The business of French bespoke furniture and interior design is relatively underdeveloped in the U.S., but Liaigre’s new U.S. chief executive officer plans on changing that.
In September, Henri Corbin de Mangoux was appointed to the role at the firm built by the late iconic French designer and architect Christian Liaigre. Since then, he’s been tasked with growing the company’s U.S. business and expanding its presence across luxury residential, hospitality and branded living projects.
“Our first priority is to deepen our relationships with the architects and designers who have long supported the brand,” he said, recognizing that the industry is catering to an ever-more evolved and younger consumer.
“We also want to reach new clients, including younger art collectors, successful entrepreneurs and a more eclectic clientele, while continuing to serve clients who value Liaigre’s timeless approach,” he said, likening Liaigre’s allure to that of a fashion house like Tom Ford or Dries Van Noten.
Today, the firm founded in 1985 is known for its anti-mass-market bespoke interiors, furniture, lighting and accessories defined by clean lines, refined proportions, noble materials and a philosophy of luxurious simplicity. It boasts 23 showrooms worldwide and projects spanning residences, yachts, hotels and restaurants.
Another priority for the company is to build on its hospitality and branded residential work. It is currently working with Capella Hotels and Resorts on a project in central Florence, housed in a former 12th-century convent on Via San Gallo. The property is expected to open at the end of 2027 and will offer Capella hotel services alongside Liaigre-designed interiors.
“That’s just the start,” he said. The firm is now in discussions with several high-end U.S. developers “who share an interest in residences centered on well-being, lifestyle and design.”
The project is being spearheaded by Liaigre Hospitality Ventures, a separate entity from the Liaigre interior design and architecture firm that was strategically formed in 2021 by three of Liaigre’s main shareholders: the family of Taiwanese art collector and businessman Pierre Chen, Asia’s Navis Capital Partners and Symphony International Holdings Ltd. The latter’s portfolio also includes Chanintr, an importer and distributor of high-end U.S. and European furniture brands through retail outlets.
Elsewhere in hospitality, Liaigre has enhanced the allure of landmark projects around the world, including the Mercer hotel in New York, Le Sereno in the Caribbean island of St. Barths, R48 Hotel and Gardens in Tel Aviv and the new Hôtel Costes on Paris’ Rue de Castiglione.
Previously, Corbin de Mangoux served as Liaigre’s general manager for Asia, overseeing Southeast Asia, India and Oceania.
Liaigre’s made-to-order, handmade French craftsmanship runs countercurrent to the high-volume or mass-production market, so the firm is carefully selecting hospitality and contract projects.
“We are very much into craftsmanship and made-to-order, made-to-measure pieces,” he said.
Corbin de Mangoux said a zest for French art de vivre is on the rise in the U.S. In Miami, where Liaigre has maintained a showroom in the Design District for 15 years, the company is exploring a new experience that would better reflect the city’s coastal lifestyle. It is also considering future projects in Miami and Palm Beach.
“For me, it is a blend of France’s long history of craftsmanship with gastronomy, art and interiors. That dialogue between disciplines — and the attention to how people experience spaces — is what makes the French approach distinctive,” he reflected.
Liaigre currently operates showrooms in New York and Miami, with partners in Texas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. “We do not plan to expand our showroom footprint in the near term. Instead, we want to express the brand through flagship locations, hospitality projects, restaurants, clubs and branded properties.”