About Monique Breaux:
Interior designer Monique Breaux has been designing interiors for upscale clients for around 17 years. While her company, Posh Exclusive Interiors, is based in Louisiana, but she has worked for a variety of out of state clients from Alabama to New York, and for different kinds of projects including luxury resorts.
She became familiar to HGTV viewers when she participated in the show "Designers' Challenge", and was selected by the homeowners for a classic New Orleans makeover.
It was my pleasure to talk with Monique Breaux about Posh Rooms, which she calls affordable design in a box.
On the genesis of Posh Rooms:
After HGTV's Designers' Challenge, I was flooded with e-mails and requests from all over the world. They wanted my look, the artwork, the wall color, everything. So I started meeting with manufacturers.
I designed these rooms as whole, complete packages, down to the color of the walls. So I give them my look, color coordination and scale, but with the flexibility of arrangement.
About Posh Rooms:
Good design doesn't happen overnight, it takes time, good energy, good contractors and good subcontractors. Posh Rooms is the closest you can come to instant design.
I am obsessed with what I do, because a long time after money has changed hands my name is still attached to it.
The entire project is very budget conscious, because I wanted to make the line very affordable.
Each room is featured for a certain period of time only. I will pull the room after a certain time and update.
It will stay trendy, chic and sophisticated even after time has passed.
How it works:
The whole room is incredibly affordable and includes shipping. You cannot buy individual pieces, because the whole point is that you are buying Monique Breaux style, and a lot of work goes into it.
But there are some pieces you can buy separately, such as rugs and artwork. I want to keep it as simple as possible and user friendly, so you can modify and switch out pieces. For example, you can have two sofas or two love seats.
People have ordered rooms for children going away to college.
Who manufactures it:
Every thing is made in America. There are two manufacturers for upholstery and different manufacturers for accessories.
Within 48 hours of placing an order, your piece goes into production for you.
Why we need good design:
When the environment is pleasant, organized and beautiful, it changes the entire aura for most people. Productivity goes up, because you enjoy being in that space. This is something we don't talk about.
Buy quality with your money. If you can't afford a $5000 chair, buy the best quality you can. A $600 chair may last longer than a $200 chair, and be the better bargain. We as an industry have beaten down quality, and that has to change.
It's not about "more" but quality. Don't fill your home with trash.
