Forever young

And yet sometimes, all it takes is a fresh pair of eyes to awaken these charming “sleeping beauties” from their slumber and rekindle the spark of desire.

Auguste, Joséphine, Emile… The Duvivier family has expanded over the past three years, welcoming a brand new generation of sofas and small furnishings that have aroused our curiosity. Founded in 1840 and a holder of France’s Living Heritage label (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant), the “sleeping beauty” in question was awakened by Aymeric Duthoit, a man who not only has a passion for craftsmanship but who dreamed of making a career change by taking the reins of a firm. The success Duvivier sofas enjoy today is not underpinned by a fairytale, but by a well though-out strategy and a fruitful collaboration with designers such as Charlotte Juillard and Guillaume Hinfray.

It’s a similar story over in Burgundy. On taking over the over 100-year-old Manufacture de Digoin back in 2014 following a career in advertising, Corinne Jourdain breathed new life into a whole host of items perfectly placed to address modern-day issues. Salt cellars, vinegar cruets, boxes for preparing and storing condiments… What better way of eliminating plastic packaging and storing all those food products we’re once again purchasing loose than by adopting these ceramic and pottery pieces, whose sumptuous-sounding hues – “tonka bean”, “lemon verbena” and “chicory green” – truly tantalize the taste buds?

Taking a flask to the office, meanwhile, is no longer nerdy. It’s responsible. The vintage look of the Stainless collection reminds us that in the now ultra-competitive vacuum flask market, Thermos© has been both “hot” and “cool” since 1904. And while we’re in the office, it’s worth mentioning all those little manual interludes in an otherwise overtly digital day that we’ve started to appreciate more than ever. Why? Because they never let us down. The Italian stapler that goes by the name of Zenith 548 may have changed colour once or twice since 1948, but it still resembles a friendly whale and is guaranteed… for life. Swiss brand Caran d’Ache will have been a constant in many French lives since childhood, with people feeling far more strongly attached to its tins of pencil crayons, classy pens and colourful propelling pencils than to any fleeting digital craze.

In the home, we’re being encouraged to get back to basics and turn our backs on the throwaway culture by adopting brooms and brushes that can give well-loved items a new lease of life. Redecker’s ostrich feather duster is a must-have, and apparently goat hair is the perfect choice for keeping computer keyboards spick and span. Then there’s a “sneaker cleaning” kit and collaborations with Ionna Vautrin and Mr & Mrs Clynk at brush and broom specialist Andrée Jardin, where both use and design have been given a thorough dusting off.

These are brands that are reliable, effective, timeless, demanding and steeped in expertise. Perhaps they hold an even more special place in our hearts today because by focusing on our day-to-day needs they inspire us to look after ourselves.

By Marie Montuir