In this exclusive LIFESTYLE.INQ interview, Maison Balzac founder Elise Pioch talks about their latest collection and the intricacies of running her cult-favorite homeware brand
For many creatives, oftentimes our richest source of inspiration comes from a singular place: childhood. The house you grew up in. The games you played after school. The sight and sound of your favorite afternoon TV show. Whether we realize it or not, nostalgia often pushes us to channel our most authentic and imaginative selves.
In the case of Elise Pioch Balzac, founder of Australian homeware brand Maison Balzac, nostalgia lies at the very core of her design philosophy.
“Maison Balzac is a celebration of my childhood as well as the charming homes I grew up in,” she tells LIFESTYLE.INQ. “My inspiration mainly comes from the wonderful moments I had in my childhood, surrounded by nature.”
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Born in France, Pioch began her career in design in fashion. “I studied in Paris, then worked in the industry for 11 years (in France and Australia).” After graduating from the esteemed Institut Française de la Mode, Pioch worked at Hermès for over three years under the artistic direction of Martin Margiela himself. “I approach Maison Balzac like a fashion brand, I actually often refer to my products as “fashion for the table/house” Following her stint at the French fashion house, Pioch worked as a buyer for Australian multi-brand boutiques Belinda and The Corner Shop.
Le Jardin Chapter III
For our exclusive interview with the founder, Pioch invites LIFESTYLE.INQ into Maison Balzac’s stunning Armadale boutique in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs. Much like their intricately designed objects, the space is bright and dream-like. Tiers of delicate glassware reflect against the Melbourne sunshine that illuminates the space. In one corner, you’ll see a shrine of the brand’s cult favorite fragrances. Candles sit in rows sporting unique limited-edition designs and packaging. At the center of it all is the brand’s newest collection: Le Jardin Chapter III.
“This new collection is the climax of everything we’ve ever created as a brand,” Pioch notes. “It includes eight different categories made by eight different makers (glassware, wool rug, porcelain, stainless steel cutlery, linen, unscented candles, home fragrance, body fragrance and raffia) including three new categories entirely new to Maison Balzac (wool rug, porcelain and steel cutlery).”
“This says a lot about our capacity to innovate and tell our original story through different mediums. This collection took 14 months to be ready and I like how the playfulness, sophistication, and quality really shines through every object.”
As their maiden collection that fully sets the table, Maison Balzac explores the essence of the brand with Le Jardin Chapter III—celebrating their iconic motifs while gradually building their roster of impeccable objet d’arts. “It was a strategy of ours to be able to set a full table uniquely with Maison Balzac pieces,” Pioch shares. “Seeing them come to life on the first samples was an immense joy!”
When it came to diversifying their product range, Pioch gets candid about their approach, explaining that it isn’t always necessarily a default progression for brands looking to grow. “Baccarat has been specializing in high-end crystal since 1764, and I can’t imagine them diversifying to other categories,” she explains. “In my case, I knew from day one that my brand project was to recreate the warm and loving interior of my grandparents, Jeanine and Andre Balzac, thanks to all the categories of objects they had in their house. Scented candles were just the start. Adding new materials and makers every year is the best way for me to build the world I have in my mind.”
On Maison Balzac’s production process
Following a rigorous 15-month-long pre-production process, Pioch shares that each collection is linked to a certain theme related to her upbringing or personal taste. “From there, I have ideas that I draw—I name them pretty much immediately. I allocate each shape to a material (glass, wax, linen, metal, porcelain, etc.) and then I share this “collection plan” with my product designer to allow her to create the technical drawings.”
After the conceptual comes the practical. Pioch then presents each idea to Maison Balzac’s makers to gauge the technical feasibility of each object. “Once we agree on the best way to translate my ideas into an object, they make a sample. I cannot tell you how excited I get upon discovering the prototypes! It is like Christmas but better. When we approved [Le Jardin Chapter III], we were all beyond proud of what we had achieved. It is truly one of the best we have ever done!”
Described by Pioch as “Elegant, playful, full of happiness, and timeless”, Maison Balzac unapologetically embodies the joy that comes with transforming a house into a home. Each object, whether made of delicately hand-blown glass, porcelain, or wax, encompasses the brand’s bright, candy-coated charisma. A refreshing step outside of this world’s affinity for monotony and gray.
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On design disciplines and the future of Maison Balzac
When it comes to the disciplines she continues to apply when designing for Maison Balzac, Pioch admits that she continues to lean towards her learnings from fashion. “At Hermès, for example, I learnt how to articulate a genuine story via objects and words; as a fashion buyer, I learnt how to put together harmonious collections that look appealing in terms of style and innovation.”
Guided by intuition, and ever inspired by her surroundings, Pioch’s process as a creative is ever-evolving. So when asked about the future of Maison Balzac, it’s no surprise how she circles back to the genesis of the brand.
“From the very first day of Maison Balzac I assigned myself the responsibility to share all the happiness and love I received from my family as I was growing up.” This responsibility is something that Pioch has evidently followed through with as you browse through the brand’s product offerings. Much like her personality, each object at Maison Balzac personifies a part of its founder’s lightness—a piece of radiance, a positive energy. Good juju, if you will. “I will continue to do that because it is the original vision of my brand. I will keep on travelling from room to room inside the Balzac home that I am aiming to recreate with every collection.”
As for the brand’s upcoming collections, Pioch happily shares that customers can look forward to discovering a new collection in September. Subsequently, Maison Balzac will be launching its very first Christmas collection in October. “After that, we will introduce a new theme and two new collections in February and April 2025. We have been busy!”
When it comes to building our own spaces, it is vital to create an environment you can actually live in. After all, a house is more than a place you simply inhabit. It’s a sanctuary, a slice of solitude away from chaos beyond four walls.
When asked about the best piece of advice she would give to someone moving into their very first home, Pioch shares: “I would advise them to only bring their favorite pieces with them. It is so important to surround ourselves with objects and furniture we love, I believe it impacts how we feel every day. Nothing has to be expensive, it just has to mean something to us.”
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Photography by Sophia Berbano Concordia
