Here, the art of living is given pride of place. Artists' portraits, contemporary furnishings, decorative items, beauty products and restaurants meet everypossible desire.
“When it comes to creating something, I set myself a challenge : to master the glass in order to express something in my imagination.” Young artist/glass-blower Antoine Pierini didn’t have to go too far to learn the trade. His father handed down the techniques, teaching him how to handle fire, form and colour. Very early on, Antoine left for Seattle to perfect his expertise. He also followed a course given by Udo Zembok. As a result, this 26 year-old has already developed his own style. Le Vieux Moulin, 9 chemin du Plan, Biot (04 93 65 01 14).
Her gandfather and great-grandfather were cabinet-makers. She studied Graphic Arts before becoming artistic director in an advertising agency. But one fine morning, heredity caught up with her. “I was making pictures based on collages. And I began to think : why not use this idea as a springboard for designing decorative furniture ?”… Elisa M. had found the right path : tables and screens, refined but practical, covered with rich fabrics (her mother was a seamstress…), paper and natural materials. Obviously, each item is unique and Elsa only works – for the time being – by commission. And according to her inspiration. Ethnic, if one looks at “Nairobi”, a console in tinted limewood with fabric decoration, or “Java”, a wrought-iron screen. An initiative worth following… Elisa M. (06 12 32 13 77). From La Romarine, 15 boulevard Victor-Hugo, Nice (04 93 82 40 86).
Sophie Richaudeau always thought she’d work in fashion. Until she discovered porcelain at the School of Decorative Arts in Limoges. For the past four years, she has signed collections for Medard de Noblat. And thanks to her, the art of the table is sometimes baroque, sometimes precious, occasionally “Japanese”, and always full of fantasy. Sales outlets Pecha, 3 rue Masséna, Nice (04 93 16 28 08).
Specializing in household fabrics, Ado, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year, proposes net drapes, sunblinds, Japanese screens, as well as furnishing mat-erials. In 2004, over forty new references testify to the talent of Ado designers. Three major trends stand out : “Balance”, synonymous with naturalness, originality and authenticity ; “Réflexion” or the esthetics of the future ; and “Flexibil-ity”, a bold blend of eras and cultures. Each product is identifiable by means of a thin gold edging at the bottom of the curtain. Ado, Sales outlets 03 89 31 02 20.
Transparency : a key-word which governs all creations and stage-settings signed Baccarat. As exemplified by items designed by Thomas Bastide and Nicolas Triboulot, who make light of any difficulties through the constant use of their expertise, imagination, inventiveness and technical prowess. For these admirable vases are above all the expression of a form of science. “Passion” is striking for its simplicity, while the “Diva” line offers ethereal beauty. With “Océanie”, make way for the mystery of the Land of the Rising Sun, where everything is subtly veiled. Each object is designed to shed the limelight on flowers, bouquets, floral compositions…, providing a style and unsuspected dimensions for its contents, thanks to the poetic aura conveyed by its lines. Baccarat, from Jacques Andreolis, 8 rue Paradis, Nice (04 93 88 68 68).
Colonial art now has its own address, or rather several addresses, in France. Shogun, which has two stores in the Alpes-Maritimes, of 1,600 and 800 m2, at Sophia-Antipolis and Saint-Laurent-du-Var, offers everything that fans of furniture and items from distant lands could dream of. Tables, wardrobes and four-poster beds in exotic or precious woods such as teak or abaca, animals in leather and statues made of bronze… Nothing’s missing ! And for good reason : these are the biggest displays of colonial items you’ll find in France. Asia and Africa are right on hand in these showrooms where quality and good taste are only equalled by richness of choice and diversity. Manufacturer, importer, wholesaler and retailer, Shogun proposes the most competitive prices on the market. Another important asset : you’ll find ideas for your own home in the different stage-sets at these two addresses. Shogun, port Saint-Laurent-du-Var (04 93 07 00 47) et 1254 route de la Valmasque, Valbonne (04 93 65 41 45).
Already a distributor for Ressources paint, Début de Siècle has made the display area reserved for the brand even bigger. Also in pole position, sofas in prune, chocolate or red, combining contemporary design with intemporal comfort. In the lighting department, a designer from Lyon takes centre-stage, presenting her pieces under the label “Cahokia Créations”. An extra bonus, Début de Siècle will be happy to make your curtains ! Début de Siècle, 9 rue Gubernatis, Nice (04 93 62 25 29).
This showroom in Nice has taken up its winter quarters. Here come autumnal tones and cosy materials ! Already flaunting 166 shades, Flamant adds twelve more colours to its palette - and you’ll find the same diversity in the fabrics. Novelty takes the form of tables with extensions, natural oak with an unpolished finish for wardrobes and babies’ bedrooms. Customers will be delighted to hear that the boutique also proposes accessories for homes in the mountains. Le Temps Retrouvé, 8 rue de la Liberté, Nice (04 93 37 47 60).
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, and at the initiative of its Art Director Tom Dixon, Habitat has given “carte blanche” to 22 personalities to think up a product. All experts in their own fields, none of them belong to the world of design. Carla Bruni thus proposed a hammock inspired by “the ones you find in Italy. I wanted it to be usable both indoors and out”. Writer-philosopher Deepak Chopra opted for a yoga mat, stylist Paul Smith came up with a coat-hanger. Architect Jean Nouvel designed a table on aluminium trestles and Kristin Scott Thomas a portable leather desk. You’ll keep your shoes in a box signed Linford Christie and sip champagne from glasses dreamt up by Tanya Streeter, world champion in apnae diving. Habitat, Nice-Etoile, 38 av. Jean-Médecin, Nice (04 93 92 14 21).
Descamps is dressing up the bedroom with Chinese prints : “Chimères” is rather like a water-colour and comes in the very trendy “Acier” or more classic “Mariée”. Then there’s “Gipsy” with a flowery print on a turtledove background. Mysterious plays of light and shade characterize “Empreintes” with leaves scattered on stripes ranging from light to dark. And as satin still has incomparable allure, “Corfou” in white, cream or chocolate proposes a kimono to match the bed linen. A really seductive total look ! Descamps, 3 rue de la Liberté, Nice (04 93 16 08 10).
With “Dans les allées du jardin rouge”, Geneviève Lethu takes us to a land where everything revolves around the magic hour of tea-time, its exquisite tableware recalling a scene worthy of the richness of old England. A thousands leagues away, “Elans Akun Palace” then plays on gold and opulence to produce tables of baroque splendour. Finally, a focus on minimalism and the round or rectangular forms of “Salomé”… Cap 3000, avenue Donadéi, Saint-Laurent-du-Var (04 93 14 12 56). 24 avenue Jean-Médecin, Nice (04 93 80 65 20).
A decorator for the cinema and advertising, a stylist for children’s ready-to-wear, Marie Robinson then worked for a very fashionable Parisian designer. A fresh start came in the form of a sewing-machine that belonged to her grandmother. And the initial idea was remarkably simple : Marie works with linen, combining it with coloured materials, organdy, cotton, taffeta and silk. She pursues her credo of “100 % natural” to the very end by adding a variety of fragrances to her creations. Her autumn/winter collection called “Parfum d’étoile” will propose star anise flowers delicately embroidered onto tablecloths, place-mats and table riders and slipped into perfumed sachets. A delightful way of updating fine linen and the art of embroidery. La Maison Robinson à Nice, by appointment to 04 93 98 91 49.
The “Palm” and “New Wave Caffè” collections from Villeroy & Boch have grown. The first with “Palm Leaf” and “Palm Garden”, which both add colour, while the second goes for cups with appealing lines. The link comes in the guise of the “New Wave” cup with “Palm Leaf” or “Palm Garden” motifs. La Maison de Villeroy & Boch, 24 rue de l’Hôtel des Postes, Nice (04 93 13 97 02).
The austere study or office has had its day. Make way for colour, lightness and transparency ! Subway proposes two collections to give a new look to work areas. The first, “Boxoffice”, is comprised of boxes, bags, pots (round, square or rectangular) in blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, white or translucid. You can stash anything in them : from your dearest secret to DVDs. “Burotic” then takes over with funny paper-clips, mini rotating desk-memos and “No Agraf”, the first-ever stapleless stapler. On sale from the Virgin Megastore, 15 avenue Jean-Médecin, Nice (04 97 03 09 00).
Until now, Interior’s Design has been synonymous with “avant-garde”. You visited the showroom to unearth an ultra-trendy accessory or piece of furniture. The shop has retained this image while adding another string to its bow, in the guise of what Jean-Christophe Poirier calls “classic contemporary”. Henceforth, alongside Fontana Arte, Misura Emme and Porada (amongst others), you’ll find the world of Protis, a wide choice of accessories, carpets (standard or made-to-measure) and, of course, advice on interior decor. This autumn gives priority to diversity, quality and evolution at Interior’s Design, now one of the only representatives in Cannes for international prestige brands. Interior’s Design, 151 avenue Francis-Tonner, Cannes-la-Bocca (04 92 19 49 79).
