The newsletter of raw materials & delicate inspirations by Laurent PASSE,
creative cabinetmaker in Provence
August 2025
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Wabi Sabi
By now, you may have sensed it: the wabi-sabi aesthetic is something I hold close to my heart.
Perhaps it defies explanation, yet there is something in these muted tones and time-worn textures that speaks to me on a deeper level.
Brought to Europe by the gifted Axel Vervoordt, this Japanese philosophy, to my mind, finds a natural affinity with the patina of Provençal furniture and the wistful spirit of homes in the South.
In this August letter, I share a selection of recent creations where my Mediterranean roots entwine with this poetry from afar.
Laurent
reimagined
“Reimagined”, where the artisan’s hand blends seamlessly with noble materials to create a truly exceptional space.
This project, set in the heart of the Drôme Provençale, combines a bespoke kitchen with an extraordinary burnt-wood fireplace.
Created in collaboration with architect Fabien Ramadier and interior designer Julie Raynière – Kaban, it has just been featured in the summer issue of Côté Sud magazine.
Warm thanks to Laurence Dougier for the feature and to Nicolas Mathéus for the stunning photography.
Wabi Spirit Fireplace
For me, it was like coming home.
A dialogue with stone, shaped for a design imagined alongside interior designer Margherita Olivero.
These two blocks had quietly weathered the elements outside the house for years. By turning them over and placing them before the fireplace—guided by the rhythm of mallet and chisel—we revealed their hidden beauty, offering them a new life bathed in light.
The Ambrosia fireplace can be discovered in full on the website.
Smeraldo,
The Emerald Tablet
This latest Sméraldo has just found its home with our clients near Aix-en-Provence.
Whether in oak or pine, raw or planed, this table has become an icon of our collection.
And, as always, recycling lies at the heart of the creation.
Here, we repurposed old pine beams from the chapel of the Barbentane convent, with the kind collaboration of Olivier and Sophie Fabert, architects and owners of the convent.
Saumane
Reclaimed oak from raw wagon loads,
Mercadier resin concrete in Crumble color,
Natural stone in grey San Vicente sandstone.
Materials serving a design,
A design with intention,
An intention of beauty, goodness, and truth.
Indian summer in Monaco
We are delighted to be exhibiting at the upcoming “Art3F” contemporary art fair in Monaco alongside Xavier SPATAFORA.
This 6th edition of the fair in Monaco will take place from September 19th to 21st at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille.
Art à vivre and contemporary art combine in a unique offering to be discovered at the end of summer on the Rock.