectural codes of countries in northern Europe : a passion for uncluttered lines, the elegance of natural tones giving priority to light. A real fan of Provence, he then imagined perfect associations between architectural design and raw materials borrowed from its traditional heritage : ochre, stone, iron, noble wood… “In each place, there is a force that the architect must protect and amplify”. Rudy and his team always aim for an atmosphere with a sensual balance created by flowing lines, natural light and simplicity which tends towards minimalism. Building one’s nest means respecting authenticity, and Rudy Flament is an architect who will guarantee serenity ! At Home Architecture, Les Beaumes, Gordes (04 90 72 62 03 and www.athomearchitecture.com).
Inaugurated last spring, the Domaine de Cambelong at the entrance to Conques is both a hotel of charm and a gastronomic address ! Here you can sample the very tasty cuisine of Hervé Busset. A real nature-lover, this chef with a Michelin star adds flowers, herbs and wild shoots to his dishes. www.moulindecambelong.com
Vipp’s hometown is characterized by its different hues of natural green, so the brand has chosen to pay tribute to the colour by creating a new collection named “Copenhagen Green”. On the theme of spring-cleaning, it proposes a very original range of useful objects. It consists of two pedal-bins (4 or 14 litres), a laundry bin, toilet brush, bread-bin, toothbrush-holder and soap dispenser. Zen Design, route des plages, Saint-Tropez (04 94 55 11 22).
They are comfortable, resistant (epoxy-treated aluminium structure), stackable, washable with a sponge (100 % polyester textilene canvas), brightly coloured and attractively shaped. Decorative for your terrace, “Hawaii” sun-loungers are an invitation to relax with five positions for their reclining seats. Maisons du Monde, zone d’activités Saint-Joseph, Manosque (04 92 71 04 04).
A ‘fifties look in red, black or cream, an interior area to meet individual requirements, a capacity of 135 litres, an automatic defrost function, energy class A+, quiet running… The components of the FAB10HR from Smeg propel it to the rank of true “Happy Bars”, way above mini-fridges or mini-bars. Your drinks are decidedly… cool. Available from specialty stores and kitchen-builders. www.smeg.fr
