• Marie in Dahkla photo by MBB

  • Marie with the lilac throw, photo by MBB

Where is home?

I have been living in Paris in the 7th arrondissement  for 11 years. 

Can you give us your top 5 places to eat, drink and shop in Paris?

Crying Tiger rue du Cherche midi in the 6th arrondissement (thai restaurant designed like a traditonnal bistrot)- Localino or Le Cherche Midi for italian food and very good pastas! - Le cheval d'Or in the 19th arrondissement, its a chinese restaurant. I love the minimalist design and the neighborhood is really nice, and there's a little alley next door that makes you feel like you're in the countryside.- Linnea Lund for cashmere made in Italy, my friend Charlotte Bjorklund created the brand few years ago and the first shop is on Place Furstemberg, you can have a Scandinavian breakfast at the boutique on Thursday mornings, it's really cute! Les Prairies de Paris is a very small shop just in front of the Luxembourg park. You can find amazing shirts and skirts, very well-cut basics with beautiful details. 

What is your favorite gallery and why?

There are sooo many galleries in Paris the choice is difficult, Pradier Jeauneau rue de Verneuil for furniture and paintings, especially the one of Anais Vindel (its pretty close of your Upstate style!!)

Do you see yourself living in Paris for a while? or what’s next?

For the moment I'm very happy to live in Paris because I want to develop MBB with my associate Mathilde and lots of our projects are in Paris for the moment. But I love the idea that I'll be creating projects somewhere else like a creative nomad.

Can you tell us a bit about your new creative studio?

Mathilde and I studied at the same school, Penninghen,  she studied artistic direction and I studied interior design.We had a wonderful opportunity last year to work with Laurence Bras, who has a clothing brand in Paris, and we redesigned her brand guidelines. The project went really well and little by little Mathilde and I decided that it would be cool to combine our two skills, working on images and spaces. We are designing logos but we also made photo shootings. We would love to develop our skills on 360° projects, from graphic design, to image direction, space design and strategic advice. 

How do you seek inspiration in times of feeling blocked?

I talk to friends about my projects and doubts and generally it unblocks the situation and gives me new energy! 

How do you balance your time between inspiration, design and the business side of your practice?

I work with Mathilde on the MBB by us' projects two days a week. The rest of the time I work on my set design projects with galleries and on flat projects. As far as inspiration, design and the business side are concerned, everything is mixed together and I work in symbiosis, ahah, everything that was business seemed very abstract to me before I started working and I'm discovering that I really enjoy tackling these parts which sometimes turn out to be quite creative and exciting! 

Are there particular themes or messages you strive to express through your artwork?

Telling stories! Before studying interior architecture I was a ballet dancer so the fact of telling stories and transporting people into a world makes me happy and makes me dream. I don't know if I do it well, but I'm working towards that goal!  

I have always loved your effortless style- can you tell us what drives this?

My mother has a very casual and elegant style, so I think I've inherited it! My paternal grandmother had a very relaxed style when she was at home. She spent a lot of time in the garden, so it had to be comfortable. She came from a fairly conventional background but sometimes she'd wear a T-shirt that she'd bought on a trip in a airport or a holiday club and that created a pretty funny contrast with the person she was. I like to twist my very classic side with a fluorescent yellow scarf or some big jewelry etc.But above all I think I'm very influenced by the Parisian style ahah 

Who are some artists or creators that influence your work? How do they inspire you?

I love the work of Gaetano Pesce. Its very colorful and its the perfect twist in a minimal and classic interior. It always reminds me that it's important to do things in a way that doesn't take us too seriously, and that a bit of madness always adds a touch of fun to things. 

Can you describe your ideal creative environment? What elements are essential for you?

A cosy place with lots of objects that are inspiring me. A water colour by Florine Asch, a water colourist I admire and who makes you dream with these invitation cards.A little portrait that my grandmother did of me when I was little, notebooks, books of architecture, photos, flowers that my boyfriend buys because he loves them! I like having lots of things on my desk, I think it makes me more confident, and if I'm out of inspiration I take a look behind my screen and it gives me a boost! 

Is there a dream project or collaboration you hope to pursue one day?

I want to tell stories through spaces and images. What could be better than creating places where people can live different experiences and come together. For example in Andalusia where I went a year ago for the feria, in the south of France, in Sicily in Pantelleria, an island I discovered recently where a lot of artists come together. So many places to discover and people to meet. A new idea is coming to me each time a meet someone inspiring, for example the chef Bruno Verjus, I'd love to do an editorial with him and MBB one day. 

What is your favorite item from Upstate and why?

A silk green tie dye shirt! I wear it with my pajamas as well as for an elegant occasion.

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