Spotlight: Garance Rousseau
Who are you and what do you do with your days?
My name is Garance, and I am the founder and principal of Maison Garance, a full-service interior design studio based in Los Angeles. I spend the majority of my time sourcing furniture and special objects from all around the world for my clients. When I'm not doing that, I am probably overseeing a lighting installation or checking on a construction site. So much of my work is hands-on and involves being on-site.
Outside of work, you'll probably find me in the kitchen baking an apple pie from scratch, restoring the original brass hardware that was painted over in my house, or looking through vintage architecture books at my favorite bookstore.
How would you describe your interior style?
Layered and animated. I want my designs to reflect the people who live in them. There is so much that goes into it; it's not just about sourcing beautiful objects. I spend a lot of time getting to know the house and my clients before starting on the design. Depending on the age of the house, I like to source pieces that look like they could've always been there. My goal is to design spaces that what will last the test of time both functionally and stylistically.
What are your top three favorite things in your home?
A working fireplace, the view of the Hollywood Hills from my living room window, the classic Craftsman window trims.
What is the first thing you notice about a space?
I notice every little detail, which is why I do what I do! I would say that lighting tends to affect me the most. So many homes nowadays are designed with recessed lights, which i'm not a fan of. I love a beautiful sconce, table lamp, or pendant. I like being able to control the temperature of the bulbs and dim everything at night. Nothing transforms a home as much as lighting does.
How do you make your friends and family feel at home when they come over?
A cup of tea, dimming the lights, and lighting the fire.
If you could peek inside any person's house to see how it's decorated, who would that be and why?
I'd really love to peek into the homes of the set designers who worked on the movie "Poor Things." I also really want to see how Wayne Thiebaud decorated his house.
Do you have any projects you're working on right now that you're excited about? And where can we find you online?
They're all so different, which is exciting. I am currently working on projects all over the US, from Maine to Montecito, Los Angeles, Northern California, and New York. I work on a variety of styles, including Spanish houses, cabins in the woods, mid-century, and Craftsman, among others.
I am starting to specialize in bringing historic homes back to life, which has been so wonderful and truly what I was meant to do. All the houses I am working on are full of history.
I can't wait to share more this year. You can find some of my work on my website, garancerousseau.com, or featured in the NY Times and Architectural Digest.