Family
Atelier Rosemood's Collection Director's House in Nantes with Garden
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Marion and Guillaume de Beauvoir, Raphaël 12, Joséphine 10 and Daphné 5 years old
Marion and Guillaume de Beauvoir met in Paris, having lived only a few metres away from each other since their childhood. But it was in Nantes that the couple decided to settle when their youngest daughter arrived. Their move to the Loire-Atlantique department allowed them to experience the taste of a gentler life…and above all to take part in the Rosemood adventure! A printing workshop – initially specialising in the production of invitations – which now offers to immortalise our moments of togetherness with family and friends and to record them on unique customisable creations. One a technical director, the other a collections director – the couple never thought they would work together again. It was without counting on this entrepreneurial project on a human scale that won them both over. Marion – a trained designer – has always been fascinated by paper and is thrilled by its versatility. She has cultivated a taste for this medium since her childhood, when she enjoyed drawing the plans of her dream house. She did not think she would find it in Nantes at first, in the form of their current residence, an interior that has been “in its original state for over fifty years”. But it was thanks to patience that the little family made it their own, appreciated it and made it a nest that reflected their personality. Not only because of its large garden, but also because of its light. Here, the living room is bathed in sunlight and hosts a selection of furniture that is drip-fed into the room, respecting several criteria dear to the director of the collections: old pieces chosen by heart. This is because the designer works with affection. Here “it can take several years for a desk to find its chair, or a bedside table its lamp!” she tells us. She is determined to anchor the object in time over the long term, both in her work and in her family cocoon.
Location
Nantes
Author
Juliette Bruneau
Photographer
Jeanne Perrotte
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TSF
Marion, Guillaume: could you introduce yourselves, please?
Marion
I’m a designer with a passion for crafts. My husband Guillaume is an engineer by training. We could never have imagined that one day we would be able to combine our expertise and work together and yet… our paths have both led us to Atelier Rosemood. We grew up in Paris, just a few metres apart. We’ve been together for 20 years now and have three children: Raphaël, Joséphine and Daphné.
TSF
What is your background?
Marion
I’ve been drawing plans for my ideal house since I was 10 years old. So I didn’t think twice about training as a designer. After cutting my teeth at the Ateliers Jean Nouvel in Paris, I went to London to work in an architects’ studio. My career path and the opportunities that came my way led me to return to the French capital to join Dior as a designer. For nine years, I designed settings to showcase some outstanding products. My guiding principle was to be avant-garde, unique and different. These demands led me to meet ever more daring and passionate craftspeople and artists. When our daughter Daphne arrived – five years ago – we finally left our beloved city behind and moved to Nantes. Guillaume joined the Rosemood adventure as Technical Director and a few months later – against all the odds – I followed him!
Guillaume
My father always instilled in me a love of entrepreneurship. This is what led me to start my first company at the age of 20 during my engineering studies. After a few years and a master’s degree in business management in London, I set up my second company with Atelier Rosemood, at the time Fairepartnaissance.fr, as my first client. Its founders – Grégoire, Antoine and Hélène – and I kept in touch over the following years. When they asked me to join their incredible adventure, it wasn’t a very hard decision to make.
TSF
Marion, you are now the collection manager for L’Atelier Rosemood, a stationery design and printing workshop. What does your job involve?
Marion
After starting out in Paris, Atelier Rosemood moved to Nantes with its three partners to develop its own printing workshop. Today, the Atelier – which since its launch has been producing invitations – also allows you to print your most treasured memories through our range of customisable photo products (photo albums, notebooks, calendars, prints, posters, etc.). As our primary concern is to satisfy our customers, the quality of our products and service are at the heart of our creations. We work hand-in-hand with my teams and our workshop to design all our new collections and products. We’re very lucky because Hélène, Grégoire and Antoine trust us and give us a great deal of creative freedom. This allows us to offer products with very careful finishes, sometimes worthy of an art edition, that set us apart from the rest of the market. And to do so, we are constantly on the lookout for new talent, designers and expertise.
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TSF
How did you go from fashion in Paris – your first professional experiences – to stationery in Nantes?
Marion
In my projects for Dior, I often worked with paper, which offers many possibilities for formatting: from the creation of a pop-up book, an embossed and gilded front, to an entire décor… You can design anything. When I arrived in Nantes I set up mamasan, my creative studio for scenography and advice on special events. This same medium was unconsciously at the heart of each of my projects. When I had the opportunity to join Atelier Rosemood I jumped at the chance. Life in Nantes – especially with three children – is much more pleasant and even though I miss Paris a lot, I’m not ready to give up this quality of life. We enjoy our life as a family more and more each day. Living here feels like being on holiday!
TSF
Tell us about your education in ‘beauty’. How did you develop your eye for design?
Marion
Beauty is extremely subjective. For me, the most beautiful thing is the one you never get tired of, the thing you always look at with the same degree of attention. That’s why I like to design timeless yet innovative products. Care, attention to detail and high standards make the difference.
TSF
What about designers and artists: whose work has had a particular influence on you and your work?
Marion
All my artistic encounters have inspired me and continue to influence my work. Creativity is everywhere, it’s difficult to come up with an exhaustive list. If I had to name just a few designers whose work I admire, I’d include Valentin Loellmann, Laurent Nogues (Créanog), Raphael Navot, Mathias Kiss, Isamu Noguchi, Pietro Seminelli, Laureen Collin, Eileen Gray, Pierre Soulages, and Geoffrey Bawa. I like the unique identity of each one and their associated skills and expertise.
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Life in Nantes - especially with three children - is much more pleasant and even though I miss Paris a lot, I'm not ready to give up this quality of life.
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TSF
Tell us the story of how you came across this house.
Marion
It wasn’t really love at first sight. But arriving from Paris, we were looking for space and especially for some outside space. The garden immediately to us appealed. It was a real jungle! The property itself hadn’t been touched for over 50 years. Everything needed rethinking, it was the dream project!
TSF
How did you plan it?
Marion
We had two objectives: to bring in light and to enlarge the living spaces. As our children are still quite young – they are never very far from us – Guillaume and I appreciate the corners of the house that allow us to isolate ourselves without disappearing from the room.
TSF
What about furnishing?
Marion
I furnish a bit at a time. Every piece, every object is important to me. I can’t just buy furnishings. I wait for things I fall in love with, and I like to give us pieces that are old and tell a story. It can take several years for a desk to find its chair, or a bedside table its lamp! Waiting makes you appreciate the object and its usefulness even more once you have it. I hope to pass on these values to my children.
TSF
What does this place say about you?
Marion
It’s hard to say. I would say that it’s a warm place turned towards nature. This house is a reflection of us, and we feel good in it.
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TSF
What does The Socialite Family mean to you?
Marion
Discovering eclectic and inspiring lifestyles as well as a beautiful selection of timeless objects and furniture …
TSF
You live in Nantes. What are your favourite places to go?
Marion
A must for Rosemooders: La Maison Arlot Cheng. It is a bakery, café and creative space run by Pierre-Antoine and CJ. If you love 20th century furniture, I suggest you go to Barak. The Atelier Dodé shop offers a selection of work by French craftspeople. If you prefer vintage, I suggest the shop Les Esthètes. Finally, the flea market on the Place Viarme, and the florists, Pollen, offers a fantastic range of flowers.
TSF
Christmas is coming. How are you preparing for the festive season?
Marion
This year we will be with my family, my sisters, the cousins, the dogs, the cat… Fortunately, we found a nice farm in the Landes to welcome us all for a few days and get ready for Christmas together. I like to give gifts that have meaning and convey an emotion. Every year we make a photo calendar for my parents which they use all year round. They love discovering a photo from the previous summer every month. For my sisters I am thinking of a personalised “kids notes” booklet. My children put little words, drawings and songs in mine. It is a real collection of memories. As for me, I think I’ll finally take the time to buy myself a photograph album. Of course, all at Atelier Rosemood! Meanwhile, the countdown is on with my beautiful advent calendar!
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Every year we make a photo calendar for my parents which they use all year round. They love discovering a photo from the previous summer every month.
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