The french architect and decorator Félix Millory sublimates an exceptional apartment in the heart of Paris, Place Vendôme. He opened its doors to Signatures Singulières.
Above: portrait of Félix Millory : © Matthieu Salvaing.
A meaningful interior design
It is written in his name “thousand” as the thousand lives he seems to have lived. Because Félix Millory, under his tall adolescent appearance, is a wise old man with a lot of psychology and feeling. The designer is also impregnated with Japanese culture. Indeed, he studied the history of traditional and contemporary Japanese architecture for his degree in history at the Special School of Architecture in Paris. And at thirty years old, he has already travelled twice to the land of the rising sun. Since then, Félix Millory has tirelessly sought perfection in materials, spaces, framing and the relationship with nature.
The quest for perfection
With this oriental inspiration, the Parisian architect, who has spent time with Mathieu Lehanneur, Jakob + MacFarlane, Franck Salama and Anne Démians, is committed to enhancing France’s historical heritage. He seeks in particular to beautify old elements such as moldings, handles, parquet floors, and fireplaces. Around this, Félix Millory combines a contemporary layout and furniture. Architect but also designer, his lighting pieces, like the bronze “Ghost” wall lights designed for Entrelacs, elegantly decorate the walls. This apartment in Place Vendôme perfectly illustrates his style and his obsession with materials such as brass, wood (pickled, aged or smoked) and marble.
Design for him does not ignore comfort, a very important concept for him. Hence the feeling of softness and welcoming that comes from his selection of materials and furniture. With a ceiling height of three meters, the living room with kitchen opening onto the living room is bathed in light. The feeling of arriving – finally – at home… Like his prestigious clients – Vanessa Paradis, Armani, L’Éclaireur, Harrods, Jason Bridge etc. Signatures Singulières, is left asking for more!
Interview with Félix Millory
Interior designer
Why did you choose this profession?
Félix Millory : I don’t know if I chose it! I think I was a partly predestined to do it because as a child, I was good at drawing like my mother. I spent my time painting, building villages, tinkering, destroying my toys without ever succeeding in reconstructing them! Yes, I think I was destined to deconstruct, to seek and above all to create. Besides, I’m super bulimic and a little excessive! Passionate, I was good at studying and was scouted in 2nd year to go to work. In parallel, I made a jewelry collection that is still on sale.
I often say that the plan B, which was architecture, has become plan A. I love my profession, I exercise it as a priesthood, religiously. I am a fan of my work, a fan of what is being done today and very grateful to my team for the quality of the work they do.
How do you approach a new project?
Félix Millory : what is complicated, is to diverse while keeping a guideline, and the identity of the agency. But in the end, it goes fast because I am very intuitive and it is this intuition that will give the project its energy. When I meet the customers, I immediately have an idea in mind, that we will then share with them. I always keep in mind a short sentence, an anecdote from the meeting with the client and the patchwork is put in place. For example, Vendôme, the customer had returned from South America with Brazil in the 1950s in mind. So that’s why we worked with extremely dark woods, slightly worn materials, and slightly carved furniture. And that’s what gave birth to Vendôme.
Often customers also come to us because of we know what to do, which is great. But it is also sclerosing because they also often want what they have already seen. While we are in perpetual motion, we are evolving, we want to take them elsewhere! We create a history, we come up with huge moodboards, a story and we make the customer enter the story. And that’s where all the magic is that makes the agency evolve and so we make the clients evolve with us.
What are your sources of inspiration?
Félix Millory : the images! It is the field of possibilities. I spend my time on Instagram! The pictures I take with my phone, art, movies, places, churches, Rome, stones, fashion. I also admire the work of some architects like RCR Arquitectes who work with metal – sublime –, Pierre Yovanovitch, Tristan Auer, the designer Christophe Delcourt… And then I have a phenomenal memory and I draw on it!
What project would you like to be offered?
Félix Millory : I have good intentions for the agency. I would like to advance its name and legitimacy. So, I would very much like to work on a hotel, a restaurant for example. I look very far into the future, I expect a lot from life but at the same time I am satisfied with everything, I am very happy with everything that is happening to me, with the trust and respect that I am given. I am 33 years old and I am currently working on some wonderful projects. I am grateful for all this and happy.
Felix Millory
65, rue du Faubourg du Temple
75010 Paris
Tél. : +33 (0)1 42 40 01 92
© Grégory Copitet.
