In their workshop, Emilie Nayral and Christophe Bouloc give a new lease of life to old pieces

Emilie Nayral et Christophe Bouloc se sont rencontrés dans l’atelier, il y a un an. Midi Libre – Laura Vaillant

From Millau to Paris via Lozère, the meticulous work of Emilie Nayral, seamstress, and Christophe Bouloc, upholsterer, is appreciated.

At 5 Avenue Jean-Jaurès, a window display stands out. High in color, it presents armchairs or lamps with modern patterns. As you pass through the door, musical notes escape from a vintage radio, placed there on a shelf, at the back of the store.

Trained as a seamstress and upholsterer, Emilie Nayral and Christophe Bouloc have been working in this workshop for a year. Hand in hand. "We are happy in our work, and that is priceless", the upholsterer begins.

“If I had known that I would like it so much, I would have given up everything before,” judges Christophe Bouloc. Midi Libre – Laura Vaillant

It was first he who, seven years earlier, embarked on the adventure, in these same premises. “After a motorcycle accident, I chose to retrain, explains this former printer. I went to school in Toulouse for two years. It's strange at over 50 to find yourself in a 20m²." However, today, no regrets.

The meeting of two souls

She arrived in the region a little over a year ago before taking the plunge. “When I arrived with my daughter, I always wanted to come and see the window display. Until the day I went in" rewinds the mother trained at Hermès in leather and small leather goods. I wanted him to teach me the trade, I told him I would make myself small."

“We don't subcontract anything, that's what makes us strong”, according to Emilie Nayral. Midi Libre – Laura Vaillant

Things will be done a little differently. “I told her to come with the chair she wanted to reupholster, that she would do it herself here and that I would show her”, continues the professional. And the adventure began between this Aveyronnais and this Haute-Savoie woman who share a taste for tattoos, humor, but above all a job well done.

Quality products

Complementary, Emilie Nayral and Christophe Bouloc touch on “everything that is interior decoration”. Among the home furnishings: curtains, armchairs, lampshades or sofas that both put to the customer's taste, custom-made, with quality supplies.

“We print the patterns chosen by the customers on velvet, in France. Those of our fabrics that do not come from France come from Europe, comments Emilie Nayral. In this way, we reduce our carbon footprint."

Dexterity, creativity, precision and patience

Choosing covers, upholstery. At Emilie and Christophe's, the customer always has the last word. But if they don't improvise interior decorators, the two artists have a knack for it. “We go to people's homes and give advice”, Christophe Bouloc explains. “It's often appreciated because we bring a new perspective”, adds his colleague.

“Dexterity, creativity, precision and patience”, the key words of their specialties. Midi Libre – Laura Vaillant

Once the project is set up and the fabric received, it's time for them to start making the piece. Sewing machine, nail, hammer and other tools of the kind. "A chair is never the same, smiles the upholsterer. They say that if you know how to make a toad chair, you know how to do anything. They also say that it takes 10 years to do it properly. For Christophe, it took less time,” specifies his colleague.

Precision work appreciated beyond the Millau borders since the talent of the two, whether for furniture or fashion products made by Emilie Nayral, is appreciated in the Paris region. “Among our customers, after the Aveyronnais, there are the Lozériens and the Parisians”, notes the neo-Millavoise. “It must be said that the prices we offer are much lower than in the capital. For a piece costing 3,000 euros, it will be 770 euros here”, emphasizes the former printer.

A meticulous work also appreciated by tourists who in front of the shop, willingly lend themselves to window shopping when some push the door to buy themselves a piece as a souvenir of their Aveyron excursion and the know-how of Emilie and Christophe.

Artisan upholsterer, 5 avenue Jean-Jaurès. Open Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 7pm (4pm on Saturday). Social networks of the shop, and creations by Emilie Nayral. I subscribe to read the rest