Professional bargain hunters, the duo at the head of the agency Liautard and The Queen advise and speak on the occasion of the opening of the Florida Hotel in Paris, for which they designed the interior architecture.
Pastry shop Cyril Lignac, the departure lounge at Terminal 1 of Charles de Gaulle Airport, the restaurants La Scène de Stéphanie Le Quellec, Perruche… the agency Liautard and Queen design the interior architecture of those in sight. At the helm are Maxime Liautard and Soraya Djemni-Wagner, a couple who defend an ethical approach both in terms of team management and the projects they lead. A philosophy that translates into the use of precious materials, “ecological” refinement, collaborations with artists and visual artists, a taste for mixes and a passion for vintage… We find this tendency especially in the Hotel Florida in Paris, one of their latest creations. The glamorous, chic, intimate and above all unique address, located close to Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, was, during the roaring twenties, a meeting place for many artists and writers. This is the story that Soraya and Maxime wanted to capture, in their own way. “We imagined this hotel as a family home. The Art Deco base itself refers to its past. We also wanted to acknowledge Francis Scott Fitzgerald who attended Florida and is said to have completed the manuscript of The Great Gatsby there.
In this family house, there is, therefore, an “original” base, then layers brought by different generations that could be inherited. Therefore, we added pieces from the 1970s, 80s, 90s… but also more contemporary elements. There was real research work to find furniture and accessories from these different periods, especially as each room is different like a home and far from the code of classic hotels! Harvest is very exciting, because it is always a story of happiness. You can search for certain things for days without ever finding them, and then, a few weeks later, you’ll come across a wealth of treasures. So you have to act fast, don’t hesitate to buy because the nuggets go fast. And then a piece of furniture or an object that has lived is always more beautiful, more interesting because behind it there is a journey, mysteries…” explains the delighted duo. We feel that Soraya and Maxime took immense pleasure in designing these spaces where their love for furniture and accessories that had their first life is fully expressed. A private tour of Florida, this atypical haven, in their company, with advice on combining styles, eras and fun with references. With, as a bonus, the addresses of their favorite flea markets and antique shops.
You have to act fast, don’t hesitate to buy because the nuggets go fast
Maxime Liautard and Soraya Djemni-Wagner
Retro and fresh wallpapers
The slightly old-fashioned feel of the carpet and tapestry is reflected in the mirrored nightstands from the 1970s
Yann Deret
“In order to establish the spirit of the family home, we wanted fairly legible codes that immediately relate to our grandmothers’ interiors. Sky blue, which we never use, stood out. Therefore, we chose a carpet in this shade for the rooms on the last two floors of the building, which are very different from the others. We then looked for a wallpaper that would go best with this floor and decided on a model from Nobilis in a palette that matched well, with a slightly retro but still fresh floral pattern. Then we made some slightly unexpected vintage choices like the 1970s mirrored nightstands. It was both unusual and interesting: the tapestry was reflected in it, the bedside tables seemed to have disappeared. We also fell in love with pagoda lamps with ceramic bases from the 50s. When we received them, the lampshades were in poor condition. So we had them rearranged. The pagoda shape that we really liked was kept, but we chose a peach fabric to emphasize the old-fashioned side. »
Decoration reminder
They counterbalance outdated elements with more radical forms and materials. Winning equation: light blue rug + floral wallpaper + 1970s mirrored nightstand
Different feet
Unexpected: a stunning combination of feet of all shapes.
Yann Deret
“There are a lot of obligations in designing hotel rooms. For example, you need a small table to be able to have breakfast if you don’t want to go to a restaurant. So we created a corner for eating, reading, lazing around… with a rather pleasant atmosphere, a bit of a boudoir. We also had height restrictions in this attic room. Therefore, we created a custom-made bench, in the spirit of a reading chair, so that it would fit perfectly into the space. It has a vintage side even though it is contemporary. We combined it with two small stools that we also designed. A contemporary floor lamp is somewhat like a starting point for the layout of this space. He has a rather remarkable foot which reflected our desire for feet with a ball which was particularly pronounced in hotel receptions! And there we looked for the rest of the vintage furniture. We fell on a travertine table from the 1970s with a fairly simple shape that matches the more complex line of a 1940s plinth table by Charles Dudouyt. »
Decoration reminder
To give a small space real personality, don’t hesitate to balance the boudoir spirit of warm tones and sensual materials with more massive elements. The winning equation: square legs + round legs + curved legs
Honey velvet
Yes, rattan and velvet go well together.
Yann Deret
“We wanted to put a small desk in each room as a reminder that Francis Scott Fitzgerald stayed here. In one of the bedrooms, we chose it in the color of rattan. Since we didn’t find an old piece that would suit us, this table is modern: we just covered its upper surface with a glass plate to make it easier to work on it. You can sit on the chair we developed. The chair has a special history. We have a large stock of them. This is a discontinued Thonet chair from the 1980s. We contacted Thonet to try to find out more about her. The house was somewhat forgotten because it was only built for seven years. It has wooden legs, and the seat is a plastic shell. Agreed, it’s designed for communities. We like it a lot. We have them in the office, and sometimes we set them up, like here, on construction sites. Our bias is to reupholster it. Here we opted for textured honey-colored velvet that immediately evokes softness and comfort. A bit of an unconventional touch: the legendary Panthella lamp designed in 1971 that adds a pop note. »
Decoration reminder
Don’t hesitate to reupholster an antique seat to give it comfort and add a contemporary touch. Winning equation: natural rattan + velvet in soft colors + pepsi-colored plastic
Reflection on the headboard
The 1930s put into perspective.
Yann Deret
Decoration reminder
The mirror is quite good. It expands the premises, and at the same time enables the processing of one side 70’s quite daring. Winning equation: art deco lines + references sixties
“In the largest suite in the Florida Hotel, we decided to make a magnificent headboard. Inspired by the 1930s, very Art Deco, it is shaped like a half sun and is made of rosewood. Not to be too obvious, it’s backed by a totally 1970s-esque wall of mirrors that also makes the room feel bigger. A small desk with a wooden top and metal legs dates from the 1960s. models of a somewhat retro line. »
Good addresses for searching for good prices on the Internet, Soraya Djemni-Wagner and Maxime Liautard
- Morentz: expert on 20th century furniture
- 1stdibs: a platform dedicated to exceptional design created in 2000 to recreate the magic felt when walking through the doors of the most beautiful flea dealers.
- Wauw: Belgian site offering furniture and objects from the mid-20th century.
- Serenity: always necessary.
- Pauletteinstad: the location of the Antwerp boutique Paulette In’ Statt, reflects the founder’s iconoclastic taste combining beautiful vintage furniture and handicraft pieces.