During New York Design Week, Jouffre’s newly expanded Long Island City showroom came alive, inviting visitors on a captivating journey through Paradis Trouvé, an immersive exhibition exploring the profound question, "What is Paradise?" Curated by Taylor Scott Ross, Jouffre's Design Director, alongside our in-house design studio, the exhibition showcased craftsmanship, sustainability, and visionary design.

The experience began in the heart of the showroom, which transformed into a celebration of innovation and artistry. Here, guests encountered the Henge Sofa, the latest collaboration between RRP and Jouffre. Inspired by ancient Neolithic henge sites—mystical, time-eroded stone structures—the sofa’s dramatic, sweeping curves represent nature’s sculptural force. Crafted meticulously from cherry and sustainable, all-natural upholstery materials from Enkev and Alpaga Mertelé from CMO, this piece embodies Jouffre’s commitment to shaping a sustainable future.

Nearby, guests discovered the Cydonia Club Chair, a remarkable collaboration with Jackrabbit Studio. Renowned for woodworking, Brett Miller of Jackrabbit Studio chose Jouffre’s artisans to debut his first primarily upholstered design. The chair’s playful form, carefully upholstered with all-natural materials from both Enkev and CMO, showcased the transformative power of expert collaboration, uniting old-world craftsmanship with contemporary design.

Adding depth and intrigue to the space was Sunshine Thacker’s expansive ceramic mural, Liminal Premonition. Spanning 300 square feet, this captivating triptych balances beauty and unconventional form to evoke the complexity of paradise. Sunshine describes the mural as "a world between worlds," a place where notions of beauty and grotesque coexist, inviting visitors into a reflective dialogue.

The showroom’s palette unfolded through installations of Élitis fabric with lush cartridge-pleated drapery, darkened bronze hardware from Gauthier et Cie, textured velvet wall upholstery in deep rust and blue hues, and additional window treatments featuring custom woven textiles by Toyine. These tactile elements set the tone for a space defined by material richness and harmony.

At the center, Santiago Salgado’s Sunburst Coffee Table, made from bookmatched French walnut, anchored the room with its warm grain and natural symmetry. Hanging above, the Angela Chandelier designed by Jean-Manuel Freitas for Maison Charles added vertical dimension. Its composition of patinated brass formed an organic contrast to the geometric marquetry of the wood below. In conversation with these elements, Jo Hoeven’s side tables from Studio LOHO introduced a softer material language. Their naturally dyed leather surfaces are designed to evolve with time and use. Nearby, Sunshine Thacker’s Revolving Seasons Cabinet, a combination of hand carving in clay, CNC technology, and traditional fine woodworking, added another layer to the space's material story.

Nearby stand a pair of vintage Arne Norell armchairs, restored and presented by Jouffre through the Audeamus Project. While the mahogany wooden frames were carefully refinished, the leather was preserved, telling a story of time passed. Their sculptural blend of leather and wood spoke to the enduring relevance of natural materials and respectful restoration. Framing this intimate moment were oil paintings by Lucien Rees Roberts. Works such as Renoir’s Garden, Cadaqués Village and Cape Town Landscape added ambience through muted colors and an introspective tone. Adding vertical weight, Jouffre designer Cecilia Yoko Emy’s Alto Side Table, featuring bold, striped sapele wood, echoed the architectural structure of the Norell armchairs. Grounding the scene with sculptural light, Sunshine Thackers’ Gorgon Rising Lamp introduced an unglazed red clay with deep rust tones that echoed both the wall upholstery and the mural beyond, drawing the eye through layers of color and form.

Together, these elements formed a composition where each material was chosen not just for its surface, but for how it speaks to the others. Crafted through collaboration and rooted in natural materials, the space invites stillness, dialogue, and dreaming. It is our answer to the question, what is paradise?

“To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess
A paradise within thee, happier far.”
— John Milton, Paradise Lost (XII.575–587)

Photos © Tiphaine Seite