An elm table, chairs sourced in India and “Baldi” suspensions in banana tree fiber signed Caravane.
His house at Portugal, Veronique Piedeleu dreamed of it for a long time. Six years ago, she went for the first time to the region of Leadsa village located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. “I was looking for a place where nature would be as intact as possible”she recalls. “I wanted a place that would allow me to escape.” And for good reason: Véronique likes to travel and immerse herself in other cultures, in order to discover the richness of local crafts. She also devotes part of her work to it, since she has taken over the decoration brand Caravan eleven years ago. She is now the director, supported by her husband Jack-Éric and her daughter Capucine, respectively in charge of business development and the digital component. By buying the brand, Véronique was keen to develop it in a measured way, without locking herself in a Parisian seraglio. His creed? Maintain its family character, offer pieces that inspire it and seek out know-how while respecting local craft communities. A successful bet, since Caravane now has thirteen stores, including two in London, one in Copenhagen, one in San Francisco and three in Paris – with a new opening planned in Passy in October. By discovering his property nestled in the middle of nature, on land planted with pines and many local species, one cannot help but find similarities with the spirit of Caravane. We recognize, for example, this same attachment to local know-how, which decided Véronique to call on a company and an architect from the region, or even this desire to sublimate vernacular architecture by drawing inspiration from the huts of fishermen with raw and refined lines.
For lunch, the table gives pride of place to Caravane creations. On the patio, a garden furniture set created by an Indian craftsman is combined with “Ilam” bamboo suspensions by Caravane.
The main house and its three annexes showcase locally sourced wood and bamboo, and are topped with a typical thatched roof. “We didn’t want to revolutionize anything”she says. “The idea was simply to create a pleasant place to live, in harmony with the local architecture and nature.”
Inside, there are unique trinkets, vibrant colors, handcrafted pieces, a skilful mix of natural materials such as straw, wood or bamboo… So many elements that make Caravane’s signature and help to bring a cozy atmosphere to space. Véronique confides that she has staged objects brought back from travels as well as rattan and bamboo family furniture transmitted by her antique dealer grandmother, her favorites Caravane “that go with everything”, or rugs, cushions and bedspreads, essential to bring the final touch to an interior. His has everything of a contemporary family home, where conviviality reigns. The spacious living room allows you to organize large dinners, the open kitchen invites you to share… For two years now, Véronique has been going back and forth between Paris and her Portuguese pied-à-terre, which she received just before the first confinement. . This particular period allowed him to transform his work habits and to spend more time there than initially planned. His office, located in one of the annex houses, is also one of his favorite places. It faces a huge window with a view of a majestic pine tree, which looks like a painting, and allows you to observe the comings and goings of birds. Something to recharge your batteries before returning to the bustle of Paris.
In the bathroom, the “Leka” bamboo mirror is mixed with Caravane bath linen.
One of the guest houses and its “Iza” bamboo deckchair, a Caravane creation.
In one bedroom, the bed is dressed with Caravane cushions, a Caravane Å~ Umberto Pasti headboard, an ikat pattern bedspread found in India and “Yuka” benches by Caravane. Berber baskets found in Morocco hang on the wall.
