Etablissements Romoli, a specialist in decorative parquet flooring, will be displaying its bespoke work at the French Design Forum, at Chandos House, in central London (UK), on 10 May 2012. This event, organised by the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London, will focus on high-end, bespoke interiors created by exceptional craftsmen from France. Yves Romoli, Manager of Etablissements Romoli, explains, “We specialise in high-fashion flooring, but, just as any great designer, we also offer a line of ready-made items. People sometimes forget this. Our work is not exclusively for elite consumers, either, and our parquet flooring is not necessarily more expensive than more minimalistic options that architects turn into trendy pieces, while maintaining comfortable margins.” Etablissements Romoli will be at the French Design Forum — an exhibition displaying the work of French-based craftsmen, which is open to all professionals with an interest in interior design. The all-day event, which is organised by the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London, will take place at Chandos House, in the heart of London, on 10 May of this year. The Etablissements Romoli range features more than 100 original ready-to-install models — parquets, decorative borders or friezes and rosette patterns — made of naturally coloured hardwood. The company’s bespoke products are fabricated so as to ensure the best possible quality. The production of parquet flooring begins with the choice of wood. “We would rather use wood from Africa than South America. On the one hand, it is easier to get supplies [of the former] and, on the other, the colour of these woods is stable over time,” explains Yves Romoli. Etablissements Romoli chooses hardwoods because they are fine-grained, have attract ive veining, and are hygrometrically stable (i.e. they are generally unaffected by changes in levels of humidity). Hardwoods come in a range of vibrant colours, such as the deep honey tones of oak, the lively orange of bilinga, the stunning violet of purple-heart wood, the passionate red of bubinga, and the yellowish brown of amazakoue. The company chooses from 15 different species of hardwood, provided by a handful of sawmills that use old-fashioned wood-chopping techniques in order to yield a straight, stable grain that only varies as much as the thickness of the inlay. Neither laser cutting nor water-jet cutting is used by Etablissements Romoli in its workshop in South-Eastern France. Several workstations, in the production facility, have been custom-made and are equipped with carefully sharpened carbide blades. Each flooring saw has been meticulously calibrated with various stops to facilitate cutting at any angle. The company’s workshop is made up of a small team of highly qualified workers, whose training requires a minimum of 10 years. Yves Romoli explains, “Training is completed as it was during the era of the guilds, that is, with patience, perseverance and humility, and when know-how and skills were passed down from father to son.” As the tradition of hardwood marquetry is kept alive, the art of flooring, as practised by the expert workers at Etablissements Romoli, has become internationally famous. The company has been trusted by no fewer than 12 presidents in office. Kings, sultans, ambassadors and billionaires have also called upon the talents of Etablissements Romoli: among them was King Hassan II (the father of Morocco’s current king), for one of his residences, and the owners of the Queen Mary II liner, for the ship’s dining room. Thanks to its virtual showroom, Etablissements Romoli now offers bespoke flooring options online: visitors can come up with original designs that can be integrated into mosaic parquet flooring, or can choose from 100 basic models, at a cost of approximately €500 per square metre. “With a growing number of wealthy buyers and, so, increased demand [for top-end parquet-flooring products], we have had to adjust our approach by coming up with standards that blend process industrialisation and our know-how as craftsmen,” Yves Romoli explains. About Etablissements Romoli Etablissements Romoli has been present in South-Eastern France for approximately 50 years. The company is headquartered in Marseilles and has a production unit located in Pierrevert. Etablissements Romoli has been awarded the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (or Living Heritage Company) label by the French government. The company has also won the Gold Medal in hardwood marquetry in the Meilleur Ouvrier de France, the contest for France’s Best Craftsman. Etablissements Romoli will take part in the French Design Forum from 10.00am to 8.00pm on 10 May 2012 at Chandos House, in London (UK). This event is organised by the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London. For further information about the French Design Forum, please go to: http://www.ubifrance.com/uk/Posts-5058-french-design-forum-spotlights-bespoke-interiors-on-10-may For further information about Etablissements Romoli, please go to: http://www.parquets-romoli.com/

On 10 May 2012, the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London will present 12 bespoke interior-design specialists at the French Design Forum — the fourth event of its kind in as many years. The all-day event will take place at Chandos House, in central London (UK). On 10 May, from 10.00am to 8.00pm, the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in the UK will showcase French craftsmanship at Chandos House, in the heart of London. The all-day exhibition will give experts and other professionals in the field of decoration and architecture the opportunity to view samples of bespoke work by 12 French-based craftsmen from the interior-design sector. Many of the French-based participants have been labelled Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (or Living Heritage Company): it is a mark of recognition awarded by the French Ministry of Economy, Industry and Employment, which was set up to reward French companies’ traditional and industrial skills. Below is a list of the companies that will attend the French Design Forum; more information is available on request. Aigre-Doux Aigre-Doux designs and manufactures fine home linens, using traditional techniques developed by this family-owned business. Adding unique craftsmanship to a wide range of finishing styles, diverse colours, bespoke sizes and fine fabrics, the company believes in offering a unique service that allows clients to create their own bed and table linens in order to suit their individual interior-design projects. www.aigre-doux-bjc.com Atelier Muquet Atelier Muquet experiments with wood, metal and polymer to recreate the effect that place and time have on materials. The techniques produce patina, fading and corrosion on decorative panels, wall frescoes, doors and furniture. The company is made up of a dozen craftsmen (including  cabinetmakers, joiners, polymer specialists and gilders), who work on prestigious bespoke projects, such as luxury hotels and yachts, as well as residential developments. Atelier Muquet is a Living Heritage Company. www.muquet.com Aubusson Tapisserie Prestige Robert Four set up the Aubusson Tapisserie Prestige workshop in 1952. Over five centuries of tradition, generations of master weavers have passed on their know-how in the creation of handmade tapestries and hand-tufted, hand-knotted, Savonnerie and flat-weaved carpets. The company’s colourists can create an endless number of colours, thanks to their own dye works. Aubusson Tapisserie Prestige is a Living Heritage Company. www.aubusson-manufacture.com Benoît Toscan The Benoît Toscan workshop was founded in 1999 and has, since then, reintroduced the unique know-how of the Manufactures Royales Bonvallet d’Amiens (in northern France). Benoît Toscan uses a variety of fabrics that are all dyed, finished and crafted in its workshop, including mohair, linen, silk, cotton, velvet and satin. The company’s specialty is the creation of Amiens velvet using traditional methods. Benoît Toscan, a Living Heritage Company, undertakes both historical-restoration and interior-design work.     Cinabre Hervé Obligi Created in 1985, with the purpose of both creating and restoring objects made of precious stones, Cinabre Hervé Obligi is one of the few existing workshops to undertake such projects. The company continues to work with stones from around the world, using an artistic style akin to that of the 17th century. Cinabre is a Living Heritage Company. www.obligi.fr Ebénisterie Générale Run by craftsmen with a passion for the work of 18th-century French furniture makers, Ebénisterie Générale is a modern workshop dedicated to the design of bespoke furniture, stylish wood panelling and interior fittings. Each one of the company’s creations is a rare and original piece, handmade for its clients, who include architects, decorators, private individuals, and corporate clients. www.ebenisterie-generale.com Jallu Ebénistes Jallu Ebénistes’ team of master craftsmen fabricates bespoke, museum-quality furniture using the materials and techniques that were popular during the Art Deco period, such as parchment, straw marquetry, horn veneer, gypsum, shagreen, precious metals and veneers. Whether contemporary, classic or Art Deco, the furniture is a combination of the highest quality craftsmanship, superior materials and attention to detail. Jallu is a Living Heritage Company. www.yannjallu.net Etablissements Romoli Etablissements Romoli has been a specialist in marquetry for over 60 years, creating luxurious indoor and outdoor areas for homes, hotels, castles and yachts. The company’s manufacturing know-how allows for the customisation of ornamental parquets, turning them into friezes, rosettes and mosaics. The basic models can be implemented alone or assembled in the boldest combinations. Etablissements Romoli is a Living Heritage Company. www.romoli.fr ME Dupont ME Dupont is a manufacturer of artistic bronze products. In its workshops, near Paris, the company’s craftsmen restore and reproduce beautiful period pieces, such as light fittings and furnishings in gilded bronze. ME Dupont creates original and customised pieces for clients who are in search of unique, beautiful creations. ME Dupont is a Living Heritage Company. www.me-dupont.com La Forge de Style La Forge de Style has been based in the USA for the last 10 years. In 2009, the ornamental-metal-work company opened a workshop in Western France, employing 25 people in total. La Forge de Style is known for the high technical standards it achieves in all its projects. The company specialises in the fabrication of stairs, stair railings and gates, as well as high-end furniture in such materials as bronze, copper and titanium. www.laforgedestyle.com Tassin Tassin was founded in 1905 and is located in Faubourg Saint-Antoine — Paris’ traditional cabinetmaking district. The company makes embossed, hand-painted and gilded leathers, as well as embossed-leather objects in Henry II style. It also carries out leather gilding and leather-furniture finishing using kip, sheepskin, goatskin, shagreen and crocodile skin. Working on prestigious projects across the globe, Tassin continues to employ traditional production techniques and machinery, including century-old leather-embossing presses. Tassin is a Living Heritage Company. www.tassin-cuir.com Nicolas Bonnet Established in 1999 in Burgundy, a region known for stone extraction and transformation, Nicolas Bonnet has received numerous awards for its work. The company has proven know-how in designing, cutting and fitting stone stairways and Saracen vault stairways. With the ornamentation done internally, the company restores historical monuments and creates kitchen work surfaces, old-style flooring, fireplaces and fountains. Nicolas Bonnet is a Living Heritage Company. www.nicolas-bonnet.com About The French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE The French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London facilitates trade development between France and the UK. UBIFRANCE offers a wide range of services to French-based companies, so as to assist them in their business activities within the UK. As such, it organises B2B events in the form of conferences and networking opportunities, mainly in London. The French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London is organising The French Design Forum as a showcase for 12 specialists in bespoke interior creation. The event will take place at Chandos House, in central London, on 10 May 2012. The venue will be open to visitors from 10.00am to 8.00pm. Journalists wishing to attend should contact Ms Katherine Woods, Press Officer of the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London. For further information about UBIFRANCE in the UK, please go to: www.ubifrance.com/uk

Aigre-Doux will display its high-end bed and table linens at the French Design Forum on 10 May 2012 at Chandos House, in central London (UK). The event will give those in the sector the possibility to discover the company’s know-how in designing and manufacturing its wide range of products, which are made with 100% natural materials. Aigre-Doux, a French-based designer and manufacturer of bespoke fine linen, will be present at the French Design Forum, to be held at Chandos House, in central London. The company will display its high-quality bed and table linen to professionals with an interest in interior design on 10 May of this year. The company offers fabrics with various designs and compositions. Its fabrics also come in different finishing styles, which include classic, simple or multiple cording lines, as well as simple or multiple hemstitches. To meet the high requirements of its customers, Aigre-Doux offers a range of sizes and 30 colours to choose from — colours that are the result of yarn-dying. As a heritage brand, the company is the last French-based manufacturer to create true ladder hemstitches, and it is able to produce any number of ladder hemstitches on demand. Aigre-Doux also uses an original non-zigzag bourdon stitch. While mixing colours that make over 100 different shades, Aigre-Doux can place one, two or three bourdon stitches, therefore producing a unique finishing style for its table and bed linen. The fabric used by Aigre-Doux is selected from well-established weavers and is exclusively woven in Italy using Egyptian cotton. The fabric is then transformed into the final product in the company’s workshop in Saint-Jean-de-Monts (in western France), before being shipped across the globe. In order to respect the environment and French traditions, the fabric is 100% natural. The range of fabrics includes percale, piquet of cotton, sateen, jacquards, and linen that is certified by the Masters of Linen — the association that is supported by the European Union and guarantees the quality of the linen. The basic fabric used by the company is a very high-quality percale that has long hackle fibres and a thread count of 210 threads per square inch. Aigre-Doux also uses a percale with a 400, 600 and 800 thread-count per square inch. For sateen, there is a 300, 600, or 1000 thread-count per square inch. As a result of these thread-counts, the fabric is extremely fine, and has a neat finish, which is a recognised symbol of French classicism. Aigre-Doux also uses pure linen (in both jacquard and plain fabric), along with piquet of cotton. Far from the practice of the industry’s giants, Aigre-Doux offers personalised advice and custom-made linen that suits individuals’ tastes and needs, while ensuring quality is its foremost priority. This, along with the fact that Aigre-Doux manages both the design and manufacturing of its products, ensures client satisfaction. Aigre-Doux mixes fabrics and colours in order to create unique bed- or table-linen sets. Once designed, the products are manufactured with meticulousness. Aigre-Doux is often involved in projects where attention to detail and personalisation matter, such as the interior design of yachts, upscale homes, shops and hotels. With a no-minimum-order policy, Aigre-Doux is recognised as a key player in French home-linen classicism. The company is extremely responsive to clients’ needs, and delivers its products on time, thanks to its structure, which is on a human scale. Delivery usually takes place within two to three weeks of an order being placed. About Aigre-Doux A French specialist in made-to-order, high-quality, luxurious bed and table linen, Aigre-Doux has a workshop in Saint-Jean-de-Monts (in western France). The company works with interior designers for the home, boats, shops, and luxurious hotels around the world. Aigre-Doux uses fabric that is woven in Italy, using Egyptian cotton, and then transformed into the final product in the company’s workshop in Saint-Jean-de-Monts. Aigre-Doux will be present at the French Design Forum, which will take place at Chandos House, in central London. The event, which is organised by the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London, will take place on 10 May 2012 and will run between 10.00am and 8.00pm. Please contact Ms Katherine Woods, Press Officer at the French Trade Commission in London, for more information. For further information about Aigre-Doux, please go to: www.aigre-doux-bjc.com   For further information, please contact :    Quote ref. : FTPB3731 Ms Katherine WOODS - Press Officer UBIFRANCE Press Office in London Tel: +44 (0) 207 024 3640 katherine.woods@ubifrance.fr   View other press releases at : http://www.ubifrance.com/uk/

The French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London will accompany seven French companies at Hotelympia 2012 in the Interiors and Technology, Table Top, and Catering Equipment halls. The trade show will take place at the ExCeL exhibition centre in London (UK) from 26 February to 1 March 2012.   The companies exhibiting are listed below. A catalogue with further details is available on reques t.   ARTIGA (Table Top Hall, Stand N2220)   ARTIGA, producers of Basque canvas, was founded in 2000 in the Landes (a region of south-western France). Basque canvas is a product of entirely natural origin. It is made of pure cotton, or a linen-cotton blend, and is well known for its sturdiness, its weave, and for its inimitable texture.   www.maisonartiga.com/en/     FRANCE INOX (Catering Equipment Hall, Stand S1035)   FRANCE INOX has more than 20 years’ experience in the design and manufacturing of stainless-steel kitchens. It has a reputation for creating high-quality, bespoke and standard kitchens, and a range of stainless-steel equipment for professional and residential use. The company has worked with renowned chefs, including Robuchon and Ducasse.   http://www.francinox.com/en/       FIRPLAST (Table Top Hall, Stand N2220)   FIRPLAST specialises in disposable and biodegradable packaging for restaurants and take-away outlets. ItsVision Verte brand offers an extensive range of wooden, Polylactic acid (PLA) and pulp items, including mini dishes, boats, cutlery and plates.   www.firplast.com     HOME SPIRIT (Interiors and Technology Hall, Stand S2120)   HOME SPIRIT is a family-run sofa manufacturer. Every day, 400 sofas are made in its factories, which are located in northern France. The sites are located at the heart of the logistics hub of north-western Europe, which is ideal for maintaining the high quality of production and a prompt delivery time. From the woodwork to the final fabrication, high standards are core to the company’s products.   www.homespirit.fr     IGNISIAL (Interiors and Technology Hall, Stand S2120)   IGNISIAL is a company that produces bio-ethanol fireplaces, including a range especially designed and developed for hotels. Its products comply with high safety standards, and are popular on both a practical and an aesthetic level.   www.cheminee-ethanol-ignisial.com     JURINE (Table Top Hall, Stand N2220)   A family-run manufacturer of products for the hospitality trade, JURINE has developed three quality ranges. The first is the Metafich range of menu displays, which includes blackboards, menu holders, menu covers and table displays. JURINE also produces stainless-steel items for the kitchen, the bar and the table, as well as a series of disposable-item dispensers.   www.jurine.com     Manusec (Interiors and Technology Hall, Stand S2120)   Founded in 1978, Manusec is a supplier of choice to the hotel industry. The company offers top-quality equipment, for everything from bedrooms to outdoor areas, with over 2,000 references. Manusec is present in more than 40 countries.   www.manusec.com     About The French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE   The French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London facilitates trade development between France and the UK. UBIFRANCE offers a wide range of services to French-based companies, so as to assist them in their business activities within the UK. As such, it organises B2B events in the form of conferences and networking opportunities, mainly in London.   The French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London will present seven French companies in the Interiors and Technology, Table Top, and Catering Equipment halls at the Hotelympia trade show. The trade fair is taking place at ExCeL, in the Docklands district of London (England), from 26 February to 1 March 2012.   Journalists wishing to attend should contact Ms Katherine Woods, Press Officer of the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in London.   For further information about Hotelympia, please go to: www.hotelympia.com  

HUET, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of high-performance acoustic- and fire-rated timber doorsets, will be exhibiting on Stand G46 at The Sleep Event. The trade show will take place from 23 to 24 November 2011 at the Business Design Centre, in London.   “We have built our reputation for quality and innovation by working closely with our clients, so that we can guarantee to supply premium-quality doorsets, which precisely meet their requirements. We are looking forward to meeting existing clients and making new friends at The Sleep Event, and discussing with them how we can provide the products they need,” explains Tom Moir, HUET’s UK Sales Manager.   At The Sleep Event, HUET will be featuring a full selection of timber doorsets that are designed specifically for the hotel industry, and are suitable not just for guests’ rooms, but also for boardrooms, function rooms, and meeting rooms.   This selection will include the Chorus 42 doorset, which features a multi-layer, 41mm-thick, acoustic core and high-stability leaf created by the inclusion of two steel sheets. As part of the multi-million pound refurbishment of the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London, 250 of HUET’s Chorus 42 doorsets were installed in the hotel’s bedrooms and suites.   HUET will also exhibit its ISA DX43, which, at just 48mm-thick, is one of the slimmest doorsets to provide an acoustic rating of 45 Rw dB.   All of HUET’s doorsets have a European and British fire rating of EN1634-1 and BS 476 respectively, with resistance to fire guaranteed for either 30 or 60 minutes.   Visitors to stand G46 will be able to see the quality and craftsmanship that have made HUET a leading producer of fire- and acoustic-rated timber doorsets. They will have the occasion to examine samples of the range of woods available and the finishes that can be supplied. HUET’s specialists will provide visitors with the opportunity to discuss, in detail, all aspects of the company’s products and range of services.   HUET will also exhibit a full-size doorset that is identical to those the company designed for the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris. Once the home of Napoleon’s grandnephew, Prince Roland Bonaparte, the former palace has been transformed into one of Paris’ most elegant and luxurious hotels.   The renovation process of the Parisian hotel called for doorsets that combined high technical performance with a bespoke finish. HUET satisfied both requirements by creating tailor-made doorsets finished in varnished Okoume (a type of hardwood found in equatorial West Africa) and mahogany, with matching hardwood frames.   The Shangri-La Hotel, Paris and the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London are just two of the prestigious hotel companies which have chosen HUET doorsets. Others include Accor (which encompasses the Mercure, Ibis, Novotel and Sofitel chains), Monte-Carlo SBM, Lucien Barrière Hôtels & Casinos, and Marriott of the USA.   A key reason for HUET’s growth and success is its policy of working closely with everyone involved in the decision-making process, whether they are architects, interior designers, specifiers, installers or proprietors.   Because of the importance of interior design, the company hand-makes a life-size model of its products during the approval process. This means that specifiers can see exactly what will be delivered to the site and any changes can be discussed and agreed before production begins.   About HUET   HUET is headquartered in Challans, in the département of Vendée (in Western France). Founded 65 years ago, HUET, part of the JH Industries group, is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of high-performance acoustic- and fire-rated timber doorsets.   Since 1945, HUET has specialised in designing and manufacturing fire- and acoustic-rated doorsets made of timber. Every year, it produces nearly 600,000 interior doors and over 150,000 exterior doors and windows.   In addition to being a pre-eminent supplier to the hotel industry, HUET also specialises in producing fire-rated and acoustic-rated timber doorsets for a wide range of buildings, including hospitals, surgeries, health and medical centres, schools, colleges, universities, and television/recording studios.   HUET will be exhibiting on Stand G46 at The Sleep Event. The trade show will take place from 23 to 24 November 2011 at the Business Design Centre, in London (UK).   For further information about The Sleep Event, please go to: www.thesleepevent.com   For further information about HUET, please go to: www.huet-doors.co.uk

Les Ateliers du Drugeot SARL, a renowned French manufacturer of premium-quality furniture, will showcase its brand, Drugeot Labo, at Maison & Objet in Paris, between 20 and 24 January 2012. The furniture made by Les Ateliers du Drugeot relies on the use of solid wood; all the pieces are produced and assembled at the company’s workshop in France, without exception. The company sells to stores specialising in trendy and upmarket furniture and interior design.   “The mission of Les Ateliers du Drugeot is to surprise, arouse interest and bring out a smile in people, with furniture lines that are both original and beautiful, while remaining practical,” explain Pierre and Matthieu Rochepeau, the co-owners of the business.   Heal’s, in London, is already among the clients of Les Ateliers du Drugeot. The company is confident that, “There is demand from the British market for our products,” says Pierre Rochepeau.   At 100% Design London (from 22 to 25 September 2011), Les Ateliers du Drugeot had a stand on the French Pavilion set up by the French Trade Commission UBIFRANCE in the UK. Les Ateliers du Drugeot will attend Maison & Objet early next year, which will take place from 20 to 24 January 2012 in the Parc des Expositions de Paris Nord Villepinte, north of the French capital.   The success of Les Ateliers du Drugeot SARL is due, point out Pierre and Matthieu Rochepeau, to the artisanal quality of the company’s production, whereby the emphasis is placed firmly on highly skilled craftsmanship — as recognised by the Ateliers d’Art de France label. (Les Ateliers du Drugeot joined the government-backed scheme in June 2011.)   Pierre and Matthieu Rochepeau take pride in the fact that their family-run business, steeped in tradition and age-old savoir-faire, has succeeded in developing product lines that are also stylish, innovative and totally original. The company sells to stores offering upmarket, trendy furniture items, but also through outlets focusing specifically on high-end contemporary furniture and creators’ galleries.   A good deal of the company’s success derives from the two brothers’ strong commitments in a range of areas — from business and design to quality and the environment. Indeed, the trees that are used to make the furniture come from forests exclusively planted in France in compliance with sustainable-development guidelines (i.e. certified by PEFC, which is the world’s largest forest-certification organization: www.pefc.org).   Rooted in a proud tradition, Les Ateliers du Drugeot is also a dynamic business that is planning for the future. This has led the company to create a new range of products under the new Drugeot Labo brand, which consists in furniture of a more clearly contemporary style and of an elaborate design.   “With this perspective, we want to rely more on designers. Nowadays, furniture has become a decorative item, and the idea is to use that to differentiate us from what big companies have to offer,” explains Pierre Rochepeau. “We looked at everything that was available as far as traditional, small, oak and cherry-wood furniture pieces go: we wanted to do something else, in a more original, quirky spirit, without going crazy, but certainly applying an innovative approach.”   The result of this original approach is for all to see, with furniture pieces that defy gravity, such as the Equilibriste shelving range and the Bric à brac line, and designs that question our perception of storage furniture as mere units to be stacked. Such designs, like the Glycine shelving range and the Glycine console table, are a good illustration of Les Ateliers du Drugeot’s novel approach to style, design, and furniture for the 21st century. Les Ateliers du Drugeot now has 40 different products to offer.   About Les Ateliers du Drugeot SARL   Les Ateliers du Drugeot SARL is based in Segré, in Western France. The company was created in 1969 by Jean-Louis Rochepeau.   Les Ateliers du Drugeot started as a small shop housed in the family garage. In 1976, as the demand for wooden furniture was growing quickly, Jean-Louis Rochepeau built a bigger workshop; he started to create small furniture in oak and cherry wood.   In 2000, the company already had several hundred clients across France: that is when Jean-Louis Rochepeau sold his traditional, family-run business to his two sons, Pierre and Matthieu. In September 2005, Les Ateliers du Drugeot took over Les Meubles de Zan, a small cabinetmaking firm, thus expanding the company’s product range considerably.   In 2008, a workshop covering a surface area of 600m² was built in the enterprise zone of Segré, a small town situated 45km from Angers. Since August 2008, all the finishing work has been done on the Segré site.   Les Ateliers du Drugeot will attend Maison & Objet, which will take place from 20 to 24 January 2012 in the Parc des Expositions de Paris Nord Villepinte, north of the French capital.   For further information on Maison & Objet, please go to: http://www.maison-objet.com/en/maison-objet/   For further information on Les Ateliers du Drugeot, please go to: http://www.drugeotlabo.com

HUET’s ISA DX43 acoustic-rated doorsets have been installed as part of the renovation of the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris (in France). To ensure that guests may enjoy the highest levels of tranquillity, the design team chose HUET’s doorsets for all of the hotel’s 54 bedrooms and 27 suites.   “One of the prime reasons for our success is our in-depth experience and proven expertise in meeting the needs of the hotel and leisure market. We have never adopted a ‘one-size-fits-all’ policy, but always concentrate on working in partnership with our clients, their architects and interior-design teams, in order to provide bespoke products, tailor-made to their requirements,” explains Tom Moir, HUET’s UK Sales Manager.   The restoration process of the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris, in the 16th arrondissement of the French capital, called for doorsets that combined high technical performance, in order to maintain a peaceful setting within one of Europe’s most vibrant cities, with a bespoke finish that would complement the hotel’s luxurious interior. HUET satisfied both requirements by creating tailor-made doorsets finished in tinted and varnished Okoume (a type of hardwood found in equatorial West Africa) and mahogany, with matching hardwood frames.   HUET’s ISA DX43 hardwood doorsets have an acoustic rating of 45 Rw dB, as well as a fire rating of EI 30 (as per European and British standards). They can also be supplied as double doorsets, which is another reason why the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris chose HUET’s products for the entrances to its suites.   The ISA DX43 door-leaf has a 48mm-thick, multi-layer, acoustic, high-stability core, thanks to the inclusion of two steel sheets. HUET offers a selection of facings including veneered, laminated, painted and primed. For the frame, there exists a choice of wood panels that are up to 178mm wide.   The Shangri-La Hotel, Paris project further strengthened HUET’s reputation for precisely meeting its client’s requirements. Okoume and mahogany are not standard wood veneers that are available from stock, but HUET worked closely with both designers and representatives of the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris to source the right wood and, as a result, produce the exact finish specified by the design team.   HUET’s commitment to innovation and quality has been recognised by many of Europe’s major hotel chains and leisure companies, such as Accor (which includes the Mercure, Ibis, Novotel and Sofitel chains), Monte-Carlo SBM, Lucien Barrière Hôtels & Casinos, and Marriott of the USA (with the recently renovated and prestigious St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London, in the British capital).   Originally the home of Prince Roland Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte’s grandnephew, the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris has been restored by prominent architect Richard Martinet, while the interior has been completely revamped by Pierre-Yves Rochon, the renowned interior designer. The Shangri-La Hotel, Paris offers guests the opportunity to enjoy some of the most breathtaking views of Paris, in elegant and luxurious surroundings.   About HUET   HUET is headquartered in Challans, in the département of Vendée (in Western France). Founded 65 years ago, HUET — part of the JH Industries group — is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of high-performance acoustic- and fire-rated timber doorsets.   Since 1945, HUET, has specialised in designing and manufacturing fire- and acoustic-rated doorsets made of timber. Every year it produces nearly 600,000 interior doors and over 150,000 exterior doors and windows.   The Shangri-La Hotel, Paris, situated in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, is the latest in a long line of prestigious hotel groups with which HUET has worked, such as Accor (which includes the Mercure, Novotel and Sofitel chains), Marriott, Monte-Carlo SBM, and Lucien Barrière Hôtels & Casinos. The Shangri-La Hotel, Paris is part of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts which has 72 hotels worldwide. The Shangri-La Hotel, Paris is the first to be situated in Europe.   In addition to being a pre-eminent supplier to the hotel industry, HUET also specialises in producing fire-rated and acoustic-rated timber doorsets for a wide range of buildings, including hospitals, surgeries, health and medical centres, schools, colleges, universities, and television/recording studios.   For further information, please go to: www.huet-doors.co.uk