When the brand Antoinette Poisson announced it was moving to a new address (which was still being kept confidential at the time), I had a feeling it would be settling in the famous Saint-Germain-des-Prés district in Paris! It’s a logical continuation for this beautiful brand (can we already call it a Maison for such a young brand?), which draws inspiration from French decorative arts of the 18th century, and more specifically from the technique of dominoté paper. Founded by Tania Vettese, Virgile Thomas and Vincent Farelly, the brand is dedicated to reviving this historic craft by studying period patterns and printing techniques, which they then reinterpret. Over the years, the house has also developed several collaborations across different worlds: with the Faïencerie de Gien for tableware collections, with Sézane for a capsule collection blending fashion and decoration, and with Casa Lopez for rugs inspired by its graphic universe.
The brand moved earlier this year, leaving its former location near Bastille. I really loved the cosy atmosphere of their first boutique, tucked away at the back of a small courtyard typical of the neighborhood: an almost confidential place where you felt as though you were entering somewhere a little secret.
The new location is a very beautiful Parisian address, more visible and no doubt ideal for decorators and international visitors. Fortunately, the boutique-café “Antoinette Poisson Port-Liberté” in Port-Louis, Brittany, still offers that feeling of being “among ourselves,” and it’s somewhere I enjoy visiting from time to time. I should really write a small post about it!
This new space also more clearly affirms their position as publishers of fabrics and wallpapers. I should also mention the renovation, which is very successful: historic materials combined within an elegant and warm atmosphere. Every box is ticked! The woodwork, the terracotta floor, the attention paid to the choice of handles and shelves… everything comes down to the details, creating a beautiful harmony inspired by the very period that influences them so much.
In this large boutique on Rue Bonaparte, you’ll find a beautiful selection of wallpapers, and soon – something I’m really looking forward to – decorative frises. I seriously considered using some of their papers in my new apartment, but in the end I didn’t; still, it gave me ideas for other projects. The fabrics are also very beautiful, although I would have liked a slightly more developed display to better handle them and see how they fall, as was the case in their former boutique or even in Port-Louis. But they’ve only just moved in, so let’s give them a little time.
The new boutique also offers smaller objects that extend their universe: lampshades, cushions, but also gift ideas such as stationery, mirrors, scarves, perfumes, paperweights… It brings to mind the world of John Derian (whose products they also sell), with that same attention to poetic decorative objects.
At the moment, you can also discover their recent collaboration with the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, connected to the exhibition dedicated to a day in the 18th century in a Parisian hôtel particulier. If this theme interests you, you can find the article about it here.
It’s a very pleasant stop if you’re in the neighborhood: you’re transported into a beautiful world that perfectly embodies the French art of living. You’re immersed in a romantic and poetic atmosphere, while still easily finding something to treat yourself (or someone else). I loved the intimacy of their first boutique, but this one has a different scale and certainly a different purpose. Now I’m curious to see how it will evolve.
Antoinette Poisson • 2 rue Bonaparte • 75006 Paris
