The Home-showroom of the Founder of Midi in the Heart of Paris's 10th Arrondissement

I come from an old family in Haute Provence, from a small village that still bears my name. I spent my childhood on the French Riviera. My summers were divided between the Camargue and our family home. A few years ago, we were looking to furnish our recently acquired home in the Sainte-Baume. We were in search of furniture made in Provence which combined respect for the codes of the region and purity of form. We couldn’t find anything. It was on this day that my project began to take shape. I spent several months criss-crossing Provence, meeting passionate artisans, cabinetmakers, potters, fabric makers: all with that Provençal joie de vivre and unique expertise. The name Midi came quite naturally. It obviously means the south and the middle of the day. But mostly the middle of life, as was my case.

My approach: don’t copy the old one. It would turn out to be a caricature, not as well done and not adapted to our modern way of life. For each piece, I try to tell a story about our heritage. For example, I wanted to revisit the Radassié, the iconic bench of Provence, made in partnership with one of the last chair makers in the region. Since then, I’ve also collaborated with a potter to revisit the classics, but with contemporary lines. Lately, I’ve also been working with a rocaille artisan in Marseille to develop rocaille pieces. I’m in search of radicalism. Classic, timeless pieces that can be passed on, as our ancestors did. Pieces made only with natural, raw materials and a bit of shaping.

One of my uncles put together a genealogy of our family going back to 1483. We are already giving them a sense of pride in who we are and where we come from. I’ve travelled a lot around the world, and I’ve realized one thing: we have the most beautiful country in the world! Because of the richness of its landscapes, the creativity of our ancestors…especially in Provence. In terms of decorative arts, it’s perhaps even the richest and most diverse region…with earthenware from Moustiers, terracotta from Salernes, Varages and Biot. These days, we tend to think that we’re so much smarter than our ancestors because we have a smartphone in our hands. But one only needs to look at how the “simple” farms were made here. Everything was thought out: their position for braving the mistral, the openings in the facade – smaller on the north side, larger on the south side…large trees in front to face the sun in summer or in winter. It’s too bad this common sense has disappeared! History is made up of cycles. We are starting to come back to it, and my work is oriented in this direction.

I like the works of Oscar Niemeyer as well as him personally. He was a Brazilian architect who died at the age of almost 105. He was a witness to as well as a key figure in 20th century architecture, through Brazilia and his work with Le Corbusier. He tamed straight lines and curves like no other. I lived in Copenhagen, where I discovered the work of Danish designers, most notably Poul Kjaerholm. His work, which joins materials like wood, leather and glass, is splendid! And last but not least, Willy Ronis – a photographer who’s taken many pictures of Provence – has touched and inspired me quite a bit. He really knew how to capture the moments of life. Looking at his photos, we can smell the Provençal herbs like thyme and rosemary as well as the heat that enters the house at nap time. We can hear the cicadas. It’s magnificent!

A witness to our times. We see the personality of the families reflected in their interiors!

We live in the 10th as if it were a small village. The district now tends to be oriented toward the Rue du Château d’Eau with La Trésorerie, Mamiche, Univers BD and the Saint-Martin market. But we are also big fans of the restaurants Sur Mer, La Bécane à Gaston and the Le Verre Volé. Alexia likes to go to Centre Commercial for their selection of French and eco-friendly brands, including Veja. As far as Provence, it’s difficult for me to give you places. First, it must be defined (because few people know how to define it!). It runs from the Rhône to just before Nice. It includes the Camargue, the Côte d’Azur, Haute-Provence, the Luberon and the Drôme Provençale. This is why it is difficult for me to give you a precise address. I would say it’s especially important to leave the tourist areas and go inland: the small villages of the Haut-Var, the Jabron Valley and the Drôme Provençale have, for example, magnificent landscapes.

Midi started a short time ago, and I’m happy to see that people like my brand and that answers a real demand. I’m working with numerous designers on great projects that will be released in the coming months. I am also in discussion with several boutiques and galleries, both in France and abroad, who are looking to distribute them. I would like to have few but good partners. Today, I continue to sell directly on my website: www.editions-midi.com. I love getting to know my customers and telling them the story of my products. And through it all, I’ve had some wonderful encounters! Finally, and above all, I’m continuing on my path and in my collaborations with new artisans in order to revisit Provence…its art of living, its craft.