The French Connection - Cinquième (Fifth) Note: Trendy furniture à la française!

Okay when I saw the name of this design group, I couldn't stop thinking of the reprise from one of my other trendy french favorites ... singer Inna Modja and her popular song "French Cancan" ♫ Coco Choco Chanel Coco, Coco Choco Chanel and Chocolat ...♫ but anyway I digress ... from this music to another music to my ears ...

Cocotte Metal, Immobilier Chick and Smart is a design group with a very cool concept! Their trendy site presents all sorts of flashy and flirty metal furniture pieces in all shapes, sizes and colors ... designed by You (the consumer).



After visiting and checking out all sorts of inspiring examples ... you can select the elements you would like (for example table base and top in a variety of shapes and sizes) mix and match (or not) as you can dream it up ... pick your colors ... and your piece will be put together to your specifications and delivered to you. There are tables, shelving units and consoles to choose from.

Ever inspired by the energy and creativity of my daughter and the young women designers of the bay area that I have met through her ... imagine how fun it was to learn that the designers of these fun pieces and concept are two young European WOMEN, Anna from Barcelona and Clémence from Paris. They met in design school (l'ESAG Penninghen, School of interior design and architecture) . After five years in school together, they decided to partner and launched their studio "Twin Truc".

Their first project was with a metalworking company, they were able to participate in making their first prototypes. This experience was where they knew they wanted to continue to create furniture in parallel with craftsmen.

In September 2010, they connected with fabricators Marie and Arnaud of les ateliers de DVAI, in order to create a range of objects. Together, they visited the workshop to see firsthand their manufacturing techniques: laser cutting, bending, rolling, bending, machining and welding of sheet steel. They were immediately drawn to the same vision: pre-cut pieces of furniture in a flat aluminum sheet, like a sewing pattern. These pieces were destined to be "folded" into forms that fit together like a puzzle....




The concept was born: a range of furniture that comes flat, using self-assembly without nails or screws, for a simple system of fold and nesting.





Voila!! hip, flashy and functional ... designed in France, made in France, et malheuresement (and sadly), you have to live in France to have them, at least for now.



But take a gander and be inspired to support a local young artisan in your neck of the woods. These gals have created a small enterprise that employs 20 folks with pride!!



Small businesses need and deserve our support and encouragement so visit one near you today! Mignonne Décor for example ... !!

all images courtesy of Cocotte Metal, Immobilier Chick and Smart

Our guest correspondent for The French Connection is Kimberlee Mancha, mother of Johnelle and co-founder of Mignonne Décor. Now living in France, Kimberlee started our sister shop "The Bohemians" in 2009. She will be providing live updates for all you Francophiles and lovers of beautiful European inspirations.

The French Connection ... Quatrième (fourth) Note! glassware.

In addition to furniture ... Mignonne Décor is known for our love of vintage glassware. We have a universal love affair with glasses of all shapes, sizes and background, no matter how questionable.

At Mignonne, we continuously seek glasses to offer in the shop. When we find something marked 'made in France', we are even more delighted to share them with you. And of course, on each and every visit to France ... the search is on for the best treasures to bring home for our clients!




One well known French brand is Luminarc. Arc International (owner of the Luminarc brand) was founded in 1825 with the manufacture of demi johns or dame jeannes, storage containers for french housewives (pictured right).

photo courtesy of Antique Bottle & Glassware Magazine

The company was purchased by the Durand family in 1926, after having a major influence in the enterprise for many years. Luminarc was launched in 1948 and benefits from many of the techniques adopted by the Arc brand like the construction of modern glass presses (1947) and the use of automatic blowing machines (1950).






Another of Arc's signature glasses are the thick-walled ten-sided "working glasses" that were oh so popular in French kitchens after their introduction in 1978.

You might recognize their shape from a delicious jam vendor you find in your local market, "Bonne Maman".

image courtesy of artfire.com

We are usually MOST excited when we discover some vintage Luminarc glasses in one of their classic vivid colors like deep ruby red ... you've seen some like these before at Mignonne:


or these jazzy martini glasses ....

images courtesy of kaboodle.com

Luminarc is still going strong, creating designs that will become tomorrow's vintage pleasures. In addition to glasses, all sorts of tabletop designs for plates, serving dishes, aperitif accessories are available.

Somehow, I still prefer the delight of finding a vintage piece from the past ... imagining its history and durability and the pleasure it will provide gracing a modern day table.

Make sure to keep checking in at Mignonne ... whether you love pretty French glassware, retro American glass from the 50s ... or other unique pieces to complement your collection, you are sure to come across something that will capture your heart and imagination, but not your entire pocketbook! we love helping build a beautiful bar or serving collection for our customers, entertaining will be more fun after visiting Mignonne!


Our guest correspondent for The French Connection is Kimberlee Mancha, mother of Johnelle and co-founder of Mignonne Décor. Now living in France, Kimberlee started our sister shop "The Bohemians" in 2009. She will be providing live updates for all you Francophiles and lovers of beautiful European inspirations.

Labor of Love

There are so many potential projects out there, and it can be so incredible to witness the transformations of them! This table and chair set is a perfect example. A lovely client of ours knew that her dining set had good bones, and could probably be transformed, but would this option be better than just buying a whole new set? In the end it really is a personal choice, but what we love to offer at Mignonne, is the option for clients to get involved! What does your dream set look and feel like? This is where we start.

In this case wipeable friendly, rustic modern, and a pop of animal instinct was on the table. We were ready to start working our magic while the loose ends fell into place.

A dated speckled table top finish and base was keeping this piece stuck in the late 60's, and not in a good way. It felt drabby, and needed to be rejuvenated.





Keeping in theme with a rustic modern vibe, we encouraged the client to let us unearth the dated finish, and unveil the lighter wood screaming to come out! With it's natural imperfections, it proved to be reborn!



We wanted to modernize the base, so a crisp white felt appropriate!



Fully extended, this beauty will be the center for many family occasions to come! I think that is one of the most gratifying things of this business to me! I love knowing that I literally get to transform pieces with my own two hands, and they then get to live on in the homes of families and be passed on :)



Moving on to the chairs, these were challenging! Because spraying furniture is not my approach ( I find that is cheapens the final feel, and doesn't have as much soul... ), I spent hours layering every little nook and cranny. The client fell in love with a magical, sparkled blue vinyl, and zebra fabric.

Chairs before:



Group Shot of them all!!



We added a silver brushed nailhead design to all the chairs, which again played up that modern twist! The vinyl is stylie, and easy to wipe clean.





Last on the agenda, the animal instinct was left for the head chairs!



Mignonne can transform your unlovables, and we love to collaborate with you on new designs. Let that bohemian spirit come through and shine in your house! We will be hear to help guide you through the process, xoxoox.

email us at quotes@mignonnedecor.com

thanks for looking!
johnelle