À l’instar des experts en gestion patrimoniale , comme par exemple la banque Delen, Edmonde Rothschild ou Degroof Petrecam, qui préconisent la diversification des avoirs, je suis convaincu que la clé d’un intérieur exceptionnel réside dans l’harmonie subtile entre le contemporain et le passé. Il n’existe pas de formule toute faite en la matière. Cette approche équilibrée permet non seulement de façonner un espace reflétant votre essence, mais aussi d’investir dans des pièces destinées à traverser le temps, certaines acquérant même une valeur accrue. Pour les joyaux vintage, privilégiez les créations méconnues de maîtres du design tel que le Danois Finn Juhl, dont le génie n’a pas été industrialisé. Visez l’unicité et délaissez les sentiers battus du style. Jadis, le mobilier scandinave monopolisait les éloges, mais les tendances évoluent sans cesse. Veillez également à ce que les étoffes qui revêtent vos fauteuils d’époque soient d’origine. Quant au mobilier contemporain, méfiez-vous des tentations soldesques et virtuelles, sources d’éphémères caprices esthétiques, au détriment d’une pièce intemporelle à l’aura singulière. Interrogez-vous sur l’intérêt réel d’acquérir une chaise Pantone que l’on retrouvera autour de plusieurs tables amicales. L’objet singulier, en revanche, confère une noblesse à l’espace qui l’accueille. Pour créer des harmonies saisissantes, privilégiez les pièces pour leur texture et leur travail artisanal d’exception. Pour se distinguer, n’hésitez pas à enrichir votre foyer d’objets ou de meubles rapportés de voyages lointains ou proches, témoins de vos pérégrinations.

“I dream first, I draw, and then we find solutions; the reverse would be boring…”

The idea is to be happy in life, each person positions themselves based on what they believe they are capable of doing.
So, it’s best to have confidence in oneself and dream. In this article, we delve into architecture, decoration, design, art, creativity, and expertise.
We encounter a beautiful personality, someone free-spirited and dreamy, powerful because of her confidence in her worldview.

Caroline Notté is an internationally renowned interior architect who has graciously joined our group of Insiders at LB.



We had the pleasure of meeting her during an interview, aiming to give you a deeper understanding of her, share her vision and life, and discuss the projects she and her team are working on in her amazing Brussels interior studio.

CN Interior – Six Senses Palm Jumeirah Hotel Dubai project

With Caroline, we will regularly explore these fascinating topics of interior decoration, design, space transformation, architecture, and especially Art, which she skillfully employs to add the most judicious creative touches to her projects.

CN Interior – Strates table – Brafa – stand Delen

A meeting with a lovely dreamer full of talent and a Brussels’ lover adorned with diplomas!

LB Interview “Inside” // Jan. 10, 2024, by Calista.

LB > Looking at your journey and your current endeavors, art holds a significant place in your approach, your personal workspace, and your projects. How do you weave this artistic universe into your work in architecture and interior decoration?

CN > I have always been passionate about art and a collector since my very first contract. What could be more natural for a polymath and erudite than to inspire my clients to invest in art? Art is a way to complete a space and make it dynamic; for instance, a sculpture is an essential element in a composition.
In my studio, a gallery and an icon of Belgian architecture, I make it a point of honor to showcase all my artistic favorites.

LB > The concept of “trends” impacts all creative professions. Do you typically follow these trends, fashions, or other references when starting a project in decoration or architecture? What inspires you, Caroline, when you delve into a new project?

CN > Trends result from a fashion imagined by creatives, in which people find themselves, often intertwined with society and its needs. Similar to art, trends can emerge from frustration and reaction. I tend to swim against the current and avoid plagiarism.
I strive to invent different, extraordinary universes. Instead of replicating showrooms, I create living spaces without any preconceived direction, respecting the location and listening to my clients’ true wishes. The goal is to tell a story closest to the truth, rich in meaning. I blend, I embrace, I take risks, but I don’t compose like a decorator who gathers information from magazines or showrooms.

LB > Architecture is a profession of techniques, specialties, and materials, but also of innovation, imagination, and creation. Caroline, how do you navigate between the purely technical aspects and the realm of creativity, the realm of what is possible?

CN > That’s the exciting aspect of the profession that has always appealed to me. I was good at science and math, but above all, I had the soul of an artist.
I dream first, I draw, and then we find solutions; the reverse would be very boring!

LB > Which project has been the most incredible for you to undertake, without using the terms difficult or challenging? Looking ahead, on what projects are you currently working or would you like to work?

CN > The organization of the Belgian commercial register interior during the Covid period and the renovation of the Bonbon restaurant in two weeks have been incredibly fulfilling. Looking ahead, I aspire to work on opera set designs, contribute to school projects in Africa, and participate in the creation of wellness centers.

Interview Konbini mode, short question, short answer:

“Night” or “Day”? > Night, the notté ^^.
“Meat” or “Fish”? > Fish.
“Diamond” or “Sapphire”? > Sapphire.
“Lion” or “Tiger”? > Tiger.
“Fantasy” or “Comedy” film? > Comedy.
“Starter/Main Course” or “Main Course/Dessert”? > Starter/Main Course.
“Dog” or “Cat”? > Dog.
“Sea” or “Mountain”? > Both; I’m like a fish in the water, and I love parachuting in the mountains.
“Thai” or “Italian” cuisine? > Italian.

Interview “DefLux LB” > According to you, Caroline, which definition of luxury is closest to your vision of luxury?

Oscar de la Renta: “Luxury is not about buying expensive things; it’s about living in a way that allows you to appreciate them.“
Henry Royce: “Luxury is when quality remains long after the price is forgotten.“
CN > I prefer Oscar de la Renta’s definition; it’s true, luxury is about enjoying life and savoring every little moment of joy.

AD100 – We are delighted and proud to be part of the AD 100 – 2024, standing among 100 visionary creators who shape the world with their talent. Icons of design, architecture, and decoration.

And what’s our favorite project of the year?

The renovation of Maxim’s, Pierre Cardin’s former restaurant, has been beautifully renewed under the guidance of Paris Society.

And our preferred decorators?

Dorothée Meilichzon, Draga Obradovic and Aurel K. Basedow, Erwan & Ronan Bouroullec, Humbert & Poyet, Ilse Crawford, India Mahdavi;  Jacques Garcia , Joseph Dirand, Vincent Darré , Kelly Wearstler, Laura Gonzalez, Linde Freya, Franklin Azzi, Elliott Barnes, Marine Bonnefoy, Martin Brudnizki, Alexis Brown

Since its establishment in 1978, Ecart International has been orchestrating the revival of exquisite furniture, lighting, and heritage artifacts from the dawn of the 20th century. These production pay homage to the indelible legacies of design luminaries who have ascended to the echelons of timeless distinction: Eileen Gray, Jean-Michel Frank, Adolphe Chanaux, Pierre Chareau, Michel Dufet, Mariano Fortuny, and more.

The entirety of their seating, furniture, and lighting collections bears the distinguished mark of French craftsmanship, a testament to the pursuit of refinement and excellence. Furthermore, the resplendent rugs, meticulously crafted, unfold their beauty through the artistry of hand-knotting in the mountainous ateliers of Nepal.

At the age of 53, Andrée Putman embarked on the journey that catapulted her into fame, leaving an indelible mark from New York to Hong Kong. Through the creation of Ecart International, she breathed life into the overlooked talents of 1930s furniture, resurrecting the designs of René Herbst, Jean-Michel Frank, Pierre Chareau, Robert Mallet-Stevens, Antoni Gaudí, Eileen Gray, and more. Her passion fueled the restoration, reissue, and promotion of these masterpieces, cultivating a catalog of remarkable coherence.

Driven by a desire to captivate at least ten souls, Andrée Putman far exceeded her expectations, captivating thousands with these revived pieces. Transitioning seamlessly from object reissues to spatial design, she traversed this path with an affinity for the purity of structures. Rejecting ostentatious luxury, she declared, “Pompous luxury is a polluting thing that horrifies me. I am interested in the essential, in the framework, in the backbone of things.”

In 1984, she revolutionized the concept of boutique hotels by transforming the Morgans Hotel in New York. This pivotal project marked a turning point in her career, showcasing her ability to craft a luxurious haven with minimal resources. Andrée Putman affirmed her distinctive style by presenting rooms of understated elegance and optical allure. As she reflected, “It’s because I started working in New York that the French asked for me.

Crafted between sand and sea, a secluded escape unlike anywhere in the city.

As the popularity of tranquil beachfront locations grows in Dubai, the Six Senses Palm Jumeirah hotel and branded Dubai residences will offer a new dimension in the city. Our project consists of choosing the furniture, lamps, design, artworks and all the finishing touches. Our role is to enhance the project with signature pieces by recognized artists, and to make it more personal and less corporate.

Branded Residences Crafted to Extreme Perfection

Standing elegantly on the West Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, Six Senses Residences The Palm Dubai epitomises innovative architecture. It takes its cues from the city’s journey while paying homage to the contours and elevations of the region’s landscape, its unique heritage and origins, and its unquenchable thirst for progress.

Inspired by insular landscapes, this series of seats engages with the visual language of archipelagos. Shaped by the force of time, they reveal sculpted edges and strong internal landscapes.

Here are a few examples from the list … Don’t miss these …

THE CG01: AN ICONIC LAMP

Designed by Christophe Gevers (1928-2007), one of Belgium’s most influential designers. This lamp will delight aesthetes with a passion for beauty and ingenuity. To be called 01, you have to be worthy of identifying with perfection!

A subtle blend, delicately proportioned, this luminaire is more sculpture than simple lighting, making the CG01 a work of art full of anecdotes.

Christophe Gevers has left an indelible mark on Belgian design with his sense of materials and tactile modernism. He is considered one of the most important interior designers of the post-war period. He favoured a warm, comfortable modernism, using noble, durable materials. He founded his own company, Gevers Design, and worked as a teacher at La Cambre in the decoration and furnishing department. His work is a hallmark of Belgian design, and his creations are sought-after today. Hats off to the artist, Gevers is enjoying the success he deserves!

Placed in 1968 in the restaurant “Le Cap d’Argent” in Brussels, the CG01, designed in a deep, bold red, illuminated this brasserie and made it an emblematic image of Belgian design. It goes without saying that the internationally renowned “Aux Vieux Saint Martin” also incorporates the 01 into its restaurant, which is frequented by some of the world’s leading figures. The Canterbury still bears witness to its unique style, which has nothing old-fashioned about it.

Today, the CG01 is being reissued by the Belgian high-end lighting manufacturer axis71. Renowned architects and prestigious institutions choose the appropriate colour with subtlety and judiciousness.

Isabelle de Borchgrave has chosen a warm, luminous golden yellow; Edouard Vermeulen, inspired by his bold new couture collection, has opted for an Oxford blue; Valérie Barkowsky, faithful to her natural, chic and timeless tones, has selected an aubergine shade.

CG01 reinterpreted by Caroline Notte

“My first thought when choosing a new color was to think of a non-color, to leave it raw, a sheet that would have always existed, total respect to let the shape speak for itself, an intrinsic hue. My second instinct was to choose a natural color that would evolve over time, illustrating strength and resistance and a return to our roots. A corten finish as well as vert de gris copper that blends in perfectly with nature and today’s interiors, where materials are given pride of place, ensuring timelessness.

Installée dans une des premières maisons modernistes édifiées à Bruxelles, Caroline Notté s’est
affirmée en une vingtaine d’années comme une des architectes d’intérieur les plus originales,
novatrices et éclectiques du moment. Jonglant avec les objets, les lumières et les couleurs, elle
aime embellir l’espace en mélangeant les genres tout en imposant sa propre griffe, singulière et
chaleureuse.

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