Samantha Hauvette and Lucas Madani met as students at the prestigious École Camondo in Paris, where they quickly became friends. ‘It’s the only school that specialises both in interior and product design, and we did a lot of workshops together that broadened our culture and style,’ says Hauvette. ‘It seemed obvious that we would continue to work together.’
In 2010, they set up their studio in Neuilly, near Paris; they now design ‘elegant and refined’ interiors, the aesthetic of which recalls the best moments of classical French modernism. ‘We do a lot of private residential projects as we like the collaborative way of working,’ says Madani. ‘We always want to do something new, and this process helps to challenge our ideas.’
What are Hauvette & Madani’s recent projects?
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A modern house beside Lake Geneva, and a grand Haussmannian apartment near the Avenue des Champs-Elysées for an art-collector client. Very different spaces, but they both share the same spirit, say the designers. ‘We design interiors to live in, so we try to give the feeling that they have always been there,’ says Hauvette. ‘Our style has affinities with the art deco movement and the 1970s, two eras that both feel very joyful to us. For the Paris apartment, we created a happy atmosphere where the art is in dialogue with bespoke furniture. This gave us the opportunity to work with great designers such as Hervé van der Straeten and [scenographer and artist] Richard Peduzzi.’
The pair have also created their first furniture collection, which includes seating, tables, lighting and objects for the table. ‘We tried to reconnect with decorators of the 1920s and 30s, such as Pierre Chareau and Jean-Michel Frank,’ says Madani. ‘The art-deco aesthetic is reinterpreted in luxurious materials such as alabaster, smoked mirror and burr maple. Certain designs are also inspired by the fantasy of an Yves Saint Laurent interior in the 1970s – the large podium armchairs, for example, and the stainless-steel tray for the very best whisky. There’s a lacquered coffee table reminiscent of an opium den…’ Each piece is hand-crafted in limited editions by French and Italian master craftspeople.
What projects is Hauvette & Madani working on at the moment?
A new hotel in the Camargue region of southern France for famed French institution Les Bains Paris. Madani says, ‘We want to recreate the vibe of the Paris hotel while also injecting the atmosphere of the Camargue by working with a selection of local artisans.’
There are also several residential projects still in progress: a chalet in Méribel, villas in Switzerland and Corsica, the renovation of an ancient abbey in Lyon and a gallery-apartment in London, for which they are collaborating with Zürich gallerist Maria Bernheim.
They say: ‘We often say that we imagine our clients at apéritif time, drinking wine with their friends. It helps us to create a warm vibe!’ hauvette-madani.com
Expert advice
Hauvette & Madani’s best ways to give your home a Modernist look
A recognisable design classic is a good starting point for layering other decorative pieces. We love 20th-century modernist furniture and objects, but prefer to integrate this influence naturally using secondhand finds.
Think in a Modernist way, using walls like a white envelope and dark, muted colours to create depth and interest. Texture and pattern come later in the final stages of decorating a room, and should be used to create a harmonious sense of balance.
Lighting is not just for illuminating a space; it can also fill a void and have an architectural quality. If you’re illuminating sharp corners, look for lamps with curves to add roundness. With high ceilings, choose totem-like floor lamps to accentuate height.
For us, wood is a timelessly elegant material. It gives a unique sense of identity to a space. We take great care to find the right wood veneers for each project, often using these on walls to define zones and create a comfortable feel. The effect is reminiscent of a boat cabin.
