Interview with William, product designer at Maison Pavane. Solid wood or recycled wood: two materials, two stories. Our recycled wood comes from old Chinese houses, Indian boat hulls and various recovery channels. William explains where this wood comes from, how it is traced and what it brings to an interior. For more on the material itself, its benefits and care, see our guide to recycled wood.
“Doing things well and doing the right thing” has always driven us at Maison Pavane
When we launched Maison Pavane in 2010, we did not talk about upcycling, or even circularity. Yet we have always addressed these issues because it was obvious that it was our responsibility to work towards a cleaner planet. From the very beginning of the company, we were pioneers in using wood from regulated forests and solvent-free adhesives. Today, we are delighted that this awareness is shared by other players across different industries, and we share our convictions with others within the Coq Vert community, a club created by Bpifrance.
Pierre, co-founder of Maison Pavane
Over time, we have learned to master the issues surrounding environmental responsibility by educating ourselves, working hand in hand with our long-standing partners and making choices that commit us.
We use solid wood to ensure the longevity of our furniture and simplify recycling. We also work with recycled wood, to reproduce rather than overproduce, while bringing a true sense of soul to our creations because this wood has a story.
To help you make an informed choice when selecting your future wooden furniture, we asked one of our product designers, William, about the specific qualities of this material steeped in history.
The essentials
- Origin of our recycled wood: old Chinese houses for the Mastic and Miramas sideboards, old boat hulls for the Krabi collection, sourced from India.
- Partner workshops: a family-run workshop in northern India dedicated exclusively to recycled wood, and workshops on the island of Java in Indonesia.
- Traceability: regular audits at our suppliers, and compliance with the European EUTR and EUDR frameworks.
- Indonesia: wood sourced exclusively from government-managed forests, with traceability from seed to felling.
- Two materials, two uses: solid wood for longevity, recycled wood to reproduce rather than overproduce.
What story does the wood in a Mastic or Miramas sideboard tell?
Our recycled wood comes from various recovery channels. Every piece of furniture tells a story, and recycled wood retains many secrets within it. I am thinking, for example, of the Mastic wooden sideboard and the 18-drawer Miramas sideboard, made from wood sourced from old Chinese houses that lived a thousand lives before becoming part of ours.
During my last trip to China, I discovered fragments of Chinese newspapers embedded in the wood in our supplier's workshops, giving each piece of furniture a unique soul and essence.
Discover all our sideboards.
Where do the colours in the Krabi collection come from?
Our Krabi collection, made from recycled wood from India, is particularly distinctive with its mix of colours. These colours are not there by chance. The wood comes from the hulls of old boats. We partner with a small family-run workshop in northern India that works exclusively with this recycled wood. This allows us to create unique pieces of furniture, steeped in history.
How do we ensure wood traceability, from seed to felling?
Through on-site audits and the European regulatory framework. In Indonesia, for example, we source exclusively from government-managed forests, ensuring complete traceability from seed to felling.
In our other sourcing countries, regular audits at our suppliers guarantee the supply of sustainably managed wood. This is an essential step in ensuring complete ethical compliance with our brand and the values we stand for.
We comply with the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) and with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). What these two regulations guarantee is explained in detail in our recycled wood guide.
The hand-sorting, planing and restoration of these planks in our Indonesian workshops are detailed in our article on recycled teak.
What moves you personally about a piece of recycled wooden furniture?
The emotional dimension conveyed by the story of each piece of furniture. The wood has already had a life before, which gives the furniture an extra sense of soul. When you become aware of this, it gives the piece of furniture an added value that I personally find really cool!
For details on the benefits and characteristics of recycled wood—its patina, irregularities and the uniqueness of each piece—everything is covered in our dedicated guide.
What are your sources of inspiration when it comes to design?
My travels, particularly in Indonesia, are an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Bali in particular and the surrounding islands, such as Lombok, where we find a distinctive aesthetic and a very strong taste for design!
Close collaboration with our local partners allows us to turn these inspirations into reality by working with the material in workshops on the island of Java to create unique and original designs that we are very proud of!
Any particular skill or memorable encounter during your travels in Indonesia?
I am a fan of rattan, and Indonesia specialises in this material. We work with a family-run workshop, recently taken over by the family's daughter. They work with this material using traditional artisan methods. I am thinking, for example, of our Eloa natural rattan armchair, entirely handwoven and requiring more than 20 hours of work!
Discover all our rattan armchairs.
FAQ: the origin of Maison Pavane's wood
Where does Maison Pavane's recycled wood come from?
From various recovery channels. The Mastic and Miramas sideboards are made from wood sourced from old Chinese houses. The Krabi collection, sourced from India, uses wood from the hulls of old boats, which explains its mix of colours.
How does Maison Pavane guarantee the traceability of its wood?
Through on-site audits and the European regulatory framework. In Indonesia, the wood comes exclusively from government-managed forests, with traceability from seed to felling. In other sourcing countries, regular audits are carried out at suppliers. Maison Pavane complies with the EUTR and the EUDR.
Why does Maison Pavane use both solid wood and recycled wood?
Solid wood ensures the longevity of furniture and simplifies recycling. Recycled wood makes it possible to reproduce rather than overproduce, while bringing an extra sense of soul to our creations, because this wood already has a history.
For more information: everything you need to know about recycled wood, its origins, benefits, characteristics and care.
