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This past June, Pierre Deux filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy; 22 Pierre Deux stores will ultimately close although some stores remain open to sell all remaining items in the store.
The brand has long been the go-to purveyor of French country style in the States. From their patterned duffel bag to the classic French provincial printed fabrics for chair cushions, lamp shades, desk accessories, upholstered furniture and wallpaper, they have given us a glimpse of life (as we imagine it) in the South of France. I was always drawn to their pewter frames and tableware, even though the cost was sometimes a little excessive in my opinion, but it was always the best of quality and beautiful in its simplicity.
A History of Pierre Deux
In 1967, a shop opened in Greenwich Village in New York City that would soon bring the beauty of French Country decor to America. The shop was opened by two men: Pierre Le Vec, an American of French background, and Pierre Moulin, a native Frenchman. Their passion for French art de vivre and the French country way of life drove them to establish Pierre Deux as a name synonymous with French Country décor in America.
Their antique furniture imported from the provinces sold well, but the curtains, pillows and fabrics they used to accent the furniture sold spectacularly. The business evolved to include décor for every room in the house. With guidance from our President and Creative Director, Hedwige Cointreau de Bouteville, and her husband, André Cointreau, the President of Le Cordon Bleu, America has rediscovered that the French Country style is a centuries-old one that is perfectly suited to adding warmth, charm and sophistication; the perfect complement to the American home.
It would appear you can still buy their wallpaper and fabrics from a variety of vendors that sell it. I’m not sure if they will continue to produce the line of these items, it sounds like they are financially upside down, but it would be nice if one could still get the timeless provincial fabrics.
But with fierce competition in the market place via sources like eBay (for French antiques and decorative accessories), lots of online sources like Etsy, and a host of independent business people selling authentic French accents via their blog site, the end may have been inevitable.
If you’ve never had the good fortune to visit My French Country Home blog site, do so, I guarantee you will enjoy the stories shared by Sharon Santoni of her life in Normandy on a farm with her family. In addition she has a Brocante where you can purchase wonderful French items, such as these wonderful candelabras, antique confit jars, a French door bell, and the occasional novelty, an agricultural prize plaque.
~or~
French Garden House, a site that has new and old French items.
~or~
Griege is another wonderful blog site with the added benefit of shopping for beautiful French design just a click away.
That said, I will miss them (Pierre Duex). Not because I purchased so much from them, I truly thought so many items were overpriced for what they were, but because there was always something appealing about their stores. They did a wonderful job with the décor of each store. Once they closed the Orange County store, I only had opportunity to shop when visiting Carmel, California. The store in Carmel, before it moved to a much larger site, had a little French garden area where they sold an outdoor furniture line (I don’t believe it was their brand, but it was charming and suited a cottage garden). I never drove into Los Angeles to shop the store located there.
So, I’ll miss you Pierre Deux and think fondly of your style when your name comes up. Au revoir, dear friend.
{Thank you, Linda, for requesting this post, it was fun!}
I’m joining Sherry at No Minimalist Here for her Open House Party. Be sure to stop by.
Sherry said:
I just recently learned that they were closing their stores. I guess the bad economy takes another one down. I love their products but they are rather pricey. I wish I lived close to one of the stores so I could hit their going out of business. Thanks for linking to the Open House party this week.
xo,
Sherry
Karen said:
Hi Sherry,
I agree, I love the look but it was most definitely out of my budget on most things. It was fun to get ideas from their catalogs.
I enjoy seeing the participants in your Open House and have found a few new (to me) blogs to visit.
Karen
Gretchen said:
Karen, I had not heard the sad news. I always looked forward to checking out their beautiful store when we made our annual visit to Carmel. Even companies with long standing reputations for quality and excellence are becoming victims of this recession. It’s so sad!
Karen said:
Gretchen,
I know, that was one of the highlights of any visit to Carmel, a stroll through their lovely store. I hope there will be a suitable replacement.
Karen
Linda Coble said:
Karen,
You did a great job with this post. I loved reading about the genesis of Pierre Deux – literally two guys named Pierre. I miss their products so much. Even though I couldn’t afford many things from their catalogs, it was fun to dream. Nice to know there are some websites out there that carry similar products.
Karen said:
Hi Linda,
Yes, this was fun and I give you full credit for the idea…do you happen to have any other topics for me? My idea mojo isn’t working right now.
xo,
Karen
Mimi Alexander said:
Hello,
I was surprised to hear about the closing of the Stores because I wanted to purchase French Country Ladderback Dining CHAIRS. The style that had a dainty detailed carved or scrolled area below in the French Country style. Did you have any of these chairs remaining? Possibly, antoher store bought what you had left or items are still around on Sale? Thank you. Mimi Alexander
Karen said:
Hi Mimi,
You ended up commenting on my blog, I’m not sure you meant to. It was nice you stopped by. I’m sorry about Pierre Deux closing their doors, I don’t have any of their inventory to sell. Good luck finding your chairs.
Karen
Donna said:
As an admirer and patron of Pierre Deux over 20 years, it was sad to see them close. I did find that the quality of some of their products began to “go down hill” over the last 2-3 years. Confit lamps made in China were glued, and glued crookedly, for example. It was a sign to me that were potentially having financial issues (I did not want to believe it was greed). For anyone who loved their fabrics, companies like Les Olivades in Marseille France are now able to sell directly to you. I tried for many years to order their fabrics but Pierre Deux was their exclusive distributor in the U.S and they could not sell direct. Maybe someone will open up with something equally as wonderful someday for us lovers of all things Provencal….
Karen said:
Hi,
I’m very happy to know that Marseille France can sell their fabrics to the public at large. I think I liked Pierre Duex fabric more than most other items. I was never able to buy too many of the more expensive pieces but I loved their ads and ideas for room design I was able to garner from the catalog.
Thanks for stopping by for a chat and for the valuable info on fabrics. Hope you’ll visit again soon.
Karen
velma witkowski said:
Don’t close your terrific!!!!
lydia said:
do you still have the blue fabric toile de jouy liberty
tks
lydia
Karen B. said:
Lydia,
No I don’t. I sure miss Pierre Deux, but I hear if you type in their name you can still find their fabrics online.
Thanks for stopping by.
Karen
Msshe said:
Oh là là, c’est domage!
Karen B. said:
Merci, hopefully 2014 will be the year I learn more than 2 French words. 🙂 Karen
Bev Mann said:
In Princeton, at their closeout sale, I was filled with that “end of an era” wistful pain, and bought a couple of items I certainly never would have in a regular visit. I began purchasing items in the 70’s at the San Francisco store, and the enchantment seeded a lifelong love for all things French country, including the French countryside! My dream is to actually make it to Provence, to embrace the colors. Sigh…..Bev
Karen B. said:
Bev,
I still have a couple of Pierre Deux catalogs from before they closed everything down. I miss not only their beautiful selection of home items, large and small, but the inspiration I used to gain from perusing their catalog of rooms filled with the items they sold.
Thank you for stopping by for a chat.
Karen
Paula said:
Hi, I ran across this site looking for a Pierre Deux fabric out there somewhere to repair the seat of an upholstered chair. I hate to give up as I feel someone has a leftover yard sitting around waiting to save my favorite chair. It is kelly green reversible to white with flowers, not butterflies. 1 yard would repair my chair….
any thoughts?
thanks, Paula O’Callaghan
Karen B. said:
Hi Paula,
I recently found this site while looking for some Pierre Deux fabric.
http://www.leonardsupholstery.com/fabric/pierre-deux?gclid=CJSPzOX-mr0CFRFp7AodOSQAJA
I’m saddened by the closing of Pierre Deux stores and have several friends that feel the same. I hope this helps you. Thanks for stopping by for a brief visit.
Karen
Paula said:
thank you for your prompt response! I saw the site you mentioned and they did not show the fabric I am looking for but I will give them a call. I wish I remembered the name of the fabric. I have remnants of many of the PD fabrics I have used, but not this one. Yes, I miss them too! and their pewters were lovely.
thanks again, Paula
Diane said:
HI, Has anyone found any other stores with similar french decor as PD? I have found fabric but not the furniture or other home pottery items etc. Diane
Karen B. said:
Diane,
Not here in California. I can find some items at a few shops that make me think, gee, this is something I might have found in the PD catalog. But nothing under one roof or in one catalog.
Karen
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Christy Stevens said:
I am so missing my PD stores…in Winnetka, and in Dallas. I especially loved the beautiful scented ETE (summer) room fragrance as well! My home has had that fragrance for decades, and I would give anything to find something comparable!
Any advice?
Thank you!
Christy
Evanston, Il.
Karen B. said:
Sorry, I don’t believe you can buy the Pierre Deux room spray anymore. I miss their catalog.
Thank you for topping by.
Karen
Penelope said:
Looking for Pierre Deux desk pad. Can you help?
Karen B. said:
Penelope,
Sorry, no. I sold my Pierre Deux desk pad and letter organizer on eBay last year. Check eBay, you may find one that way.
Karen
Pingback: Pierre Deux, my Old College Buddy. – wtf: what the francais?
L. Minier said:
I loved d the Santon dolls I have the nativity set and the French mother and children I had the father but made the mistake of sending it back in exchange for the following year doll as the manager or someone told me it would be different but to my dismay the store closed with no warning the employees consequently where my santon ended up no one knows unless it was sold at the closeout sale but not sure. The manager told nectar storexwas closed with no warning to employees either. I contacted someone who was from the company who was in charge of the bankruptcy but they dIs not find it not me have I had compensation just letters from the court. I would like to know either where the doll is or who makes the doll to have another one made. I have searched online only seeing a picture once from the gone catalog. Most french santons are small lay figures this is more like a doll but with Pierre deux fabric .