The other part, however, is emotional: Cumming spent several years of her childhood in, her grandmother pushing her in a stroller through the city’s famed flea markets. It was in that city—home to Musée des Arts Decoratifs and the birthplace of countless design movements—that she fell in love with beautiful furniture that families passed down as heirlooms.
This month, Cumming—who previously designed for Soho Home and Jenni Kayne Home—made her dream a reality with the launch of Maison Madeleine. A new company that crafts wooden furniture with a Francophilic flair, it offers contemporary objects that are intended to one day become heirlooms. “My pieces are meant to last forever,” she says. “I don’t think we see a lot of that with furniture. It seems quite rare if it’s not a custom piece.
Each one, from a reclaimed dresser to a burl wood-legged coffee table, is also made in Los Angeles. Keeping everything local was important to Cumming. “The design industry here is so prominent and there are so many skilled, amazing vendors,” she says. “Having these people that I trust and value, that can really craft pieces up to the standard I’m looking for, was super important. I want to be known for a collection that is made, sourced, and designed locally.
The laid-back style of the L.A. acted as a second inspiration, visible in the natural accents from linen cushions to reeded facades that feature across her 10 debut pieces. (The debut offering is now available via the
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