For almost 40 years Liaigre has been the non plus ultra of luxury furniture and interior design. With its focus on understated design and elegant simplicity, superior materials and craftsmanship, Liaigre has forged a reputation for itself as the haute couture of interior design, creating collections of highly sought after, and collectible, furniture, lighting and accessories. 

From the inception of the house by eponymous founder, the late Christian Liaigre —who was and still is, something of a legend in the French design world—architect Mies Van der Rohe’s “Less is more” philosophy became a defining principle for the designer. This spirit of timeless minimalism became part of the brand’s DNA and has carried on after Christian Liaigre’s departure in 2016, with creative director Frauke Meyer at the helm, who continues the production of contemporary collections that embody the very definition of quiet luxury in design.  Handcrafted in line with the tradition of French cabinetmaking, Liaigre collaborates with the best artisanal workshops, primarily located in France, to manufacture the showroom collections, as well as custom-designed pieces of furniture and lighting. 

Keeping sustainability in mind, the design house prioritises quality over quantity, with every design piece made to order, so nothing goes to waste. Liaigre uses only the materials needed, and the wood that is used for its covetable design pieces is sourced from trees at the end of their lifecycle. Additionally, they are currently researching vegan leather options to offer a sustainable alternative which looks and feels like—or surpasses— traditional leather.

Since Liaigre’s iconic revamps of Hotel Montalembert in Paris and Mercer Hotel in Manhattan in the late 1990s,  Studio Liaigre, the brand’s interior design arm has designed some of the most beautiful restaurants, club houses, homes —and yachts—with unique and custom-made interiors with projects that have spanned the globe, and private clients that have included Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld, art dealer Larry Gagosian, artist Marina Abramovic.

It’s unsurprising that the house should attract fashion and art world clientele—art has always played a defining role in the house’s aesthetic. As a student enrolled at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (National School of Fine Arts) and Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (National School of Decorative Arts) Christian Liaigre met Alberto Giacometti who introduced him to the work of Constantin Brancusi. Both these artists were important sources of inspiration throughout the designer’s career, and their influence can be seen in numerous pieces like the Amande bronze based floor lamp, reminiscent of Giacometti’s elongated bronze figures, or  the Nagato stool, drawing on the geometric design of Brancusi’s ‘Endless Column’ (1938).

The house also integrates art into its physical showroom spaces, enabling a dialogue between design and art. Collaborating with modern and contemporary art galleries, and curators, the Liaigre showrooms around the world showcase an ever-changing presentation of artworks. Artists featured include Marta Pan, Shih Yun Yeo, and most recently a site-specific installation in the Paris showroom by Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata that spilled out of the rue Faubourg Saint Honore space, and across the surface of the building.