Here, the art of living is given pride of place. Artists' portraits, contemporary furnishings, decorative items, beauty products and restaurants meet everypossible desire.
This artist and designer living in Nice has borrowed inspiration from her performance “Bisou d’Amour” staged in the Colette concept store in 2001 to produce “Trace de toi”, the first shirt designed by an artist (with a kiss printed inside the collar). A silkscreened shirt for men in a limited edition, signed by the artist. Motus by Jacky Ananou, 3 rue Louis-Gassin, Vieux-Nice (06 60 10 88 71 and 06 09 87 97 84).
It’s a bench, a top and two shelves. It’s a set, or three autonomous elements. To be scattered around separately or around the “Nénuphare” sofa of which it becomes a satellite. It’s a space, forms, colours, rhythms, ready to flaunt their freedom : it’s an installation, furniture-cum-storage. It’s a tower, a screen, coffee table, bench, worktop, desk, shelves, a bookcase. It’s a mobile ensemble, a piece in its own right. It’s an open construction whose rhythms are far from fixed. Its frontiers make it an informal piece of furniture, both outward-going and protective of a personal world. It has no sides nor bottom, it can be viewed from all angles, to accommodate one person or adapt to suit more. In short, “There’s a bit of everything in Le Hasard”, the latest offering from Smarin. Stéphanie Marin, 2 avenue Henri-Dunant (04 93 52 89 26).
“Jenette” is one of the flagship creations proposed by the Campana brothers, hosted since March by MDBA which is displaying major pieces (“Boa”, “Anemone”, “Favela”...) by these well-known designers. Now part of the Edra collections, this original chair, bearing the name of the person for whom it was designed, is still produced on a one-off basis. The 900 strips of PVC that compose its back are integrated by hand into the seat ! 163 rue Paradis, Marseille (www.mobilier-design-mdba.fr).
His windows are as enticing as those of a jeweller’s… but much more appetizing ! Candy creator Patrick Mesiano has just opened a boutique in Antibes. A tempting array of delicate pastries, macaroons and wicked chocolate. The setting, both baroque and contemporary, adds a further touch of refinement. 16 bd Albert-1er , Antibes www.patrickmesiano.com
Bang & Olufsen’s Home Cinema family of televisions has been extended with its latest offering, the Beovision 4. A plasma screen with an interesting CV. Judge for yourself : 85 inches, the first full HD model boasting 3D technology. For your enjoyment, screenings of “Avatar” and other blockbusters in 3D, right there in your lounge ! It goes without saying that the quality of the image is exemplary, colours are true to life, movement flows incredibly smoothly. Top in its class, it incorporates a whole series of technologies for image enhancement, including an anti-reflection screen. Thanks to patented Acoustic Lens technology, the sound delivered by the central channel is distributed homogeneously and horizontally. You thus capture all the nuances of a dialogue wherever you happen to be in the room. Demonstrations of the Beovision 4 can be seen in the store on Rue d’Antibes. 130 rue d’Antibes, Cannes (04 93 38 82 05 et www.bang-olufsen.com).
Elisabeth Diakité is one of those inventive and highly gifted Jack-of-all-trades who transform objects, reinterpret materials and excel in off-the-wall challenges. When she isn't working on a project, she now officiates in her workshop-boutique. In this colourful world, each object is instantly eye-catching : armchairs woven in wax, ceiling lights made of globes of the Earth, table settings made of concrete, moulded in food packaging ! 17 rue du Jean-Fiolle, Marseille (04 84 26 31 38).
With “Aqualiva”, after-skiing will mean cocooning ! This new luxury residence in Valberg proposes five split-level apartments at the foot of the ski-runs. Parquet floors, exposed stone walls, materials giving priority to a natural style. And after your efforts, you can look forward to comfort : the heated floodlit indoor pool provides relaxation at the end of an exhilarating day. 55 route de Valberg, Valberg (09 53 58 56 99 et www.residence aqualiva.com).
Just imagine : silence only disturbed by the occasional birdsong. A forest. And in the middle, a river flowing by. It is in this peaceful setting that Moonlight eco-lodges have recently opened their doors. In no way spoiling the overall harmony. They are built of local and environment-friendly materials such as stone, larchwood or driftwood. The colours are natural, white or ash gray. Solar panels provide hot water and part of the heating. 2 cabins and 2 duplexes to see life through green-tinted glasses... 8 rue Rumpelmayer, Saint-Martin-Vésubie (06 89 25 36 74).
To light up your summer table, test these craft-made candles unearthed in Belgium by Valérie Frimas. A quality product available in about fifteen colours and a score of shapes and sizes ! A la maison, 475 rue Paradis, Marseille (04 91 71 82 69).
“A nut : what is there inside a nut ?” sang Charles Trenet. Inside this shell of high quality resin, which will find its place quite naturally by the side of your pool, there is a lounge proposed in 65 colours and 140 colours for the covers. The four armchairs in the lounge called “Ball” all fit together, allowing for easy and esthetic storage. Innovative and elegant, Nicolazi designs top-quality outdoor furniture in woven resin which transforms itself into lounges, tables, loungers and chairs with timeless lines, combining practicality with pleasure, and flaunting Italian finesse. Modular and customized models by request. Boulevard de la Déco, ZA route d’Aix, 405 avenue des Cinq-Ponts, Saint-Maximin (04 94 72 40 90).
Awarded a Michelin star in 2009 at La Table du Cap (Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat), Laurent Poulet has taken over La Terrasse in Mougins to create a new concept for gourmets, on two floors. On the first, the café-bistro Féline with a boutique area and cookery classes ; on the second, with a terrace opening out to the Bay of Cannes, La Table du Cap for more sophisticated cuisine. 31 boulevard Georges-Courteline, Mougins (04 92 98 61 89 and www.felinecafebistrot.com).
For the collectors’ presentation set “Cuvée Grande Sendrée 2004”, Michel Drappier teamed up with three great chefs - Alain Passard, Kiyomi Mikuni and Claude Trois-gros -, inviting us to discover or-iginal recipes combining spices from all around the world with an exceptional champagne. To be sampled with moderation, but also delectation ! 120 €. www.champagne-drappier.com
“It’s a great tale, a wonderful story…” That of Philippe Starck, who has dreamt up “a fisherman’s cabin by the sea, with friends and lots of sunshine”. A wave of the magic wand later - or rather, after his usual dose of creativity -, A’Trego saw the light of day. On the harbour of Cap d’Ail, right at the water’s edge, the restaurant unveils the plot of an enjoyable scenario. Here, crocodiles on the walls of the staircase ; there, jewellery displayed on a shelf. Then, on all three floors, a luxurious but unostentatious atmosphere : a shelter made of boards daubed with coal tar like the hull of a boat, mahogany floors, grey wood panelling, a terrace recalling the deck of a sailboat… References to the world of boating blend flawlessly with items unearthed all over the world. www.restaurantatrego.com
La Droguerie Jolie Maison has recently inaugurated another store, just opposite the first one. More decor-oriented, this big sister of the “big bazaar” proposes waxed concrete from Mercadier, paint form Farrow&Ball and Little Green. The 2011 collection continues to consecrate shades of grey and taupe, but also reserves a place for splashes of more vivid hues. The bonus : a good array of lighting. Retro or industrial (Chehoma), Venetian or rococo (Muno), there’s something to suit all tastes. 8 avenue Auber, Nice (04 93 04 08 43).
Treating the outside just like the inside, that’s the credo of a new life-style, a symbol of casual luxury, to be found in the Extérieur Design boutique, at the heart of the seaside resort of Argelès-sur-Mer. A discerning selection of today’s most appealing outdoor furniture, showcasing Europe’s top designers. 7 rue des Faisans, Argelès-sur-Mer (04 68 80 60 69 et www.exterieurdesign.fr).
After “Le Vinivore”, Olivier Labarde is embarking on a new bistrological adventure : “La Mise au Verre”. Close to his original “Part des Anges”, he has recently opened a real wine bar, a place where you can share tasty food and wines which have built the renown of Nice’s first wine-cellar/bistro since 1998. On the slate, an expert selection of seasonal produce : truffles from Hugou, the morning’s catch from Steve Molinari of Nice, Pierre Magnani’s organically-grown vegetables... Closed Saturdays and Sunday lunchtimes. Rue Pastorelli, Nice (04 93 85 69 90).
Everyone loves the “Trento” table with its large fold-away tops, proposed by Manutti. With a beautiful structure in stainless steel, it offers esthetic enjoyment, convenience and long life. The ideal companion all summer long ! 2,300 €. En vente à Salon-de-Provence chez Meubles Espi, avenue du 18-Juin-1940 (www.meublesespi.fr and 04 90 55 15 35).
XD stands for Xavier Didero. The son of a property developer and godson of an architect, he fell into the building trade at a very early age. From general foreman to realtor, from one experience to another, from a predisposition to a real passion, he is now a “Créateur d’Intérieur”. By entrusting him with your renovation project, you can be sure of high-quality execution and excellent taste. Because if you tend to hesitate when choosing a layout, material, colour, texture or form of lighting, he will know exactly what you need. Adapting to your living space, your life-style and, of course, your budget, he is capable of proposing and producing an interior that fits like a glove ! www.xd-createur.fr (06 03 29 14 88).
Philippe Starck and Eugéni Quitllet paid tribute to three icons of contemporary design with their chair called “Masters”. A hybrid reinterpretation of the “7” series designed by Jacobsen, the “Tulip Armchair” from Saarinen and the “Eiffel Chair” by Eames, which is now becoming a cult object in its own right ! Shop in a shop Kartell by Sifas’, Mougins (04 92 18 32 40).
New on the 9th floor of the Grand Hôtel : the suite “Jacqueline”. A traditional name for a place that combines high-tech (for its equipment) and a 1950’s ambiance. Among the star features, a grey sofa designed by David Chipperfield and a yellow armchair signed Jeffrey Bernett. The bonus : the wall-to-wall view. On the one side the sea, on the other the mountains. 45 La Croisette, Cannes (www.grand-hotel-cannes.com and 04 93 38 15 45).
