The concept of Maison Venu is inspired by textiles that mark the memories of my upbringing.
In September 2020, we sold the home of my maternal grandmother, Betty or "Grammy," in Lafayette, Louisiana which she had lived in from 1977 until the end of her life. As we divided up her carefully curated collections tiny spoons from her travels, cookbooks, costume jewelry, original artwork from different periods of her life - I found myself drawn to the small details of decor that made up the stage of so many of my earliest memories.
As I faced the last day I would look at her Lisbon-tile style wallpaper that adorned the walls of her casual dining space, I reflected on the space where so many meals, games of cards, laughter, and toasts with overflowing glasses of Grammy's amaretto took place.
Alongside my cousin, we started to peel sheets of the Lisbon tiles right off the wall as if they were becoming archived pieces of a museum. We took down the chinoiserie-style curtains from her bedroom and snipped cuttings of the silk jacquard wall covering that lined her foyer.
My memories of Grammy and time spent in her home surrounded by family were woven into these motifs and fabrics. Their importance to me and their relevance in my life also serve as a tiny nod to my career in textiles and fibers - a love that I shared with my grandmother as she enjoyed to sew, knit and crochet.
My love for design is rooted in this story. I forged a path in the home decor and textile industry with hopes to one day design pieces that hold this kind of sentimental value.
Whether it be the materials, the design, or the environment in which you experience a Maison Venu piece, I hope our mission to reimagine art shines through in each design.