Like many other interior designers working hard behind the scenes, Bruno Moinard might not be an instantly familiar name. The Parisian designer, who runs the firm 4BI, has however been instrumental in creating the iconic environs of the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, Christie’s New York, Hérmes’ headquarters and about 340 Cartier boutiques around the world.
This week marks the arrival of Moinard’s eponymous furniture line, which was first unveiled in Paris in late 2014, on American shores for the first time. Exclusively available through the Canadian design company Avenue Road, the elegant collection is a captivating hybrid of classicism and sensuality that will cement Moinard’s style in the minds of many.
'When I saw [Bruno’s] debut in Paris, I was immediately drawn to the way he combined fine materials and creative forms,' says Avenue Road CEO Stephen Weishaupt. 'The collection has a warm modernism. [It’s] classically inspired and quite functional, yet totally unique.'
Comprised of seating, furniture, lighting and even a drinks cabinet, Moinard’s pieces bring together different textures, colours and materials with aplomb. The subtly curved, almost Surrealist Gumi sofa is as comfortable as it is pleasing to look at, while the Genoa drinks cabinet, lined in a lilac-coloured leather and polished bronze shelves for Avenue Road, is a showstopping centerpiece, if we ever saw one.
'One part of the interior design work that I’ve always done is designing the furniture to go with the interiors. That work has transcended to this collection because as I’ve worked on more homes, clients have often found it difficult to look for furniture that matches what they’ve designed,' Moinard says.
'There is a niche for simple elegance and luxury that is distinct, but also almost invisible. It’s about the couture of a lining. It’s the same concept for the furniture. There is a certain level of quality – a restrained luxury- in working with the different resins and finishes that is timeless rather than over the top.'
Each piece is exquisitely crafted. Moinard, a gifted artist and illustrator, demonstrates a deft understanding of materials as varied as cane-work, lacquer, woods, leather, marble and bronze. It’s not all serious though: the designer’s stylistic signature, a slick of bright yellow fabric underlining each of his pieces, is just hidden from view.
The Gumi sofa is comfortable as it is elegant
A sketch of the Gumi sofa as drawn by Moinard, who’s also an accomplished artist and illustrator
Bruno Moinard and pieces bearing his style signature, a bright slick of yellow lining that’s usually hidden from view
Left: Courterai chaise longue and right: Naas lamp
Left: Dugo stool and right: Stydd desk lamp
An interior as imagined by Moinard
A sketch featuring pieces from Moinard’s furniture collection
A sketch of Moinard’s Tari console table
INFORMATION
Bruno Moinard's furniture collection is exclusively available in North America at Avenue Raoad
Photography: Jacques Pèpion
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