With its sun-bleached buildings, narrow streets and afternoon games of pétanque, Vallabrègues may seem similar to any number of the pretty villages found dotted throughout Provence. What sets it apart, however, is the abundance of rattan that grows freely in the area, thanks to the river Rhône upon whose bank it sits. It’s here that Benoît Rauzy and Anthony Watson chose to settle, and where they have used its natural resources to bring a local craft back to life.
Having bought and renovated a house in the village in 2007, Benoît, a Parisian-born environmental consultant, and Anthony, a stylist whose family have lived in Provence for many years, were looking to find a new home – not necessarily bigger, but with a garden.
‘We heard about this place and it was absolutely not what we were looking for,’ says Anthony. ‘It was huge, like nothing we had planned, but we had, as we say, a coup de coeur.’ In other words, it was love at first sight.
Originally built in 1730, the three-storey property had just two owners before it was abandoned in the 1980s, but despite more than 30 years having passed, it remained perfectly preserved. Within the patinated walls, and among the original fireplaces and faded paintings, Benoît and Anthony found clues to its industrious past.
Old baskets, rattan furniture and drawings revealed the building had once been a thriving wicker workshop and it was this remarkable discovery that inspired the pair – already keen collectors of vintage wicker – to launch Atelier Vime.
Together with their friend Raphaëlle Hanley, a former designer of luxury leather goods, they developed a collection of contemporary pieces, including furniture and lighting, and employed Provençale craftspeople to bring their ideas to life.
What's everyone reading?
Three years later, their burgeoning range includes vintage wicker, as well as new designs made using leather and marble. ‘Wicker can be very simple, but also very sophisticated,’ says Benoît. ‘We use these materials together in a classic, refined way.’
Demand for their elegant wares and a new interior design service mean that they now travel a lot, but Atelier Vime’s roots remain firmly planted in the village. ‘The idea was, and always will be, to stay in Provence,’ says Benoît. Our studio is at the top of the house and it’s where the ideas grow.
The village is where the metalwork is done, but it’s not just that – the simple way of life, the architecture and the landscape here are something really special. For many people, including Anthony and myself, it’s a tiny piece of heaven.’ ateliervime.com/en
This article originally appeared in ELLE Decoration Country June 2019
