Here, the art of living is given pride of place. Artists' portraits, contemporary furnishings, decorative items, beauty products and restaurants meet everypossible desire.
“A flower should not be perceived as such but through a composition in which the leaves, stem and container all play their part.” For artistic florist Jean-Paul Savet, it is obvious. And his gallery provides proof. Here, as in his compositions, everything is perfectly balanced and harmonious. “With no limits !” he adds. Gone, therefore, classic bouquets, stacks of plants and arranged marriages. He gives free rein to his inspiration, sometimes totally unbridled, but no matter. The result is conclusive and the place, a mixture of flamboyant baroque tables and highly contemporary furniture, oxidized floor and droplet chandeliers, natural, artificial and stabilized flowers, offering visitors a glimpse of the infinite possibilities of this practitioner of the floral art. Jean-Paul Savet, 5 rue Hancy (04 93 88 55 37).
Cosi is a duo : Marie-Jo Cammera, decorator and fresco painter, and Saveria Garcia, self-taught decorator. They offer their know-how and recognized brands. For fabrics (Osborne & Little, Sahco Hesslein), wall coverings (Dedar, Elitis), lighting (Kosta, Itallamp), furniture (by catalogue) and decorative objects, solely based on their own personal preferences. 9 bis rue Emmanuel-Philibert, Nice (04 93 55 46 86).
“Zinc is one of those poor materials now considered as really chic.” Thierry Emond bends it to his will, using it to make lighting fixtures, like this armoured painting. Lighting becomes a sideline, the object’s function being above all decorative. 06 23 07 84 21 et et-deco.com
The bathroom is probably the part of our homes that has changed the most over the past decade. High-tech is part of it, in the guise of spas, whirlpools..., faucets combine efficiency and design, fixtures and fittings compete for originality. The traditional bathtub has made way for models that may be round, square, recessed into the floor, fitted with massage jets. The shower is indeed a shower of rain, and the idea of cleanliness has been transformed into the concept of well-being and relaxation. Even tiles have changed, now designed to enhance the rest of the room. Le Muse, a leading expert in the field, distributes the finest brands, from Bisazza to Porcelanosa for tiling, via Toscoquattro, Devon & Devon, Dornbracht, Duravit, Vitra and Jacuzzi for bathroom fixtures, hydromassage stalls etc... Le Muse, corso Mazzini 277 (00 39 01 84 50 74 03).
“Nua” is made with the help of traditional Vietnamese know-how. Bamboo-wrapped on the outside, its interior is lacquered and comes in three different sizes, three different hues (white, moss-green and night). A bubble designed by Marie Macon and Anne-Laure Lesquoy to store your little treasures. www.rededition.com
The Martine Micallef brand is celebrating its first year of existence. Perfume designers Martine and Geoffrey Newman capture their precious fragrances in “in-house” bottles, painted by Martine herself and decorated with Swarovski crystals. 2 rue d’Antibes, Cannes (04 97 06 05 44).
Specialists say that his work is reminiscent of Ernest Pignon-Ernest. Philippe Gourdon, contemporary artist, replaces canvas with marble and works on it like a sculptor, though he uses a paint-brush to delineate faces, bodies and poses. Originally an art director for various magazines, he then became a composer-performer of music for films and television. After a stint in the studios devoted to nude drawings on the Place des Vosges in Paris (where he learnt the basics of academic drawing), he began to create, exhibit and decided to settle on the Côte d’Azur, in Cannes to be precise. “I paint what I love, the game of love. I try to be freer in my drawing, more fluid, less academic, to let the emotion come across.” He also investigated the possibility of creating (artistic) furniture… Such as a marble table, partly painted. He has to go to Carrara to find the perfect piece of marble, then tackle the work itself. A unique piece, of course. Which will quite probably open up the way for others. Philippe Gourdon has no shortage of ideas or enthusiasm. 436 rue Saint-Sauveur (06 11 10 26 34).
Lafano and Altus are two Italian manufacturers of top-notch partitions and wall cladding for the first, false ceilings made of glass tiling and wall cladding for the second. Thanks to their innovative concepts, you can dress up a rather unsightly ceiling, physically separate spaces without masking the volumes or interrupting perspectives. Design solutions for both homes, commercial and business premises. In sales at Espace et Transparence, 2 avenue des Tignes, Le Cannet (04 93 06 00 47).
The outdoor leather used for Duvivier’s “Coach”sofa allows it to spend the entire winter outside and still fend off the effects of bad weather. The programme consists of five elements, fireside and corner armchairs, pouff and low tables, for simple or more complex compositions. Duvivier, 10 rue Gubernatis, Nice (04 93 85 99 58).
Jessica is an Art Deco freak, with the accent on Deco ! She grew up with an interior architect as a father before joining the world of art. In 2007, she launched an on-line boutique, then decided to put Mistinguett in front of a showroom. Jessica is, in fact, at the helm of premises with a mezzanine where she proposes items that have caught her eye, as eclectic as they are unexpected. As witnessed by her erotic corner, soft and tasteful, hardly likely to make anyone blush ! Joe the Polar Bear and a limited-series bookcase from Ibride rub shoulders with armchairs designed by Draga Obradovic. “Mistinguett is the first boutique in France to stock them.” Exclusivity that extends to Sturm und Plastic and its furniture with a frosted effect. With a glance back in time, there are also re-editions of great classics. Mistinguett is off-beat, a bit eccentric, and a gold-mine for fans of the ’thirties and ’fifties !
ModoLuce is known for its on-going research in terms of materials but also experimentation with shapes. Light ? It becomes a pretext. An excuse for all the fantasy. As evidenced by “Atollo” by Paolo Grasselli, presented here in its pouf version, with a cushion in fireproof Lycra with removable cover. En vente chez Serra Luminaire Contemporain, 2 rue Gubernatis, Nice (04 93 80 40 61).
In his Outdoor collection for Métaphores, Olivier Nourry gives priority to ultra-resistant fibres, original weaves and colours recalling nature (water, plantlife, the sun, fruit, earth and sky). An invitation to relax while enjoying an Indian summer. En vente chez L’Atelier du Tapissier, 34 rue Georges Clemenceau, Cannes (04 93 38 77 44).
Three leading names in interior decoration were linked together at the Furniture Show in Milan : Tai Ping, Swarovski and Arik Levy. The connection ? The internationally renowned designer created the Tai Ping carpets displayed as part of the “Osmosis” concept, a series of installations illustrating de-cristallization of Swarovski crystal. With this project, Arik Levy continues to explore the evolution of crystal, from its real to its virtual existence. Glittering Lurex fibres are now introduced into the making of handmade products. The result is stunning, an achievement in 2 and 3D. As the designer admits : “This collaboration with Tai Ping allows me to constantly explore new aspects of my own creative research”. Arredo, 13 rue de la Turbie (00 377 93 30 09 78).
If you remember, Sabz was the first to offer a coherent set of products and services to turn the outdoors into an extra room for the home. This spring, it went one step further by launching a commercial site dedicated to the outdoor-indoor concept : www.sabz.com, a must for all those who want to learn all about it. The professional section enables architects, decorators, landscape gardeners etc. to obtain quick quotes. Ready ? Click ! www.sabz.fr
Gray Goose has treated itself to the talent of Jacques Garcia and three baroque and modern stoppers. Silvery threads of silk and a swatch of real goose feathers remind us of France’s great tradition of haberdashery. 520 €, available until September. 0 810 070 060
It all started with a key. Jean-François Bollié was working in a locksmith’s workshop. By introducing him to steel, this key would also open the doors of art to him. He learned welding and made a sculpture of a thinker. A recurring character in his life as an artist which he varies to infinity, on canvas and in space. In his studio on the port, Jean-François now experiments with all kinds of art : his paintings with their integrated burns show strength and maturity. His creations make light of the material the better to flatter it, and are exhibited in galleries, in Chelsea for example, in New York. But the artist has other dreams, lots of ideas and large-scale projects. “Whether we are artists, surgeons, masons or industrialists, we do the same work, with body and soul.”
New from BoConcept ! The brand is evolving to become an interior decorator. Henceforth, a professional can come to your home, absorb your personality and taste, and give you an estimate for the space to be transformed or enhanced. The overall atmosphere of your home is taken into account. Phase two : delivery of a style catalogue (fabric samples, colours for the chosen furnishings, plans... ). The price of the service ? 200 €, reimbursable from an amount determined by the shop. BoConcept, 1254 route de la Valmasque, Valbonne (04 92 38 98 60).
Make way for lots of transparency and finishes in shiny lacquer. ID Design is known for presenting avant-garde creations such as Verardo furniture and the “Naos” table from Halifax by Tisettanta. With Bretz, sofas loosen up, Misuraemme is perfection for storage and Fontana Arte, the ace of lighting design. A superb showcase for furniture and contemporary lighting. 159 avenue Francis-Tonner, Cannes (04 92 19 49 79).
Art in its simplest form and within everyone’s reach is the challenge taken up by Marie. After studying Fine Arts in Vallauris and a voluntary exile in Narbonne, she has returned to her native Var and opened a studio. A haven for apprentice sculptors and budding or established artists. L’Atelier de Marie, 27 rue St-Jacques, La Garde-Freynet (06 85 67 14 50).
They could almost be taken for big acid drops ! Round and closed with yellow, green or orange rubber, these "Valentin" cans can be clipped and remain perfectly airtight. Ideal for cereals and aperitif biscuits. 17.90 €. En vente chez Villeroy & Boch, 125 rue d’Antibes, Cannes (04 93 99 47 03).
