Colorful interview: Micheline Taillardat and the French spirit

This past fall I had the thrill of sitting down for a colorful chat with the delicously chic and talented Micheline Taillardat.  In case you don’t know- Ms. Taillardat is the creative mind and eye behind Taillardat, the furniture firm that she began back in 1987.  Over the past 22 years, Taillardat has been hand crafting beautiful and unique pieces ‘inspired by’ the furnishings of 18th century France.

Micheline takes a seat in the Taillardat showroom in NYC’s Design Center.  I caught a moment with her as she was in New York celebrating a new collection featuring the lush fabrics of Pierre Frey ( as seen in this pix… believe me in person the colors were to die for!)

It’s important to note that her furnishings are neither reproductions nor copies.  Ms. Taillardat studies drawings of pieces originally created during France’s ‘ Age of Enlightenment’….when France was ruled by Louis XVI, XV and XIV and just before the time of Napoleon -for you history buffs out there.  So a leg from one period may be set with a design from another….a handle from one and a curve from another… you get the idea.

So spot on in their detail, craftsmanship and colors -it’s easy to see why Taillardat furniture would be a natural choice to have been featured throughout Sophia Coppola’s film version of  “Marie- Antoinette” .  It only seems fitting that the young queen of decadence would have chosen to surround herself with only the best.

I knew Micheline was going to be a fun interview when one of the first things she said to me when we met was “Look around my showroom, what color don’t you see?”

Was it a trick question?  I was so amazed being amongst such brilliant hues ( a raspberry chair in particular had my full attention)  that it took me a moment to get my barrings before I finally realized that the answer was ‘blue’.

“Blue, for fashion yes,yes… but for home no, not for me… too cold” she explained in her oh-so- charming French accent.

Hooray Micheline is a lover of orange too!  Her showroom was painted in the most beautiful shade of warm orange/red…( If I remember correctly I believe it is Benjamin Moore Navajo Red) the other colors throughout the showroom simply ‘popped’ against it!

On the subject of colors I couldn’t help notice that besides my raspberry friend,  there were other pieces draped in equally vibrant fabrics.  Was this her giving a modern twist to her interpretations of the historic lines and finishes I wondered?

Micheline explained to me that no, that these are the colors that would have been prominent in fine homes throughout France at the time.  What we see today are antiques featuring fabrics that have faded over time.  So though we usually associate pale, pastel tones as the fabric colors… in reality, when these pieces were new the colors were quite dark and rich.

These are a few of my favorite things… in a perfect world these would be the perfect pieces for my own home. Love, Love the fabric on both chairs and my bedroom is simply crying out for that dresser!

I also couldn’t help but notice one section of the showroom featuring furniture bathed in a dark black finish…I always think pale washed or light woods when I think about any furniture that a King named Louis might use.

Micheline explained that painting furniture black in your home was a symbolic sign of loyalty to King Louis XVI after he was imprisoned and put to death during the French Revolution.  Wow, so what is now considered a classic color for French furnishing actually started out as a rebellious social statement… how interesting- I guess we can credit the guillotine with starting that color trend.

Manufactured in France on a small scale-all pieces are handcrafted in traditional methods from beginning to end in the Taillardat workshop located in Orleans.  The hand-made finishes and patinas give the furniture an ancient glow.  Who wouldn’t love to say their chairs have an ‘opera’ finish?

Oh, and another thing that is equally fascinating.. only weeks before our meeting Micheline had been named in France as an Officer in the National Order of Merit by the Prefect of the Loiret… which is not only an honor but a really huge deal!  Seems that the nation of France appreciates her desire to keep the ‘French Spirit’ (as she likes to call it) in design and construction alive as much as Taillardat fans do.

And after some coaxing ( she is quite humble- I’d probably be wearing it around town ) I got a peek at this amazing symbol of her years of visionary hard work… hmm, seems she finally found something blue for her home after all!

( FYI- I’m hoping to have the audio version of the interview up over the weekend… so check back and see if I can figure yet another form of technology out! )

Also, if you are lucky enough to have a stay at the Four Seasons Hotel in either Geneva or Paris you can experience the furniture for yourself… Micheline’s wonderful designs are there for all to enjoy!

p.s. Thanks again Micheline…. it was an honor and joy to meet you!!!!!