Creating bespoke interiors is an art. From the customised creation of specialised ceilings in palladium or gold leaf; to gilded decorative paintings and murals on the walls, from stucco to “trompe l’oeil” on canvas, and handcrafted furniture made from handpicked materials that are stitched, carved, sculpted and finished by accomplished artisans, each element is like a brush stroke on an Old Masters’ painting creating an interior that is as awe-inspiring as it is beautiful. Daniele Décor and Atelier CL Lorain are the masters of this art and have been the preferred firm in the Middle East for bespoke furniture and interiors for over 35 years. Their clientele is very exclusive, discerning, and elite including royalty and luxury brands like Cartier Boutique and Piaget.
Life N Style spoke to Emna Chouikha, CEO, Daniele Decor and Atelier CL Lorain, about their specialities, the legendary French craftsmanship and how trends in bespoke interiors are evolving.
Bespoke luxury interior design is like a commissioned exquisite work of art where only a true artist can bring the client’s vision to life. Your popularity with clients speaks volumes about your work but what do you feel sets you apart from others?
From our main office and workshops in Bahrain we have been working on bespoke interiors not just in the GCC region but across the world. What sets us apart are our highly qualified craftsmen, the heirs of the French tradition of workmanship dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. We are honoured to keep these French technics alive in the Middle East and beyond.
In 2013, Daniele Decor and Atelier CL Lorain became a part of the prestigious Atelier De France Groupe which is currently working on some of the most high-profile restoration work in the world, can you share more details?
Emna Chouikha: Atelier de France is a group of companies that was assembled for the sole purpose of producing the highest quality of construction and decoration for classic and contemporary projects or the preservation and restoration of French architectural heritage.
In 2022, the Atelier de France Groupe was heavily involved in luxury construction projects in France and worldwide. We have participated in the restoration of world-famous sites, such as Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais and the Oval Office in the White House. The painting and gilding decoration of the Opéra Garnier and the Elysée Palace in Paris.
Our 1900 artisans, including sculptors, bronzesmiths, marble workers, ironworkers, carpenters, gilders, and decorative painters, both men and women are in high demand for such projects. This is because of their passion for excellence and unrivalled expertise which has been passed down from one generation to the next.
Daniele Decor and Atelier CL Lorain are masters of traditional French interior design techniques like ‘Trompe l’oeil’ on canvas and ‘Verre Eglomisé’ among others.
Trompe l’oeil’ is French for ‘deceive the eye’ and is an artistic term for the representation of an object with such verisimilitude as to deceive the viewer concerning the material reality of the object, simply put a realistic optical illusion of three-dimensional space and objects on a two-dimensional surface.
Whereas ‘verre églomisé’ is a technique that involves engraving a design through gold or silver leaf and applying coloured pigment so that the coloured portions show through the engraved areas. The painting is in turn backed with protective glass or foil.
Traditional techniques aside, Daniele Décor and Atelier CL have their eyes firmly set on evolving trends and have made huge strides in contemporary interiors. Emna, what can clients looking for modern French chic find at your firm?
Emna Chouikha: As trends change and evolve, we have been commissioned to do more modern interiors. Some of our clients also want minimalist or monochromatic interiors using natural materials and lights.
One of our answers to those requirements is straw marquetry, a decorative technique where pieces of straw are glued together, edge to edge, onto a backing. Straw marquetry uses one of the only materials today that brings a luminous shine to the created object without varnish. There is also the environmental aspect to consider. The essential element of this design – the raw material we use, the rye straw, is harvested by specialised cereal growers in France every year. Additionally, the technique does not require water or machinery and thereby no electricity is used in the production process, rating straw marquetry high on the sustainability scale with a low carbon footprint.
Apart from residences for quality-conscious high-end clients, you are one of the most ‘sought-after’ luxury interior design firms, having worked with luxury brands like Cartier Boutique and Piaget. Take us through that creative journey and the exclusive design elements that you created for special clients that you are most proud of.
Emna Chouikha: Of course, we are extremely proud of all our projects. What makes the beauty of an interior shine is the quality of execution and we employ the best craftsmen who ensure that the work is always up to the highest standards in the industry.
We also use our ancestral know-how for different projects, from modern and contemporary to traditional and have created masterpieces along the way for high-end hospitality projects as well as interior decorations of living spaces like villas. Our client’s privacy is essential, hence, many of our projects remain confidential. We can execute the most sophisticated designs and are really proud to be working with big names on the design scene like Jacques Garcia, to name just one.
Of the many projects that you have been a part of in the region, which was the most challenging and the most satisfying?
Emna Chouikha: All our projects are challenging and satisfying in their own way. However, we have been lucky to work on outstanding ones with royalty in the gulf region. Where we have used premium materials, from the most prestigious fabrics like silk or taffeta to the highest quality of marbles, paint finishes, and gold gilding. Decorative painting and gilding are two of our group’s historic crafts and its major areas of expertise. We have also been working with top designers to realise the most lavish and high-quality projects
