Conversation avec Julie Lacour

You're a decorating fanatic, but once you've closed your pretty magazine, how do you adapt the precepts of the pros to your own home?Here's a look at the personalitieswho have been kind enough to share their vision ofdecorating. With generosity, they tell you about their choices andshare tips and inspiring advice.

Julie Lacour

Julie, can you introduce yourself?

I founded my interior design and architecture studio at the end of 2019 after a complete career change. I started out as a dancer but after some health issues I had to stop. I wanted to study art but it wasn’t seen as a serious career option so I decided to study communications and spent 15 years working in events. In the end, my passion for decoration and my creativity got the better of me and I set up Julie Lacour Studio.

Your interior design mantra?

I have two: « Simplicity is the key to all true elegance. » Coco Chanel
And dare to dare!

What do you think of the concept of good taste?

Good taste is such a personal affair, it’s completely subjective. The key is not to copy or to follow trends. For me good taste is a mix of emotion, sensitivity, balance and harmony.

If you were a room?

It’s hard to choose between the entrance and the sitting room. The entrance is special because it’s the space that serves to indicate what might be coming next and it needs to be welcoming. You can let go and be very daring with an entrance. But I love the sitting room because it’s all about being with the people you love, comfort, evening drinks and the laughter of children around the fire.

The top three things on your bucket list?

- To create the Julie Lacour Studio collection.
- To travel the world with my family.
- To buy a house to renovate in Cap Ferret so as to have a place where family and friends can be together.

If you were an artist?

As an ex-dancer I would have to say a dancer or a choreographer.

Your dream project?

To renovate a small hotel in the south of France.

A current obsession?

I decorated my terrace in shades of terracotta. I had been dreaming of doing something in earthy shades and it was the perfect opportunity.

An undertaking for the future?

To be a more ethical consumer by using more natural, noble materials. And to create interiors that stand the test of time.

Julie’s world

Lacking pretension

I like interiors that are elegant, timeless and unpretentious. For me, elegance resides in simplicity, be that in terms of materials, textures or shapes. I don’t like things that are over the top, ostentatious or flashy. I prefer a clever mix. If I was talking about fashion, I would say a pair of old, faded jeans and a Chanel jacket that you feel really comfortable in.

How do you break up spaces?

I like to use glass which has a number of advantages. It allows you to structure a room without losing the view of the adjoining space and also, of course, it allows you to optimize natural light. I use it in a way that is in harmony with the architectural and decorative style of the project. Also, colour, wallpaper and flooring are a wonderful way to separate rooms and to create a sense of rhythm as you move through a space.

Focal point

The entrance is the place where a first impression is made so it’s worth focusing your attention on how it is decorated. And as it’s an area that one tends to pass through rather than linger, you can really give free rein to your creativity. I like to create a dark entrance opening onto lighter, brighter spaces. If there is no daylight in an entrance, I recommend using a dark shade that you can enhance with beautiful lighting.

An entrance needs to be functional and fluid so that you can feel at ease as soon as you walk through the door. I would recommend a hanging space, somewhere to sit, a console table with a drawer for emptying your pockets and a mirror to have a last look before you walk out of the door.

Your favourite colour palette?

I don’t really think I have one. It depends on my humour, the space, the project and my sources of inspiration. At the moment I’m very into deep green, terracotta and dirty pink.
I love to use colour in small amounts to structure and separate spaces, or to give focus to an architectural detail, give depth to a room or to brighten up a sofa with some coloured or patterned cushions.

What do you prefer, a property in its original state or one that has been redone?

A property in its original state, without hesitation!

Overcoming limitations

A project is always beset with problems stemming from limitations that a property can impose. The trick is to find a way to turn them to your advantage, even to accentuate them or to see them as opportunities. For example, in a long corridor you can use a dado rail and paint the lower half in a different colour, or in a dark entrance hall try a row of beautiful overhead lights with walls and ceiling all in one colour.

Into the curve

I like to use curves to increase the softness and fluidity within a space. Rounded edges allow for more fluid movement and prevent our eyes from seeing harsh angles and lines. Curves increase our sense of comfort and fulfilment. A rounded shelf in a bookcase, a glass partition with curved edges, an archway between rooms or furniture with curved edges are all ways to soften a space.

Your top decorating tip?

Enjoy yourself! Don’t be afraid to mix styles and to make the most of the opportunities that textiles have to offer. I adore fabrics, whether for curtains, bed linen or cushions. They add comfort, refinement and originality to a space. I like to play with them, to mix textiles such as linen and velvet and contrasting textures such as mat and satin. Patterns too can be mixed – a feminine fabric alongside a more masculine pattern for example. Above all I recommend that you enjoy yourself and dare to create surprising combinations.

Bon voyage

I grew up in Morocco. I love to travel, especially the sense of otherness, the people you meet, the discoveries… I am sure that this comes through in my projects. I like things that are made by hand. The irregular nature of zellige tiles, the colour terracotta, handmade ceramics and earthy shades all remind me of Morocco. I particularly love the Triangle noir wallpaper by Le Monde Sauvage that is made using the batik technique as it reminds me of the techniques used in certain Asian countries. It’s this kind of detail that adds authenticity and originality to my projects.