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Marine, what do you do for a living?
A lot of different things! I buy vintage pieces of furniture from great designers and American interior designers from the ‘50s and ‘70s to sell them in sales rooms at Piasa, with which I regularly work. I have been doing this for almost 20 years now. I started with a stall at the flea market of Saint-Ouen and then a boutique, before working a bit less when my first daughter was born. I work with Frédéric Chambre, an auctioneer and associate at Piasa in Paris. I sometimes create thematic sales, such as the one for Silas Seandel in Novembre 2016, and accept to do interior design works when I feel I get along well with the client. I trust my instinct in this case.
For how long have you been living in this house?
We moved in six years ago, when Maud was born.
How would you define your style in terms of interior design?
Gleeful, coloured, poetical and feminine.
Who thought the layout of your house?
It was me. Bertrand, my husband, totally trusted me. I took me time to organise the living room. The pieces of furniture have been moved several times before we found the good setup. Our daughters live in it, so we had to adapt the place to their desires. They also spend a lot of time in the kitchen. We also chose to open the rooms as much as possible to let the light in – it’s omnipresent in the house.
Our daughters live in the living room, so we had to adapt the place to their desires. They also spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
How did you learn about interior design?
My father used to take me to the flea market of Saint-Ouen and my mother is a decoration lover. Both collect paintings, modern sculptures and when we were in holidays, we had to visit museums, see galleries and meet some artists. I have been surrounded by this culture of beauty, which is still everywhere around me.
Is there a period you particularly love?
The ‘60s. Architects and designers of this time were real pioneers. I’m not talking about interior designers but people such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Richard Neutra and Philip Johnson. I admire Charles and Ray Eames for the very practical furniture they designed, with always this desire of comfort with very innovating materials. I love the pure lines in the works of George Nelson. As for Richard Neutra and Philip Johnson, their bay windows open on nature, concrete, glass and the fluidness inside are everything I love.
Was there an icon of design who made you want to do this job?
Charles and Ray Eames. In 1999, I was on Ebay – it was the very beginning of the website – when I saw a picture of one of their iconic chairs: the DAW. A glass fibre shell, “dowel” wood feet. I fell in love with it and the adventure started. Today, unfortunately, this chair has been copied so many times it had become bland.
Is it easy to combine a nice decoration and family life?
Yes, but fussy people like me must constantly tidy up! We taught the girls to respect some works of art and delicate pieces of furniture. They can now live their lives as they want to and we also adapted. If there is a dance show, we move the furniture in the living room. If they want to build a hut with sheets, we improvise.
Do the girls participate in the decoration?
They are not really interested in it for now. The older one only wants white, she likes going straight to the point, and her little sister loves glitters. I’ll have to make efforts to adapt!
Is there a good restaurant you would recommend?
Without hesitation, West Country Girl. It’s the best creperie in Paris.
What’s your next family life project?
We are moving to the countryside near Angers! We fell in love with a country seat from the 18th. It’s a real change of life. We want to show our daughters how nature is important and how we must protect it. And we’ll have another new project in two years. About childhood, freedom and ecology.
Photography : Constance Gennari and Eve Campestrini– Text : Caroline Balvay @thesocialitefamily
In collaboration with Lacoste.
Happy Nesting!