'I didn't come from the designer world,' says Arnaud Pellissier, the craftsman-designer behind Maison Arpelli. 'I took a turn in my life to learn metalworking. I learned to weld, cut and shape steel my hands, and to master my material of choice. Later, I connected my hands with aesthetics and design, which I learned during my first career in communication. When I created my own brand, I wanted to make something you could feel and use. I made the worlds meet.'
This mix of craft and design defines his work. Arnaud creates furniture with a strong identity, pieces that carry both the history of the soul that built them and the boldness of design thinking.
© Maison Arpelli
Bold and visible
For Arnaud, design in the interior industry is about standing out, not blending in. 'Surely it should be someone who has a strong sense of being bold in design, because I am not an invisible design,' he says of choosing collaborators.
His work is not about producing collections at scale, but about creating distinctive pieces that function almost as statements within a space. 'My pieces are like one of a kind, like a trophy in the middle of an interior's design. You have different notes, different designers, and you make music out of them. My pieces are often the accents that stand out.'
© Maison Arpelli
Designing for comfort, colour, and character
Arnaud's vision goes beyond bold forms: his work balances comfort, vibrancy, and individuality. 'People don't expect to sit comfortably on steel,' he explains. 'But I worked a lot on ergonomics, finding the right seating and backrest angles, and everyone is surprised when they sit down. Function matters as much as aesthetics.'
Colour is another signature of his approach. Rejecting the muted tones of raw materials, he brings playful shades into his designs. 'I wanted to get out of the blandness, especially of wood, and bring joy to interiors. Colour helps my customers make a statement and show personality, it's about daring to stand out.'
Equally important is customisation. Each piece can adapt to its owner, whether through colour choices or alternative versions of his designs. His Fauteuil Antonin, for example, comes in four different variations. 'Customisation means my pieces can reflect the identity of the people who live with them. That's the advantage of craftsmanship, building on order, for someone specific.'
© Maison Arpelli
Staying true
Being in love with his craft, Arnaud manufactures his own pieces in France. 'If a restaurant asks for 40 pieces in one month, I would not be able to do that. I want my customer to feel they have a connection with the human being who built it.'
This commitment is part of his advice to young designers. 'Understand your brand and respect it. There is always the urge to get customers and money coming in, but staying true to your brand identity is essential. The stronger and more precise your brand is, the more remarkable it will be in the future.'
Or, as he sums it up: 'Love, sweat and tears, but mostly love.'
More information:
Maison Arpelli
www.arpelli.fr
[email protected]
Arnaud Pellissier
+33 (0) 611 187 115
