Family
Tucked away in a Parisian alley: a vibrant, family treehouse
At
Virginie Godard, Hugues Lecomte, and Sacha, 5-and-a-half years old
Perched atop a building nestled in a charming alley in eastern Paris, this family apartment feels like a lively treehouse. The tone is set: a vintage wood stove, a spiral staircase, and an open kitchen leading to a spacious terrace with a sweeping view over Paris all hint at the lifestyle of this trio. Virginie Godard, founder of the LFM agency, Hugues Lecomte, a cabinetmaker, and their daughter Sacha belong to those for whom the kitchen is the heart of a home, and the home, a place to host. It’s also at the core of Virginie Godard’s profession, just steps away from her home. The LFM agency specializes in all things culinary, from catering to strategic consulting. We, too, fell under her spell during a cocktail event brimming with originality for our collaboration launch with artist Thomas Lélu. This left us wanting to know more about the agency’s founder, who describes herself as a lover of beauty and flavor. And of joy, we’d add. During an interview, The Socialite Family got a bit of altitude—and a shot of good cheer.
Location
Paris
Author
Elsa Cau
Photos and videos
Valerio Geraci
TSF
Virginie, Hugues, tell us about yourselves?
Virginie
I'm a lover of the good and the beautiful. That's what defines me in all aspects of my personal and professional life.
Hugues
I'm someone who can’t answer this question at all (laughs).
TSF
What are your respective career paths?
Hugues
I studied industrial engineering in the south of France. After that, I did something completely different - 15 years in the restaurant business. I had my own restaurants in Valence. Then I went to Lausanne, Switzerland, for a few years, where I also opened restaurants. I arrived in Paris seven years ago. I was manager of Hôtel Particulier de Montmartre, and then went on to La Vierge de la Réunion restaurant in the 20th arrondissement. Then came the lockdown, and I stopped completely, like a lot of people, and... I moved into woodwork.
Virginie
As for me, I studied applied arts and then graphic design. My career has been marked by encounters: very young, I worked with fashion designer Irina Volkonsky, the muse of Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, a girl with orange hair! From graphic design, I then moved on to staging her collections, then she put me on shows in Europe where I became her sales representative. Then I worked in fashion. The director of the Première Classe show spotted me and I became responsible for selection. I had to unearth new accessories, like bags, jewellery and shoes. It was great, because it was artisanal fashion. I spent seven years going round the world searching for unique items. I ended up as artistic director of the shows: I took care of communication campaigns, in particular. We also created a show, Don't believe the Hype, which was integrated into Première Classe. We brought a restaurant - Christophe Juville's first Spock - into the middle of the show and everyone complained, but in the end it was pretty avant-garde! (Laughter) Today, it seems pretty obvious. And then, I turned 30, I also wanted to prove to myself that I could do something on my own. I'd always had a passion for food and wine. I set up the Food Market the following year: a market and a canteen in Paris with stands. We'll celebrate our tenth anniversary in 2025! At the same time, I set up the LFM agency, which starts from the observation that brand messages cannot ignore food. At the time, I was going to parties that were still offering the classic champagne and verrine combo. The LFM agency had to offer the avant-garde of what was happening on the gastronomic scene. Then our activities diversified.
TSF
How did you become a woodworker? With training or are you self-trained?
Hugues
It was completely by chance (laughter). I read a lot about the subject and, above all, I worked with woodworkers to learn on the job. I now share a workshop with two others in Romainville. An artist and a cabinet-maker who shares a lot of his knowledge with me. My long-term goal is to have my own workshop for custom projects.
Virginie
You also do show windows!
Hugues
Yes, with Laurent, my associate cabinet-maker, I work at night in luxury shop windows for the layout, technical decor and installation.
TSF
The decision must have made a big change to your day-to-day routine!
Hugues
It meant starting again from scratch. It wasn't easy, but I'd put aside a little money and Virginie was there and things were going well for her. It was a project for our couple, a team effort. I wouldn't have done it alone. And it was an obvious choice with Sacha: it was also about adopting another lifestyle. I no longer wanted to work in the evenings, at weekends and during the holidays as you do in the restaurant business.
TSF
What are the activities of the LFM agency?
Virginie
It's a creative agency that specialises in food and beverages. We do a lot of events, dinners, and book chefs for brand events. And we also provide support for restaurants and chefs regarding their image, positioning and development strategy. Last but not least, we also provide consultancy. Clients call us for advice: what should we serve being brand X or Y? How should we talk about the culinary event? Why at that particular time? It may not be obvious, but gastronomy is a major vector of communication today. When a customer goes into a shop, you serve them something to drink and eat. What do you serve them? Why did you serve that? And above all, what does it say about your brand?
TSF
Today, gastronomy has become very important in all sectors. Hasn't it become more difficult to stand out in this area?
Virginie
I am very happy that it is moving in this direction: we value more local producers, gastronomy in general is no longer neglected, reserved for a chosen few, and is gaining importance. And I'm not worried about us: we're super creative at the agency. We don't follow trends, but work on fundamentals. The focal point of our lives is to eat at a restaurant or in a bar, everyone at the agency is passionate about that, and everyone is full of ideas. We know what's happening in our field. We are able to go beyond trends, or use them because customers want precisely the current fashion, and we know it by heart. Right now, it's the little silver cup with ice cream, jellies, and in two years it will be something else, but we'll still be here because we analyse and anticipate.
TSF
So, what will the future bring?
Virginie
Superfood, foods that do you good, like collagens and activated carbons. They've been around for a while, but now I don't think there will be a party where they don't serve something that's supposed to do us good, a notion that goes beyond simple pleasure.
TSF
What environments did you grow up in and how did they influence your tastes?
Hugues
I was born in Rouen, where I lived until I was thirteen years old, before my father was transferred to Valence, and stayed there until I was twenty-five. My father made mail-sorting machines and my mother was a clerk. We spent our summers in Brittany, in my father's family, who were farmers. Things were really classic at home, nobody cared about the decor. It was when I started work in restaurants that I had a mentor: it was pretty much him who made me discover atmosphere, decoration and food as an art of living. That being said, I remember that we restored houses with my father and my brother in Brittany. We were always doing handiwork.
Virginie
I come from Val-d'Oise, so I'm from the suburbs, from a small town wedged between upper-class towns, like Enghien-les-Bains and Montmorency, and rundown communities like Sarcelles. My mother was a social worker. She runs a medical-educational institute for children with rather mild disabilities. She often used to take me to work with her. That's why the working-class and diversity aspect is really important to me in everything I do. My father works at Renault. He is a true class defector, since he really did come up from the gutter. And he managed to travel, learn English and hang out with guys who went to all the right schools. He was proud of that. So I grew up in the famous French middle class. My dream was Paris! Paris, the end of the commuter train line. Other than that, my mother had taste, took me to exhibitions, was open and curious.
TSF
How did you discover this flat and did you do a lot of work here?
Virginie
Through our network of restaurateurs, of course! We visited it and had nothing to do. To be very honest, we moved in our furniture, but everything here contributes to its charm: it's like a little lookout post with a terrace. We fell in love with this room, the kitchen, which is bathed in sunlight with a large terrace. It corresponds to our way of life: cooking, inviting friends. Our kitchen is a bit like our living room. It's the focal point of our flat.
Hugues
I have some furniture projects to redo for the house: downstairs in the living room, for example.
TSF
Can you tell us about a few of the objects you particularly like in your home?
Virginie
I have a passion for colourful glass. Combined with a new activity: I make stained-glass. You can see an example here in the kitchen! And then we spent a lot of time in flea markets. The chairs around the our table are by Vico Magistretti, who helped 'popularise' designer furniture, which I obviously like a lot. And then we have to mention the art of the table. I could buy stuff all the time!
Hugues
And you do!
TSF
Has the arrival of Sacha in your lives changed the way you see your home?
Virginie
We had hopes of a guest room for about 15 days. Otherwise, nothing has changed except the pace. We talked about it earlier: we had this new equilibrium with Hugues who'd changed career and my activity, which gained importance just when I was giving birth! When you're an entrepreneur, you have no notion of maternity leave. But you set your own limits. That's something else. So, I never had a total break to enjoy bringing up my child and then a return to the office with no transition. In the end, the transition was smoother! And above all, I had a great guy who does what he has to do, which is half the tasks. Then, while changing career, Hugues took on a lot of my tasks for himself, which enabled me to continue working as much.
TSF
What are your favourite addresses in the neighbourhood?
Virginie & Hugues
In our neighborhood, we have Tempilenti, our favorite restaurant. Silvia and Francesca are amazing! Then there's the local café, yet another hit crafted by none other than Florent Ciccoli! Café Comets, the coffee shop where you instantly feel at home—reminds me of Berlin’s vibe. Aux Bons Crus, a classic spot with good, simple food at a great price. People also come for Kévin, the owner. Near the office, there’s Buttes Snack Bar—our neighbor across the courtyard. They’re fantastic, and the food and drinks are always on point. Le Cadoret is timeless and unbeatable; we never tire of its cuisine or vibe. Paloma is our go-to for the best lunch specials and a fantastic team. And Les Folies is perfect for sitting on the terrace, day or night, to soak up Belleville’s energy.
TSF
What do you think of The Socialite Family?
Virginie
The Socialite Family is a captivating media outlet: stepping into someone’s home and uncovering their interior. It's a passion in itself—and a perfect way to satisfy curiosity. It’s also a brand with a strong signature; you recognize their furniture at first glance!
TSF
Do you have a favourite piece in our collection?
Virginie
I really loved the
but the
has stolen the show since then!