Perched along the Rhône River in Vallabrègues, a village known for its sun-bleached buildings and quiet charm, a three-story house from 1730 stands as a relic of the past. Its walls, untouched since the 1980s, still hold traces of a bygone industry: old baskets, faded paintings, and rattan furniture that hint at its history as a wicker workshop. Today, the property is home to Benoît Rauzy and Anthony Watson, two men who turned a chance discovery into a revival of a local craft.
Benoît, an environmental consultant from Paris, and Anthony, a stylist with Provençal roots, stumbled upon the house in 2007. They had sought a modest home with a garden, not the sprawling structure they found. “It was huge, like nothing we had planned,” Anthony recalls. Yet, the building’s patinated walls and hidden clues—drawings, tools, and remnants of rattan—sparked an unexpected connection. “We had a coup de cœur,” he says. The phrase, roughly “love at first sight,” captures their decision to move forward.
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The property’s history as a wicker workshop became clear during renovations. Original fireplaces and faded murals told stories of artisans who once shaped rattan into everyday objects. For Benoît and Anthony, already collectors of vintage wicker, the discovery felt like a calling. They partnered with Raphaëlle Hanley, a former leather goods designer, to launch Atelier Vime, a brand blending traditional craftsmanship with modern design.
The workshop now produces furniture and lighting, using rattan, leather, and marble. “Wicker can be simple, but also very sophisticated,” Benoît explains. Their designs aim for a classic, refined look, merging old techniques with contemporary aesthetics. The brand’s growth has taken them beyond Vallabrègues, but the village remains central to their work.
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Atelier Vime’s studio occupies the top floor of the house, where ideas are born. The village itself is where metalwork is done, but the influence of the landscape and architecture extends beyond the workshop. “The simple way of life here is something really special,” Anthony says. For him and Benoît, Vallabrègues is more than a place of business—it’s a “tiny piece of heaven.”
The revival of wicker has drawn attention from buyers seeking elegant, handmade pieces. Yet the focus remains on preserving the craft’s heritage. Provençal artisans are employed to maintain traditional methods, ensuring that each item carries a piece of the region’s history. The property, once abandoned, now thrives as both a home and a hub for creativity.
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As demand for Atelier Vime’s products grows, the founders remain committed to staying rooted in Vallabrègues. “The idea was, and always will be, to stay in Provence,” Benoît says. Their work reflects a balance between innovation and tradition, proving that even in a world driven by modernity, there’s space for the quiet beauty of a wicker basket or a handwoven chair.
Visitors to the village might spot Benoît and Anthony on the riverbank, sketching new designs or inspecting rattan shipments. Their story—a blend of chance, passion, and preservation—echoes through the halls of the 18th-century house. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the past holds the keys to the future.
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