Christian Liaigre has been an architect & interior designer to Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Rupert Murdoch. He has built and designed houses from France to Bora Bora. Christian Liaigre combines French tradition with eastern feng shui and has been called one of the most influential designers alive today. In his spaces, you won't see clashing colors and patterns, or 60s and 70s influences that have recently become so popular. You surely won't spot the lamps, tables and accessories that seem to be ubiquitous from one magazine feature spread to another.Another custom fireplace in a room that artfully mixes CL's low-slung, clean lined furniture with a smattering of antiques.
What you will see are furnishings made of the highest quality materials and fabrics, many custom-created for each project. Embossed leathers. Velours, silks and linens. Exquisite woods and surfaces. Doorknobs so beautiful they rival works of art. His rooms at first overwhelm with the strength of a singular, consistent vision - then the details slowly reveal themselves, like good, aged wine.Just enough decorative flourishes are thrown in to provide a thrilling surprise around every corner. That surprise could be a jewel-tone accent that glows against the mostly neutral palette. Or a singular swath of exquisite velvet. Perhaps a sparkling, curvy chandelier that plays off the dominant masculine shapes. Color is used sparingly, but to great effect. Everything comes together in perfect harmony in Liaigre's world. And it's a world that we would love to inhabit. (Credit: Topsyturvystyle.com)Liaigre came to the attention of the design world in the late 80s. His 2004 book, Maison - Christian Liaigre, covered eight design projects, but didn't include a bio or photo of the designer himself. "CL has been called one of the most influential designers alive today."Ornamentation, sparkle, and curves are used deftly. They play off of the restraint of clean lines, color, and pattern. The result is a rich, singular statement.
What you will see are furnishings made of the highest quality materials and fabrics, many custom-created for each project. Embossed leathers. Velours, silks and linens. Exquisite woods and surfaces. Doorknobs so beautiful they rival works of art. His rooms at first overwhelm with the strength of a singular, consistent vision - then the details slowly reveal themselves, like good, aged wine.Just enough decorative flourishes are thrown in to provide a thrilling surprise around every corner. That surprise could be a jewel-tone accent that glows against the mostly neutral palette. Or a singular swath of exquisite velvet. Perhaps a sparkling, curvy chandelier that plays off the dominant masculine shapes. Color is used sparingly, but to great effect. Everything comes together in perfect harmony in Liaigre's world. And it's a world that we would love to inhabit. (Credit: Topsyturvystyle.com)Liaigre came to the attention of the design world in the late 80s. His 2004 book, Maison - Christian Liaigre, covered eight design projects, but didn't include a bio or photo of the designer himself. "CL has been called one of the most influential designers alive today."Ornamentation, sparkle, and curves are used deftly. They play off of the restraint of clean lines, color, and pattern. The result is a rich, singular statement.
(Credit: Topsyturvystyle.com)
INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTIAN LIAIGRE
Architect & Interior designer to Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Rupert Murdoch, Christian Liaigre combines French tradition with eastern Feng Shui.CL:I am more an interior designer in the tradition of the last century. For example when I design a house I design also the furniture.I started as an artistic painter and after a number of years I was very upset to work alone; it is like a writer or a musician we work alone. At this time I was in the countryside near Bordeaux and I was very attracted by the interiors.Q: Which are the great designers that inspire you?I am inspired not by other designers but by nature, reflection and deep thinking about a project.CL: The world outside is so aggressive that I try to create calm in a house. When the client arrives in the evening they enter in another space completely different from the street. With every project, I try to keep the roots. For example I just finished a house in Spain for Adolpho Domingez who is a fashion designer. When I designed this house I tried to keep some details of this area of Spain. It is really easy to design for people like Rupert Murdoch, Karl Largerfeld, and Mark Jacob because they have a strong personality and a strong idea of what they want. They know my work and we work to combine my philosophy with their space. I met Calvin Klein once or twice and we work mainly by fax. He writes me a letter, asking questions and I reply "o.k. This Yes, this no etc". They know, they understand.CL: I prefer to know first the personality of the client. it is more important than the space and sometimes I refuse work because I am not compatible to their personality.Q: So when the Chemistry works what happens next?CL: I visit the site and give some rough ideas, have a discussion with the client and quite some time later, we present the plan.The first impression is the vibration of the space and sometime it is a wrong place because sometimes there is bad vibrations. I studied a long time feng shui, and many things can influence a space. Maybe the light can be bad or something violent may have happened in the space.CL: Today we are working on a house on a private island near Bora Bora. We are also the architects on this project, and we do more than a normal architect because we have to find water, create electricity-because there is nothing there!Q: so you have to develop the technology as well yes?
CL: It is an island in the middle of an ocean.Q: This must be very interesting.CL: Yes, it is. We need space for personal harmony and to keep the mind free for thinking. For example for this industrialist family, they are very relaxed for when they arrive in this area and he can concentrate on his work.Q: Is this the same for people like Karl Largerfeld?
CL: Yes, this is rightQ:they need somewhere to recharge themselves?
CL: ExactlyQ: A sense, a place where they can just close out the world, and come back and find their center?CL: Yes. If you have too many things in your house your spirit is disturbed. That is why I prefer to my client to buy just 2 or 3 beautiful pieces and choose them with their heart than to have 10 pictures on the wall. Because when you sit in an armchair and you smoke your cigar you see many, many things which are not your real choice and your mind is not free for thinking.
CL: It is an island in the middle of an ocean.Q: This must be very interesting.CL: Yes, it is. We need space for personal harmony and to keep the mind free for thinking. For example for this industrialist family, they are very relaxed for when they arrive in this area and he can concentrate on his work.Q: Is this the same for people like Karl Largerfeld?
CL: Yes, this is rightQ:they need somewhere to recharge themselves?
CL: ExactlyQ: A sense, a place where they can just close out the world, and come back and find their center?CL: Yes. If you have too many things in your house your spirit is disturbed. That is why I prefer to my client to buy just 2 or 3 beautiful pieces and choose them with their heart than to have 10 pictures on the wall. Because when you sit in an armchair and you smoke your cigar you see many, many things which are not your real choice and your mind is not free for thinking.
(credit: exero.com)
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