Affordable quality in the Dordogne
L’atelier du bois opened its doors at the end of May this year to display a selection of hand- made furniture in solid wood. And orders have been rolling in ever since.
The workshop, at Neuvic sur l’Isle in the Dordogne, is the venture of Anne Cummings and Patrick Macaisne. Anne, a former journalist, left London 19 years ago with her baby daughter in search of the Good Life in France – and met Patrick, who had left Paris after training as a carpenter-furniture maker. Patrick has worked in carpentry, has constructed houses in wood, he has even farmed. But creating furniture, his passion, has never been his main occupation … until now.
‘What is important to me,’ says Patrick, ‘is not only to create quality, solid furniture that will
last, but also to make it at prices that people can afford.’
‘We had orders from day one,’ says Anne, ‘which took us by surprise, to be honest, as we had done very little publicity. But customers were impressed by the quality, the prices, and the fact that we make to measure. Some of our first customers have even come back to place second orders.’
‘With time – and there’s never enough of it - we will have more household and garden furniture on display, and plan to have a range of cheese platters, chopping boards, candle holders, bedside lights, bowls … all sorts of original items for the home or to offer as gifts.’ ‘Patrick says he has never been happier in his work,’ adds Anne. ‘And the customers are happy, too. What more can we ask for …’
You can contact L’atelier du bois via their website :
