MY STYLE INSPIRATIONS Caravane’s Véronique Piedeleu

As the artisan homeware brand celebrates its 25th birthday, Caravane’s co-owner shares the passions that inform her creative approach

IN THE FAMILY

As the granddaughter of an antiques dealer, I’ve always been enthralled by interior design. When I was younger, it was my love of fine furniture that inspired me to travel the world. When my husband and I discovered Caravane ten years ago, we were transfixed by the brand. We bought it to take it to the next phase, while ensuring that its decorative aesthetic continued to remain informal, warm and timeless. Above all, we place importance on a love for people and their craft.

COLLABORATION

We’re a close-knit team of about 75 based in France, UK and Denmark, and we also have around ten people who are responsible for the product collection and displays. I love to be at the heart of the action and find it so inspirational to be surrounded by the creativity of the whole Caravane family. Something that will never change is our attention to detail – we want our customers to know we have cared about every product.

ART OF CRAFT

Of all Caravane departments, my favourite is textiles – it’s an endless world of colour and opportunity. While I’m inspired daily by the work of Matisse (left) and Claude Viallat, my favourite artists are the creatives I’ve met in villages all over the world – their weaving techniques are fuelled by so much skill! Each country has unique textiles, every village in those countries has its own way of crafting from those materials, and I love to tap into this. There’s joy in discovering the differences as well as similarities between fabrics from across the world.

MODERN NOMAD

Travel is such an important inspiration – my heart is always in India. I love the food, the climate, the philosophy, the people, the cities… I could go on! On one trip, we travelled for two hours to visit a group of women working with natural fibres. They gave us an extraordinary welcome ceremony; I was handed a candle and asked if I’d light all the candles, one by one, in a chandelier. It was an expression of their honour to welcome and work with us. I’ll never forget it. What I love most is finding that, even if we don’t speak the same language, we can communicate by hands, smiles and eyes.

CITY LIVING

I live in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, an area with a lot of green spaces and luscious gardens – I love the trees and the smells they bring into the house. It’s an oasis that makes me feel as if I’m on holiday! Throughout our home we like to play with texture, colour and pattern – in every room there are ethnic textiles, vivid pieces of artwork, bespoke glassware, treasured antiques and a mix of eucalyptus and bamboo furniture I’ve found on travels or brought in from Caravane.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Now that our brand has turned 25, it’s a chance to reflect. I don’t think the wider influences for Caravane have changed over the years – we’ve always been influenced by colour and exquisite craft. That remains true – it’s what we stand for today. See more at caravane.co.uk