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Jacques Grange

by habituallychic

02 . 26 . 09

Normally I wouldn’t post two books in a row but since Jean-Philippe Delhomme created the advertising for The Mark Hotel that Jacques Grange just redesigned, they seemed to work together. I was at Rizzoli yesterday and happened to see the new Jacques Grange book by Editions du Regard and was blown away! I was also blown away by the high price of over $130 so I didn’t buy it but that didn’t stop two others from snatching it up while I was there! Did I mention that it’s completely in French?!

These photos that I found online don’t even do it justice. The interior shots are stunning and I can’t wait until an English version, Jacques Grange: Interiors is published by Flammarion in September 2009. Of course, my willpower isn’t that good so there is a distinct possibility that I will pick the French version but that means I will finally have to sign up for a refresher French class if I expect to actually be able to read it. But then again, a picture is worth a thousand words, especially those I can’t understand!

17 Comments
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  1. Anonymous February 27, 2009 | 1:04 am

    Altough I don’t work in interior design, I’m a longtime fan of Monsieur Grange’s work. So when I read he finally had a book published, I rushed to buy it. I did it through French Amazon and it cost about 96 USD. And yes, it is well worth the price. No wonder some people consider him the best interior designer in the world.I live in Portugal(a tiny country next to Spain), where he converted 3 fishermen cottages in a fab beach house. Congrats for your blog, Miguel

  2. Brad Williston February 27, 2009 | 2:17 am

    Thank you for posting this–so excited to hear the book is available! Jacques Grange is a true original. Don’t miss the pics of Grange’s Paris apt on The Selby And you can see his country house in the pages of Pilar Vladas’ Domesticities (2006).

    http://www.theselby.com/10_20_08_jacques_grange/index.html

  3. Anonymous February 27, 2009 | 2:42 am

    Jacques Grange did Aerin Lauder’s NY apartment – which says a lot, I think.

  4. Habitually Chic February 27, 2009 | 3:30 am

    Anonymous – I’m glad you enjoyed it! I’m sure I will break down and buy it soon!

    Brad – I saw the photos and his apartment looks very personal. I really liked it but what’s not to like about a home in Paris!

    Anonymous – he also worked with Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge. Talk about the chic leading the chic! I would loved to have been a fly in the room of those meetings!

  5. Suzy February 27, 2009 | 5:01 am

    Heather, trust me, its worth every single last cent. I couldn’t wait – and didn’t even know an english edition was beign published. The book is just stunning. And I’m thinking that now I have so many books in French I really need to go take lessons. Its a must buy though.

  6. h February 27, 2009 | 2:14 pm

    As a person who is not an interior designer, can I ask you what you like about his style? Do you like the sense of personal taste, as opposed to that “finished look that screams “An interior designer did this room””, because I look at these two entries and I like the latter one better than the former (maybe it’s the lighting?), but I think that there is an old apartment dreariness to them, yes, I do like the bit of wall clutter, the unmatched furniture, but I’ve been many times to my Parisian girlfriend’s home and some others and there is this “Old French Look” to them, much like this. It does feel comfortable, but I would never consider it beautiful, or awesome (the true meaning of that word:), but sort of old, slightly shabby comfortable. So, can you sort of explain it to me from a person WHO is in the know when it comes to Interior Design? thanks

  7. pve design February 27, 2009 | 2:24 pm

    Hot, tres HOT>

  8. Anonymous February 28, 2009 | 12:39 am

    Dear h,
    I think it has all to do with a word that Pierre Passebon uses in the book’s foreword: freedom. The freedom to mix nineteen century, thirties furniture and modern art.
    The freedom to refuse trends, styling and the decorated look.
    The freedom to buy the best furniture, employ the most talented artisans and choose the best art. For me, along with inteligence and consistency, it’s his free spirit that contributes to his unique style. And one that works not only in decadent Paris apartments, but also in new Manhatan buildings, simple beach houses in Portugal or sumptuous Saudi Arabian palaces. Fortunately, the late Yves Saint-Laurent, Pierre Bergé, Valentino, Giancarlo Giametti, Princess Caroline of Monaco, Paloma Picasso, François Pinault, Ronald, Jo and Aerin Lauder, Mathilde and Roberto Agostinelli, Philip Niarchos and many other seem to think the same way too.

  9. h February 28, 2009 | 2:17 pm

    See, then, from what you say, this guy is basically saying, …. “don’t get an interior decorator, do it yourself, buy things that you like and put them in your house”, because, after all, then, if that is the style of this man, then I guess that I’m …. him. Yes, yes, it’s true that there are people who definitely do need help. We see them all the time when we go to open houses, or visit a friend’s apartment, a rug, a sofa, a chair, a piece of furniture, basic, boring, utilitarian stuff. But, then there are people with a somewhat aesthetic eye, who pick up the here and there’s and really, really, look around their rooms and do a “try this and try that” before the “thing”, be it an item to sit on a coffee table or end table, a chair, a rug, a sofa… or a picture for a wall, have it find its final “resting ground” and know that that is where it belongs. Okay, so I get it. These people, and they are rich, let’s not forget-they travel, they have money etc…. they hire him to find those same sort of things so that their house looks like my house. But wait- I find these items as part of living and they have someone else find these things to give them a house that looks like someone lived? Do you get what I’m trying to say? I guess what I’m trying to say is, my life’s not too bad, I acquired these things because I, myself, fell upon them and these people had to have someone else create that sort of …. end product. Sorry, I know that I am rambling…. 🙂

  10. Habitually Chic February 28, 2009 | 2:34 pm

    h- Where do I start. First, let me say that these are not the best photos from the book nor are they the best quality which be part of the problem. I also think that European interior design is very different from American interior design in the fact that Europeans usually have more inheirited furniture from many different periods. Then there are the very wealthy who appreciate mixing different periods and styles as the other Anonymous commentor mentions.

    The best interior design, in my opinion is that they lets the homeowners personality come through. It mixes in their personally collected art or family pieces of furniture and if they don’t have any, it takes a great designer to choose items that makes it look like they could have collected all those things. I also think that Europeans appreciate imperfections. They might own a chair with a threadbare seat and they ssee the beauty in that whereas Americans usually want something new and perfect. Hence the McMansion. I’m not saying everyone does but a lot do.

    I’ve met a lot of very wealthy people, usually newly wealthy who have no idea how to put together anything in their homes and they need a designer. Clients such as Grange’s are too busy to deal with the job of decorating and need someone who will deal eith the architect, contractor, craftsmen, etc. They also need someone who can shop the auctions and buy antiques and art for them. They have larger homes and it’s a big job.

    But there are plenty of people who can do it themselves and enjoy it. I never say that anything is right or wrong. I’ve posted plenty of design that is not my personal style but that I appreciate and still enjoy. To each his own. I think the point is hat you can be inspired by many different designers and styles and take what you need from each and create your own home.

  11. Anonymous March 1, 2009 | 1:04 am

    Mmmm… this is getting interesting. Some “serious” discussion about interior design, instead of the usual “Love the zebra rug!”, “God, I must have that faux bamboo lacquered red chair!” or “Kelly Weartsler rules!” posts. That said, I’m afraid I can’t understand your comment, h, especially coming from a person “WHO is in the know when it comes to Interior Design”.

  12. Anonymous March 1, 2009 | 5:37 am

    *sigh* I tire of people — usually Americans — talking about how much better Europeans are at… well… just about everything. I’ve lived much of my adult life in France and, trust me, I think the average New Yorker decorates wayyyy better than the average Parisian. And no, most of my French friends did not inherit a wide variety of antiques from their families.

    What I like best about American decorating is your appreciation of different eras and different cultures. I can see an italian marble table in the same room as a french armoire and some finnish chairs. This is not something I’ve ever witnessed in France, unless it’s a room full of French furniture with a few token “””Ethnic””” pieces — Arabic or Asian or Indian (but never, say, a Georgian Irish mirror!) Too many rules, too many limitations, too great a desire to impress others within one’s strictly delineated class…

    Erin Lauder’s apartment is done by Grange but is still very much an American home that looks extremely American. And I think that’s simply lovely.

  13. pompom March 1, 2009 | 8:32 pm

    Well said, Anonymous. I’m British and fed up with the national passion for eclectic shabby chic not that H is advocating that. (There are inspired exemptions, of course) Perhaps it’s a different psyche (and possibly to do with finances) but a shame we don’t go for the
    deliciously rhetorical, historically astute statements that I love about American decorating.

  14. Anonymous March 3, 2009 | 9:51 pm

    But anyone really understood what h was advocating?

  15. Meade Design Group March 6, 2009 | 11:41 pm

    Who knew that this post will create so much controversy – love the drama! and I love the work of Jacques Grange.

  16. Amy March 18, 2009 | 3:32 pm

    Do you know if Valentino’s New York apartment is included in the book or is it all French interiors?

  17. Anonymous March 25, 2009 | 10:12 pm

    My favorite interiors are always the layered ones, the ones that have not one story, but many stories. When things that are brought into a room because of meaning—and it may not be fashionable—sentiment. I grow weary of designers/bloggers who have only one way: all white, all neutral, it has to have sea grass rugs or white slipcovers on all of the furniture and gray-white furniture! Please, give me the room of a confident person with many interests, great books and good lamps and the ability to hang their art without calling in professional help.