Horizontal : INCONTROVERTIBLE household linen
In this article, we take you along to meet the creator of the Horizontal brand, Inès de Vallois. An entrepreneurial spirit, a rich background and an affinity for design and decoration lead us straight to success.
Let Inès' interview be your guide to countless tips for the home!
What's your background ?
Following my studies, I was lucky enough to get into the style of Madame Figaro, a fashion magazine that gave me the opportunity to travel to beautiful parts of the world for years. One of these was in Vietnam, where I brought back a little treasure, a magnificent cotton cover entirely hand-embroidered tone-on-tone.
When I had to leave my job to follow my husband, who had been transferred to Singapore, I was passionate about fashion and decoration, and wanted to stay in the creative field. Now located in the heart of countries where know-how is unique, the desire to set up my own small business began to germinate. Then it all clicked, when I came across this embroidery that had been the envy of so many around me 🙂
So off I went, in search of Vietnamese craftsmen who still practice this unique art.
Back in France, after four rich years in Asia, I wanted to continue the adventure and offer you my products from the ends of the earth.
What's your favorite recipe ?
There are few things as satisfying as being able to prepare your favorite recipe in a tidy kitchen with quality products.
Entertaining in the kitchen has become the norm, and designer Inès de Vallois is following the trend!
"It's always nice to be able to create something a little more special for one or more guests. When we moved into this house just outside Paris, I began to enjoy cooking much more in this open, practical and warm space.
My favorite recipe is monkfish with cider, a recipe I discovered thanks to the Simplissime books. It's not very complicated to make, but it's great when I have friends over.
What are your best of 2021-2022 colors ?
For a number of years now, green has been very much in evidence in interior design. Even if it's a novelty in the kitchen, it's been a staple in decorating for several years now.
Color mixes have intensified this year, for example a more pronounced pink than powder pink with sky blue. More "earthy" colors are also making a strong comeback, such as terracotta, mustard and tobacco. These are very reassuring, warm colors.
What's new in 2022 ?
For 2022, we are mainly developing two new products. A new product for linen : LES MOTIFS, which will be available on the site at the end of March. Linen is often sold as a plain material, so I decided to modernize the range with sober but striking patterns, such as stripes or checks.
We are also accentuating the linen pyjama range, adding colors and above all creating a short pyjama range. The pyjamas are made up of a shirt and don't have the striking detail of pyjamas, so they can be mixed and matched.
What are the advantages of flax ?
Linen is a fascinating material : it's thermoregulating. In other words, when it's hot outside, linen feels cool and vice versa. What's more, the more you wash it, the softer it becomes. A not inconsiderable detail is the super-pretty embossed side of the fabric. Don't be afraid to tumble-dry it, as this will bring out the colors and reinforce the embossed look.
What's the difference between linen and printed cotton ?
Printed cotton, on the other hand, is flowered and made in India, with the limit of the cotton voile offering superb resistance. It has a very different feel from linen, much lighter, depending on the desired sensation.
"Generally, it's the print that creates the difference because it can change a room's decor completely."
What do you think of your Bocklip handles?
"These little handles add a touch of elegance to my kitchen."
My kitchen is made of stained wood and is quite spacious, but it was very linear. To break up the lines, I chose small round laiton handles from Bocklip, very discreet and chic on a cupboard wall without much character.
What are your table decoration tips ?
It's a pleasure for me to make a pretty table. My trick of the moment is small vases from Merci, scattered around the table with just three small flowers in them. Much more practical than large bouquets, this technique offers greater visibility, space and conviviality. To accentuate the cozy ambience, it's also a good idea to add candles, which provide a soft, warm light.
And laiton ?
Knowing that my printed cotton comes directly from India, I have a lot of little brass objects I found in Jaipur, little bowls scattered around the house, which are great for storage but also very pretty for decoration.
Who doesn't need a little dish to hold their coins or house keys ?
How to mix styles in the home ?
I think it's very nice. My house itself is made up of furniture of different styles. In the course of a lifetime, you accumulate furniture of different kinds, which is very interesting to mix. I like to break up styles, for example by putting a modern lamp next to an old table, or large 18th-century mirrors onmy mantelpiece.
How to mix colors harmoniously ?
Mixing colors is a big YES for me.
