About Us

 

Louise France

Louise France first opened the doors of this enchanting antique shop in 1991. The establishment is housed inside an old style hacienda, complete with a central courtyard, trickling fountains, statues, sculptures and a venerable orchid tree that has listened to a generation of people’s chatter and laughter as they gaze amongst the beautiful artifact.

The aisles are lined in majestic doorways, arches, and columns that once bore witness to the Maharaja’s extravagant parties. Entire facades have been dismantled from these old palaces and restored before they crumbled and disappears forever.

As the shop grew so did its collection of unique and exceptional pieces. Coral sculptures from East Timor, Stone paneling from Java, spectacular ornate doors from Bhuj, iron railings and wooden windows from Rajasthan, takkart tables, Persian saddle bags, rugs, and many many more architectural and decorative objects can be discovered in this inspirational store. The store occupies over 1300 square meters so please leave plenty of time to visit the premises.

Louise also offers a complete interior design service often combining modern design with her unique architectural and decorative pieces to create the perfect harmony in your home.

The huge inventory is also an ideal source for architects and interior designers and for anyone who shares in a true love of beautiful objects.

All the pieces are one of a kind so don’t delay and pay us a visit soon.

Richard Neat 

www.richardneat.blogspot.com

A Brief Biography

Apprenticeship in various restaurants in UK and France, including:

June 1987 - March 1989 Senior Chef-de-Partie at Le Manior aux Quat’ Saisons, with Raymond BLANC, during which time I won M.O.G.B. Young Chef of UK (1988).

March 1989-October 1990. Sauce Chef at Restaurant Jamin in Paris with Joel ROBUCHON. First British Chef to work at his restaurant. Robuchon was awarded Gault Millau Chef of the Century in 1990.

October 1990-November 1991. Head Chef for Marco Pierre WHITE at Harveys in London.

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January 1992. Opened Pied-a-Terre in London as Chef, co-proprietor, receiving first Michelin star in January 1993 and second star in January 1996 at the age of twenty-nine, being one of the youngest ever recipients of such an honour.

September 1996 until September 1998. Consultancy in India with the Taj Group, opening the highly regarded Longchamps Restaurant in the flagship Taj Mansingh hotel in New Delhi, as well as helping at some of the other hotels of the group.

June 1999. Returned to France and opened NEAT Restaurant in Cannes as Chef-Proprietor. The following January, seven months later, the restaurant won a star from the Michelin Guide, Neat becoming the first British Chef to win a star in France, as well as Robuchon performing his first parrinage (endorsement) for the opening.

June 2001. Opened NEAT Restaurant in London as well as continuing the restaurant in Cannes.

April 2003 Consultancy in Moscow with the country’s leading restaurateur Stepan Mikhalkov and became a partner in one of his flagship properties.

May 2004. Opened Casa Lalla Riad and Restaurant in Marrakech which enjoyed a fantastic success, including a review in Conde Nast 80 world’s best restaurants for 2005. Time Out also wrote that a meal at Casa Lalla “could be the highlight of trip to Marrakech”.

September 2006 until present. Opened Park Cafe in San Jose