A Little Bit of Herve in My Life

Dream room: Interior design by Muriel Brandolini with wall sconce and side table by Herve Van der Straeten

Gimme Shelter

Do you ever open a shelter magazine and find yourself gazing at a room that you -- immediately, instinctively -- are drawn to?  The response is visceral.  There is no thinking here.  For you, it is just so right.

In one of my favourite magazines, I discovered my dream room a few years ago.  When I first laid eyes upon it, the image simply took my breath away.  Like Alice stepping through the looking glass, I wished I could tread through the frame of the picture and find myself in another world, that world.  And then I stopped and paused and asked myself, "What makes this room so appealing?" 

Was it the repeat floral pattern of the blooming branches, the embroidered silk panels, and the tufted wool rug?  Why, yes.  Was it the rich yet restrained colour palette?  Indeed.  Was it the unorthodox furniture placement?  Absolutely.  Was it the modern simplicity and downright beauty of the wall sconces?  Oh, yes.

And then, I found this room...


Mirror mirror
  

And then, this one.


Contemporary bronze chandeliers in a not-too-contemporary space

 

Hmmm.  I began to see a pattern here.  Was it the interior designer?  No; they varied.  Was it the location of the homes or obvious wealth of the interiors?  Oh no.  What it was, I quickly surmised, was the objects that in my mind made the rooms -- the statement mirror over the bed, the organic orb light fixtures whose contemporary design creates tension with the traditional architecture of the space.  Who it was, was Herve Van der Straeten, the creator of these objects.

Tell Me More

A Parisian trained in the field of engineering, Herve Van der Straeten is an independent designer, who eight years ago, was still relatively unknown in North America.  Each year, his showroom in Paris features a single collection of 25 to 30 objects created in his own workshop.  Employing skilled craftsmen of dying trades and newly apprenticed artisans, he produces furniture (much of it limited editions), lighting and objects that combine the triad of quality, beauty and elegance with an edge.  If you think this all sounds very expensive, it is. 

The desirable but largely unattainable

But Van der Straeten began his foray into the design world by creating jewellery -- beautiful pieces that feature organic shapes, textures of hammered gold, and fluid finishes of lacquer and enamel. With a collection featuring numerous pieces, including earrings, necklaces and cuffs, and available through major retailers, this was the way for Herve to find his way into my life (and if you love what you see as much as I do, yours too).

   Just one of the most desirable, attainable

and readily available!

Now when I see my dream room, I don't imagine stepping into it, but rather I see myself stepping out into the real world with my piece of Herve Van der Straeten gleaming on my wrist, while some chic stranger glances my way and thinks, "Wow, that cuff.  It is so her; it is just so right."

Portrait 

 

Van der Straeten with work and at work.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Images via Elle Decor, Neiman Marcus and the World Wide Web.