Looking Glass
THE EXPERT: Philippe Maret, Showroom Manager at Roche Bobois San Diego In the current marketplace, companies like Ikea are running the furniture show. Mass marketed furniture has its place in this world, but will never be featured at Roche Bobois. The value of uniquely made and exquisitely designed furniture is priceless. Roche Bobois carries high fashion, high style and high-quality pieces that will last a lifetime.
and colors (and sometimes prices) between 200-plus pieces of furniture. We tend to position our most avant-garde or newest pieces of the collection in the front of the showroom. Because Roche Bobois is a furniture editor and not a manufacturer, we have an extended resource of furniture to work with.
Quality encompasses all items at Roche Bobois, but if there is anything this self-proclaimed “furniture editor” is known for, it’s their sofas. Roche Bobois features both the classic and avant-garde, created by worldrenowned designers. The San Diego showroom features a variety of couches ranging from pattern-blocked contemporary to classic leather, and the staff is more than willing to help you pick the one that is right for you and your vision.
Q: Why work with Roche Bobois? PM: Ask a curator why he loves his job. It is the same dynamic here. Being surrounded by beautiful pieces of art—yes, furniture can be a form of art—is one single part of the puzzle. Serving customers who share the same appreciation for design is another one. And the list goes on. In truth, I go to work with a smile on my face every single morning. So, why would I not work for Roche Bobois?
Being an international company, Roche Bobois is able to offer a global perspective. Currently, this industry leader has over 250 stores spanning from the US to Switzerland. Not only is this world-wide diversity shown in designs, but also in the way the store is presented. Every location has a distinct personality while still featuring unifying pieces. The man who gives the La Jolla store its special ambiance is Philippe Maret. For those of us who love to change our spaces and renovate old rooms, be envious of Maret. He is the showroom designer at Roche Bobois in sunny San Diego. Otherwise known as the man behind the glass entrance, Maret creates incredible layouts throughout the store.
Q: Does your home style differ from your Roche Bobois style? PM: Yes, pretty much. The reason is: I am fortunate enough to live in a mid-century historical building, and I was not working for Roche Bobois at the time I purchased my condo. The instinctive and natural decision was to furnish the place with the adequate style. Thus, mid-century it is... Eames, Prouvé, etc...basically a copy/paste of what you see in most décor magazines dedicated to this era. Call me lazy or predictable.
Having access to top-of-the-line original pieces allows Maret to construct inventive scenes. Since Roche Bobois offers a wide selection and assortment of furniture options, Maret is able to encompass dozens of design styles into the showroom. In addition to professionally playing house, Maret is an expert on his products. Knowing everything about the furniture; green rating, materials, and durability, is all part of the position. Maret’s job doesn’t just stop at the window display. He has to be up to date on all of the latest trends and classic configurations to complete and perfect the entire ambiance of the store. Living in San Diego where the outdoors are pristine, it only makes sense that locals would search to make their indoor environment just as beautiful. With an eye for beauty and an appetite for style, our LOCALE readers will surely find that Roche Bobois is a perfect place to shop with this challenge in mind.
Q: How did you get into your line of work? PM: I used to be a part-time decorator in France and did a lot of interesting projects, although my official activity was linked to the shoe industry, which comes as convenient when our customers ask how to discern between the different types and characteristics of leathers we use in the making of their sofa. Q: What is the most rewarding part of your work? PM: When a customer contacts you after the delivery of his furniture and thanks you for your valued assistance during the entire process. Q: Can you give homeowners a tip for organizing their spaces? PM: When a customer enters our showroom, we offer them a comprehensive palette of products but also services including interior design and 3D renderings. We visit the customer’s residence, and we employ our best efforts to provide them with honest, creative and adapted suggestions. Each home and each customer being unique, our recommendation will be fine-tuned to the specifics of the project. Q: Being located in San Diego, what is your favorite part of the beautiful city? PM: This city assembles a mosaic of individual neighborhoods with their own distinct flavors. Indeed, San Diego is a beautiful city. That being said, Hillcrest, South Park, Point Loma and Coronado have my vote at the moment. creativity,
Q: This is a special year for Roche Bobois, celebrating 40 years in the USA. How did Roche Bobois mark the occasion? Philippe Maret: Yes, we are very proud to be celebrating 40 years of “l’art de vivre” in the USA. “A blend of Roche Bobois celebrated our 40th anniversary in customization and responsibility the USA by introducing a limited-edition chair, The Traveler, designed by Stephen Burks. This marks shapes the individuality of Roche the first time that Roche Bobois has worked with Bobois and its collections.” an American designer and seemed only fitting for this special milestone. Q: What defines a piece of Roche Bobois furniture? PM: A Roche Bobois furniture piece is, above all, furniture with a unique character, inspired by multiple personalities: the personality of the creator who designed it, with his sense of talent and ingenuity; and the buyer’s personal touch of freedom and creativity. Customization in any detail, choice of shapes, colors, leathers, woods and finishes. Each furniture piece becomes unique, exclusive and truly created for you. Q: Tell me about Roche Bobois’ mission statement. PM: Roche Bobois is committed to a comprehensive approach of respecting refined materials and the world around us. Becoming better every day, continuously seeking ways to reduce impacts on our environment is one of our core values. A blend of creativity, customization and responsibility shapes the individuality of Roche Bobois and its collections. Q: What is the most unique design you have seen in the store? PM: You are asking me to be partial. Well, the response comes very easy: my personal favorite is the Mah Jong sofa. This iconic design is quite magical in the sense that you never get tired of it. It is a cordial, inviting and happy sofa. It is also a timeless style. 40 years after its introduction, it is still our best-seller worldwide (in fabrics). Thanks to its innovative modular concept, the success and rank of this sofa designed by Hans Hopfer is certainly well deserved. Long live the Mah Jong!
Q: Describe your style in one sentence. PM: Let’s face it...most of us do not have a style of our own. We often duplicate a venue that has already been explored. That is another reason I admire artists and designers who can surprise us with their creativity and constant innovation.
Q: Could you touch on the subject of eco-design? PM: Like any other product, furniture has an environmental impact. First it is produced, which requires materials and energy, packaged and transported, then they are maintained and repaired throughout their life, and finally, they are recycled. Since 2006, and the Legend collection, Roche Bobois has demonstrated its commitment to responsible development and ecology. We have created an eco-design program that allows us to improve the environmental profile of our products and to measure those improvements. Q: Could you explain to us what Roche Bobois means? PM: Roche Bobois is the story of two families who met quite by chance at a furniture expo in Copenhagen in 1960. During the 1950s, The Roche Family—a father and his two sons—were owners of two Parisian furniture stores distributing the best in contemporary furniture. At the same time, The Chouchans, originally from Russia, were also selling furniture in Paris at Au Beau Bois (which later became Bobois). Both families had the same idea of importing Scandinavian furniture to sell in Paris, but after that unexpected meeting, they went on to design their first catalogue together. 50 years and 250 showrooms later, Roche Bobois is considered as the world leader of high-end furniture design and distribution.
Q: How do you start designing a showroom? PM: It’s a difficult exercise as you have to find the right balance of shapes | DECEMBER 2014 | 145