Here, the art of living is given pride of place. Artists' portraits, contemporary furnishings, decorative items, beauty products and restaurants meet everypossible desire.
<b>Cannes</b> They celebrated their fifth anniversary in June. Inauguration of their showroom too. “Today, integration of hi-fi, video screening equipment etc. has become more widespread. Our aim is to meet the needs of layout and size, while making best use of the budget,” explains Anaïs Dubois. She and Emmanuel Jacques work 90 % of the time on boats, “because our communication targets this particular sector”. With their main partner, Azimut, they fit out yachts A to Z : the world’s third largest catamaran is one of their references. Projects include a smart home with a projection room of 60 m2, a huge playroom and sound equipment for the garden. “Each project is personalized and top-end-of-the-market.” Needless to say… Architecture Visuelle et Sonore, 16 rue Lecerf (04 93 38 60 43).
“Reine Mère (the Queen Mother), weary of her sumptuous palace, decided to dust off a few traditions. She called on two designers to propose new objects to cheer up her daily life.” The first, Stéphane Clivier, is a cabinet-maker by training, a designer by vocation. Remember the slingshot “XY” chair ? That was him ! The second, architect Didier Lachaize, had also started to produce unique pieces of furniture. Today, they work together on a line of small, practical items focusing on discretion and economical shapes, but also quality. We don’t need sumptuous decors or superfluous things. A clock has two hands, no need for more. The round photophore and soliflore in porcelain are not encumbered with any flourishes. Same goes for the rectilinear fruit basket and “Room Service”, a coffee-tray with its glass. A thin line between architecture and design ? Stéphane Clivier and Didier Lachaize will hardly disagree. Far from it ! <a href="http://www.reinemere.com/creations.php?lan=en">www.reinemere.com</a>
Launched in 1996, L’Ane Bleu has gradually become a crossroads for the art of living in all regions of the south. It has just opened a new showroom on the Domaine de L’Angueiroun, a former hunting ground of about 300 acres. Here one finds the original spirit of L’Ane Bleu, its designers Marie-Hélène Legrand, Caravane, Gilles Espic, Tetrel… It also offers visitors a team keen to share its expertise and give sound advice in interior decor. 1077 ch. de l’Angueiroun, Bormes-les-Mimosas (04 94 71 11 39).
Since it was set up in 1986, Ragnini has made it a point of honour to propose only the very best stone, granite and marble. Quality and variety are its key-words. The company recently decided to use more and more French stones (from Burgundy, the Dordogne and Bordeaux…) in order to comply more easily with French norms. Top-notch materials for customized floors. Ragnini Marbres, 204 chemin Notre-Dame-de-Vie, Mougins (04 93 75 31 14).
Before Valentina Masetti arrived in Nice’s antique-dealer neighbourhood, it was hard to keep up with her. She was constantly hopping from one plane to another for appointments in Paris and Milan. After attending the “Ecole des Beaux-Arts” in Monaco and “Ecole Supérieure des Arts Techniques” in Paris, Valentina designed premises for top-notch names, then this year founded Realty Prestige Decor, her own studio of interior architecture. “I have a feeling for harmony that comes from atmospheres and emotions specific to the theatre.” Whence her showroom, where she proposes “a blend of different eras, a modern vision of interior architecture”. Working closely with her clients, Valentina restores houses, boutiques, hotels, yachts…, always with the accent on personalization. With talented collaborators, this lovely young lady benefits from her Italo-French culture, an extra bonus for all her projects. Realty Prestige Decor, 10 rue Ségurane (04 93 14 48 90 et 06 23 87 81 67).
Light has an effect on our morale, and it’s generally accepted that living in the South has considerable advantages. So what if a lamp became the luminous portrayer of your mood ? Living Colors from Philips changes colour to match your state of mind. A new concept which can light up a wall with more than 16 million different nuances. Living Colors knows all about personalized atmospheres ! 149 € www.philips.fr
He remains indisputably one of the brand’s star designers. Philippe Starck and Kartell is a love story between accomplices which lasts and lingers on. In 2004, the inspired designer came up with “Mademoiselle”, an ultra-feminine armchair which could be dressed, just like a woman. Among other names from the fashion world, Moschino dressed it in a printed fabric called “Love”, a hymn to romance and the joy of living. Ferruccio Laviani gave the polycarbonate “Bourgie” table lamp a look combining contemporary and baroque. Surprising and successful ! For the “T-Table”, Patricia Urquiola opted for new codes, both visual and tactile. Her collection of coffee-tables proposes surfaces alternately composed of empty and filled-in spaces. Refined, unusual offerings which have made the name of Yesterday Today, now a must, thanks to the foresight of its president, Claudio Luti. On sale from Meubles Monsch, boulevard du Colonel-Dessert (04 94 19 66 66).
From her native Vietnam, Christian Duc has retained a taste for refinement and detail. For Becquet, he has designed a set of Percale bed linen with minimalist lines and of dazzling purity. To be imagined in a bedroom with bamboo and orchids to make the illusion perfect. www.becquet.fr
Arik Levy and Baccarat, a partnership which could be nothing other than sparkling. As illustrated by “Phantom”, a ceiling light that joins, quite magnificently, the contemporary line followed by this prestige manufacturer since it began working with Starck. In the case of Arik Levy, the chandelier is fond of basics but nevertheless treats itself to a touch of poetry. Amazing, asymmetrical, it points to the privileged relationship the designer enjoys with architecture in general, material and volumes in particular. Talent sometimes gives birth to light. On sale of Valente, 47 route de Collobrières, Cogolin (04 94 54 46 84).
This company based in Nice has perfected a very ambitious strategy : marketing new designer furnishings (not from destocking, nor unsold goods, nor demonstration models) at prices defying all competition. Design LC proposes made-to-measure furniture in prime-quality materials (Italian leather, oakwood, Securit glass…), produced from customers’ plans, sketches or drawings. All created by Italian designers. To be followed… closely. Design LC (04 93 29 85 76 et 06 14 24 55 22 et www.designlowcost.com).
Armelle Beslay and Emilia Montes followed the same studies before joining Habitat for the one, Façonnable for the other. Four years ago, they met up again and have since worked on one project after another while also bringing out their own furniture. Eclectic and diverse, these two young ladies have gone from a highly contemporary apartment in Nice to Sophie Dudemaine’s home in Brittany, from the town-hall of Roquebrune-sur-Argens to a lounge restaurant on the Roquebrune golf-course, finally coming up with displays for Piment Rouge’s lovetoys (balls 60 cm in diameter, in glossy red and fuchsia perspex). Jacks-of-all-trades ? Yes, but in the best sense of the word, using their imagination to undertake projects as varied as they are unusual. A duo which will undoubtedly be the talk of the town, and very shortly ! 32 av. Cyrille-Besset (06 22 67 41 21 et 06 15 29 40 91).
FB Arts was born of a passion, its founders’ passion for vegetation. They loved plants but found it hard to obtain attractive containers, so they opened this boutique which now offers only contemporary products. You’ll find vases for table-tops, stainless steel pots, some that light up, others adorned with gold leaf. An extra bonus : before buying, FB Arts suggests you try out their models in your own home. Port Cogolin (04 94 56 31 85).
With this showroom in the Principality of Monaco, Bang&Olufsen has found a setting worthy of its products. In floor space of 400 m2, visitors can explore an impressive display of a wide range of products. A home cinema room offering perfect sound and image, “BeoLiving” with a screen that descends from the ceiling, inviting you to settle down on a comfy sofa and use the “Beo4” to dim the lights, close the curtains and switch on your viewing session. That’s what the “BeoLiving” concept actually means ! You’ll also discover B&O’s latest novelties (including the very recent “BeoLab 9”), marvels of technology and esthetics at the service of our eyes and ears. B&O, 3 boulevard des Moulins (00 377 97 70 33 82).
Something new from LSA. Specializing for the past 25 years in creativity based on glass and ceramics, the brand is now extending its collections to include items for the kitchen, table and bathroom. The rules of the game : they must be practical, handsome, easy to use and contemporary. To discover at lsa-international.com
One was missing, here it is ! www. homemaison.com is a new on-line site specializing in home fabrics. Each product is classified in various categories and stage-set with zooms so that you can look at the materials really close up. On the programme : drapes, cushions, decorative items, sets of bed linen… www.homemaison.com
Specializing in contemporary radiators and lighting fixtures, Valente Design has approached this home by basing the decor on ultra-white. The owner wanted to be able to play on changing colours, in the various rooms as well as on the front of the house. Thanks to Andomia’s RGB system, everything becomes, yellow, blue, red, by request… Valente Design chose Flos and Artemide lighting fixtures, Sloom’s luminous pots and radiators made by Saint-Gobain, Cinier and Fondis for the central heating. Route de Collobrières, ZA de Cogolin (04 94 54 46 84).
Nice - The most distinguished designers have placed their inspiration at its service. Vitra - which focuses on children with the same creativity, practicality and concern for good looks as it does for adults - furnishes all the rooms of the house. For the lounge, take a look at “Ravioli”, an armchair signed Greg Lynn. Using a computer simulation, the designer turned a basic square surface into 3D, transforming it into a spatial figure with a surface for support, a concave seat, arm-rests and back. “Ravioli” is in fact a modern-day interpretation of the classic padded armchair. Designed by Maarten Van Severen, “Kast” will be happy just about anywhere. Used for storage, it is looked upon as the quintessence of its creator’s genius, with a modular structure and a basic version presented in the guise of a console. Van Severen has added wood cases and an additional base module. The colours used give the ensemble freshness and optimism. On sale from J.Bonet, 25 rue Scaliéro (04 92 00 36 66).
Ralph Lauren Home sends us off to bed ! The very masculine “Driver” plays on a combination of satin and a tone-on-tone cashmere pattern. Colours come in shades of navy blue, maroon and acid green. To add an even more luxurious touch, a wool blanket and velvet cushions. On sale from Collection Privée, 3 rue des Etats-Unis, Cannes (04 93 99 23 22).
Ambeli sees itself as a showcase for home decor well off the beaten track. It changes as its owners make new discoveries, each room finding its place in this atypical world. Indoors or out, the idea is to enhance the home, terrace and garden. Styles often contrast to complement each other even more successfully. Ambeli also proposes its own creations while looking for young designers to contribute creative ideas. 2 rue du Castelleretto, Monaco (06 78 63 77 98).
The Danish furniture chain BoConcept has an impressive number of studios all over the world. Today, Monaco has been added to the list. As always, the showroom is spacious, the staging highly realistic, and the furniture never-ending. As always, personalization is an essential feature : it’s up to you to define the dimensions, shape, colour of your couch etc. BoConcept, Victor Palace, 32 boulevard des Moulins, Monaco (00 377 97 97 67 97).
