Exceptional lighting: the Marais in the age of enlightenment

And there was light… But not just any light! Chandeliers, wall lights, lanterns, lamps and floor lamps: le Marais Mood visits the Marais' most remarkable lighting designers. This element is the key to happiness. Nothing is more precious and decisive, in fact, than choosing the right lighting to define the atmosphere and identity of a space. Fiat lux!

"To meet the needs of exceptional pieces or custom lighting installations in interior design projects, we create our works using noble materials, such as alabaster or Limoges porcelain," explains Octavio Amado. The sculptures are handcrafted in Parisian workshops and are then produced in numbered copies. Prices range from €300 to €2, not forgetting the Venus 400 alabaster chandelier, which costs €36.

As early as the 1920s, Delisle was already designing ironwork and artistic bronzes for the wealthy American elite. The aristocracy across the Atlantic vied for the brand's expertise and became passionate about Art Deco. After the war, orders for lighting fixtures for major decorative projects poured in. But the Delisle style spans all eras. Ask to see photos of the neo-Gothic parure chandelier.

In the window, the panther reading lamp attracts attention and sets the tone. At her home, toile de Jouy is mixed with raffia and cotton. Ikat, an oriental fabric, is adorned with fringes and braids picked up here and there. In a word, it's baroque and surprising. "Otherwise, you quickly get bored with a lampshade; generally, it's all white. The idea is to make it a decorative element in its own right," assures the stylist. Her clientele, both private individuals and interior designers, vie for pendant lights, wall lights, and lampshades. Everything is made in the Marais and made in France. Expect to pay €180 for a wall light, €250 for a custom-made ball, and €400 for a pendant light.

The only problem: unfair competition from China. Her moon lamp has been copied since 2009. Sylvie Maréchal then reoriented her brand because, "it's difficult to compete against Chinese mass production. However, we have French DNA. So what's the difference between a round lamp and a round lamp? None, except the materials and the know-how. So we proposed something else: Limoges porcelain combined with LEDs." The result is unique pieces that have style and poetry and seem weightless. The brand is resonating as far away as the United States and Japan. Everything is custom-made, according to the allocated budget. Expect to pay at least 5 euros.