Name: John Coury & Florent Maillard
Company: CM Studio Paris
Position within company: Co-founders and partners
Website: www.cmstudioparis.com
Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)
We have both worked for the last 15 years on 7 different interior design and decoration projects in France and overseas. But this had been done initially in parallel to our careers in the financial services sector. Till we decided in 2018 to dedicate all our time to our absolute passion for interior design and decoration. And this was the promising beginning of CM Studio Paris.
How would you describe your personal design style?
We would describe our personal design style as elegant, fancy and eclectic. We always try to bring poetry in the magical and atmospheric interiors we create. This is of course consistent with our signature “Timeless interiors that magnify existence through eclecticism and poetry”.
Where does your design inspiration come from?
Our design inspiration comes of course from our travels all around the world, the magnificent places we have visited mostly in Europe and the East and of course from our inner worlds. John for instance has some Syrian, Italian and English ancestry and this bridge between the East where he was born and the West where he was raised bring his personal stamp and subtlety to CM Studio Paris design.
In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
We feel that people are getting really bored with minimalism and that there is a real new interest for “twisted classicism” ! “Nothing is more modern than antiquity” used to say the late great Karl Lagerfeld. Even if you take a place like Dubai or Las Vegas, somewhere built from scratch, what people tend to do is try to materialize something timeless, and that often has a connection to the proportions of an antique building. It’s a style that is inescapable, eternally inspiring, the oldest yet the latest thing…
Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2020 and beyond.
Light, shining metals, natural materials, round shaped furniture, maximalism.
If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?
Our piece of advice would be to always try to make the interior design consistent with the exterior design and the immediate environment of the project. Doing it well is not enough, you need to do it in a fair way and respect the inner poetry of the place.
How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?
They are of course very important in the sense that they represent a real international recognition for the work done. They are as important for an interior designer than a Cesar or an Oscar for an actor ! So being short-listed is already a great satisfaction for us and let’s see what future brings !
What projects are you currently working on?
A mansion in Lille
A chateau in northern France
A chateau close to Paris
Two apartments in Paris
An apartment in Dubai
What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
Grow significantly the number of projects out of France. We already work for American customers in Europe but would love to manage new projects in the USA.
Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations: Answers by John Coury here
Your most treasured possession?
A little palace somewhere in the East…
Your favourite holiday destination?
Egypt…
Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?
Hotel : Chateau de Bagnols in France
Restaurant : L’Ambroisie in Paris
Bar : Harry’s Bar in Venice
Your favourite book, film & song?
Book : The portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Film : Barry Lyndon by Stanley Kubrick
Song : La vie en rose by Edith Piaf
Your favourite food and drink?
Food : Coronation chicken and pink champagne (rosé)
Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
Cooking a jam !
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
A gentleman farmer…
CM Studio Paris have been shortlisted for Interior Design Scheme – Europe Award in The International Design & Architecture Awards 2020.
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