Tell us about yourself? What do you do for a living ?

I first trained as a stylist, then a few years later I discovered photography. Today the two are intertwined, I work for several different brands.

I created Grès to work directly with objects and to be able to develop my own personal designs.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The relationship that is created between the craftsman, the ceramist, the earth, and then the resulting object. The whole – rather slow – creative process, where everyone brings their expertise, where each step has its own importance.

Which are your sources of inspiration? Which materials do you use?

They can be multiple: a walk, a trip, a colour, a photo, an exhibition, a stone picked up in the forest, a piece of wood, a secondhand object….

For Grès we only use natural materials. The earth comes from right next to the workshop, it is not treated in any way and this gives it a very spontaneous, authentic feel. We use simple cotton or jute for the handmade lampshades.

Why did you choose to create lamps? 

The lamp is a utilitarian object, but I love the way it brings a sense of atmosphere to a room through the light it diffuses.

Tell us about how you select objects for your home? What do you look for ?

We have many objects that have been with us for a long time – sometimes they are family objects with a whole affective dimension, other times they are vintage pieces objects that we picked up – because they evoke emotion or because they are unique . And then there are some more contemporary pieces too. Each object finds its balance in its mix with the others. Creating your interior is all about creating a cocoon that will reflect your personality.

Do you have any “essentials” regarding your interior?

Here we favour a lot of wood, and natural materials. The colors are quite monochromatic and neutral, and the warmth of materials like wood brings comfort. White soothes. We try not to accumulate too much. Sobriety is important.

“Creating your interior is all about creating a cocoon that will reflect your personality.”

You have moved several times, each time doing major work to renovate your home. Do you have any advice to share with our readers who wish to embark on a similar project?

I find that it is not always easy to anticipate the atmosphere of a house, because ultimately we cannot impose it, sometimes it is the house which imposes its atmosphere on us. So I think that the best way is by taking your time, doing a renovation in several stages, understanding the light and the atmosphere of the place, seeing how the places evolves in the different seasons.

Do you have any new projects underway at the moment?

We have a project to live even more immersed in nature. In a very simple place, but surrounded by meadows.

Lamps by Grès