Christian Liaigre expands his empire with showrooms in Manhattan and Miami—and an array of stunning new pieces.
And yet, until now, Liaigre's work has been available in the U.S. only on a limited basis. That is finally about to change. Thanks to a major investment in his brand by Edmond de Rothschild Capital Partners, this spring Liaigre will open his first New York flagship, an Upper East Side townhouse consisting of a three-story showroom and a floor devoted to his design studio. A second Liaigre outlet, in Miami, will be completed by this summer. (Both the New York and Miami spaces will be open to the public.)
Liaigre's designs are also being sold to the trade in 11 additional U.S. cities, including through Thomas Lavin in Los Angeles, George Cameron Nash in Dallas, and De Sousa Hughes in San Francisco. "We think Christian's brand has huge potential for growth, both in the U.S. and globally, in such places as Russia, Brazil, and China," says Eric de Montgolfier, a managing partner at Edmond de Rothschild.
For the perfectionist designer, who opened his first studio in Paris in 1985, taking control of how his furniture collection is displayed and sold is critical to the future of his business. His goal with his new showrooms is to create environments that feel both casual and chic. In the New York townhouse, walls painted multiple shades of white will serve as a serene backdrop for Liaigre's meticulously handcrafted furnishings. "Twenty-five years ago, interiors were very fussy," he says. "But luxe today is space, air, and light."
For his latest furniture collection, Liaigre has reprised a handful of his iconic styles, from Florentine and Bocca, his sculptural floor lamps, to the Bartholomeo desk, which he has reimagined in bronze and linen. But the majority of pieces are new, including the striking metal Ecuyer saddle stand, first designed for a friend, and the Misaine table, whose legs were inspired by the elegant curves of a horse's legs. "My favorite pieces are usually linked to a memory," says Liaigre, who spent part of his childhood on his grandfather's horse ranch in the Vendée region of western France. "The quality of execution is very important to me. Most everything I design is made in an atelier in the country by artisans who have been working for me for more than 30 years."
Liaigre's new studio in New York will also enable him to expand his interior design and architecture practice. His clientele has included Larry Gagosian, Karl Lagerfeld, and longtime patrons Rupert and Wendi Murdoch, for whom he has created two New York apartments, a sailing yacht, and a courtyard house in Beijing. "He is a true artist and collaborator," says Wendi. "His designs are warm and classic, light and organic. His vision is sophisticated but never sacrifices livability."
As busy as he is on the professional front, Liaigre also has his hands full at home. After many years in a modern apartment in the Marais district of Paris, he recently moved into an ornate 18th-century townhouse in the city's 7th arrondissement. "It's got painted boiseries and a lot of gold, like at Versailles, which is new for me," he says. "I am trying to design furniture that contrasts with this style. It's a big research project."
What's more, four years ago he and his wife, Déborah Comte-Liaigre, with whom he also works, welcomed their first child, son Léonard (Liaigre also has a 40-year-old daughter from a previous marriage).
"Sixty-seven is often the age when people stop," he says, "but my son makes me want to stay young, even if I'm not. There is a lot for me to be excited about. C'est formidable."
Liaigre's designs are also being sold to the trade in 11 additional U.S. cities, including through Thomas Lavin in Los Angeles, George Cameron Nash in Dallas, and De Sousa Hughes in San Francisco. "We think Christian's brand has huge potential for growth, both in the U.S. and globally, in such places as Russia, Brazil, and China," says Eric de Montgolfier, a managing partner at Edmond de Rothschild.
For the perfectionist designer, who opened his first studio in Paris in 1985, taking control of how his furniture collection is displayed and sold is critical to the future of his business. His goal with his new showrooms is to create environments that feel both casual and chic. In the New York townhouse, walls painted multiple shades of white will serve as a serene backdrop for Liaigre's meticulously handcrafted furnishings. "Twenty-five years ago, interiors were very fussy," he says. "But luxe today is space, air, and light."
For his latest furniture collection, Liaigre has reprised a handful of his iconic styles, from Florentine and Bocca, his sculptural floor lamps, to the Bartholomeo desk, which he has reimagined in bronze and linen. But the majority of pieces are new, including the striking metal Ecuyer saddle stand, first designed for a friend, and the Misaine table, whose legs were inspired by the elegant curves of a horse's legs. "My favorite pieces are usually linked to a memory," says Liaigre, who spent part of his childhood on his grandfather's horse ranch in the Vendée region of western France. "The quality of execution is very important to me. Most everything I design is made in an atelier in the country by artisans who have been working for me for more than 30 years."
Liaigre's new studio in New York will also enable him to expand his interior design and architecture practice. His clientele has included Larry Gagosian, Karl Lagerfeld, and longtime patrons Rupert and Wendi Murdoch, for whom he has created two New York apartments, a sailing yacht, and a courtyard house in Beijing. "He is a true artist and collaborator," says Wendi. "His designs are warm and classic, light and organic. His vision is sophisticated but never sacrifices livability."
As busy as he is on the professional front, Liaigre also has his hands full at home. After many years in a modern apartment in the Marais district of Paris, he recently moved into an ornate 18th-century townhouse in the city's 7th arrondissement. "It's got painted boiseries and a lot of gold, like at Versailles, which is new for me," he says. "I am trying to design furniture that contrasts with this style. It's a big research project."
What's more, four years ago he and his wife, Déborah Comte-Liaigre, with whom he also works, welcomed their first child, son Léonard (Liaigre also has a 40-year-old daughter from a previous marriage).
"Sixty-seven is often the age when people stop," he says, "but my son makes me want to stay young, even if I'm not. There is a lot for me to be excited about. C'est formidable."
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