The newsletter of raw materials & delicate inspirations by Laurent PASSE,
creative cabinetmaker in Provence
October 2025
shadow and light
From worshop to iconic home,
From a social media post to the indelible lines of a magnificent book,
From the Beaucaire canal to the canals of Venice,
A journey is made of shadow and light,
The two inseparable facets of a whole.
Laurent,
PLEIN SUD
This month sees the release of a rather special book:
“Plein Sud” (“Mediterranean Living” in US) from Editions de La Martinière.
Through texts by Laurence Dougier and photographs by Nicolas Mathéus, the book explores some thirty houses and artisan workshops around the Mediterranean basin—from Provence to Greece. It’s a book that opens the doors to unique places and also pays tribute to materials and artisanal know-how.
So why is it special ?
In this magnificent book, I have the pleasure of sharing a few pages with Marie Laure Helmkampf, focusing on the “Homme sweet Home” project.
Furthermore, my background and work are presented across several pages. A superb portrait for which I sincerely thank Laurence and Nicolas for this opportunity to shine a spotlight.
Available in all good bookstores!
Homme Sweet Home
Mediterranean. Let’s take advantage of the book’s release to revisit this Luberon project, created in collaboration with Marie Laure Helmkampf.
An interior where raw and whitewashed woods are used with perfect balance.
BUNGALOW 50
A new home decor store has just opened its doors in the heart of Aix-en-Provence:
Bungalow 50, 5bis rue Boueno Carriero, 13100 Aix-en-Provence.
It was during our pop-up showroom last May, “Du côté de chez Swan,” in Aix-en-Provence, that we met Isabelle Menu, co-founder of the store. Charmed by her project, we decided to support her by showcasing some of her unique pieces in her boutique.
The grand opening is on Saturday, November 8th, between 2 pm and 4 pm. We’ll be there!
The Divine Chest of Drawers of Polymnia
The latest creation from our workshop, the Divine Commode by Polymnia, is presented here with a patchwork finish. The wood is left raw and assembled from leftover pieces from railway carriages in our workshop.
The base is made of steel, and the handles are repurposed from old SNCF (French National Railways) wrought iron spikes.
To celebrate this new version of the Divine Commode, I invite you to explore the “Furniture” section of our website, which has been redesigned to showcase new pieces.
“Retrospective” Hubert PASSE
On Saturday, October 11th, we had the pleasure of opening the showroom doors for the opening of the “Retrospective” exhibition, dedicated to my father’s work.
Many of you, both art enthusiasts and connoisseurs of outsider art, came to share this moment—a big thank you for your presence.
For those who were unable to join us, the exhibition remains accessible by appointment.
Back to Paris
In early October, we visited the Artisans d’Excellence trade fair.
This fair showcases the beauty and artistry of our materials, highlighting the work of exceptional craftspeople. Congratulations to Isabelle de Lasteyrie and Miguel Duterrier, the organizers, for this superb second edition of the fair at the Palais de la Porte Dorée in Paris.
It was a chance to reconnect with colleagues from last year’s exhibition and also to meet new people. This year’s exhibitors can be found on the fair’s website.
Another channel
