The tastemaker: Pierre Frey

This article features an interview with Pierre Frey, the Communications Director for the House of Pierre Frey, a renowned Parisian fabric house founded in 1935 by his grandfather. The discussion centers on the company's design philosophy, its history, and Frey's personal insights into interior design, particularly in the context of the upcoming Christie's auction, _The Collector: English & European 18th & 19th Century Furniture, Ceramics, Silver & Works of Art_ on April 9 in New York. The House of Pierre Frey is distinguished by its commitment to quality within the French tradition and an inventive, eclectic design philosophy. The company's collections integrate diverse materials and motifs, leveraging the expertise of master weavers, printers, and embroiderers. Their clientele includes private individuals, leading decorators, upholsterers, and cultural institutions. For the Christie's auction, Pierre Frey supplied a selection of wallpapers and fabrics to create room sets, demonstrating how their products complement classic pieces. Pierre Frey describes the company's design style as eclectic, frequently drawing inspiration from art, travel, and various cultures. He emphasizes the brand's audacious approach, often incorporating unexpected colors or bold patterns, which he notes differentiates them from other design houses that tend to play it safe. The company, still headquartered in its original 1935 building in Paris, has expanded to include five brands—Pierre Frey, Braquenie, Boussac, Fadini Borghi, and Le Manach—producing a wide range of fabrics, wallpapers, carpets, and furniture. While globally influenced, their perspective remains distinctly French. Frey highlights his grandfather's significant influence on his own design outlook, noting that the founder was constantly surrounded by artists and transformed their art into home fabrics. This legacy of appreciating creativity and nature continues within the company, which now collaborates with contemporary artists worldwide, offering a modern interpretation of the founder's original vision. He mentions a current collaboration with Christian Astuguevielle as an example of exciting projects. Regarding his design motto, 'eclecticism as a choice,' Frey explains his practical approach to styling a room. He suggests starting with curtains and rugs, then adding art, furniture, and crucially, lighting, emphasizing its profound impact on a room's atmosphere. He advocates for a 'mix and match' strategy, combining elements like Art Deco pieces with flea-market finds or auction items with vintage family heirlooms, believing that such combinations create more interesting and lived-in spaces. He advises against excessive perfection, stating that imperfections can add character and prevent a room from feeling uninteresting. Frey also shares his favorite items from the Christie's sale, including classic cutlery, a flamingo model, an antique rug, and marble busts, discussing how these diverse pieces would integrate into his own modern décor. #PierreFrey #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #FabricDesign #Wallpaper #EclecticStyle #FrenchDesign #ChristiesAuction #ArtAndDesign #PierreFrey #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #FabricDesign #Wallpaper #EclecticStyle #FrenchDesign #ChristiesAuction #ArtAndDesign