'I was brought up in a showroom," says Carol Sukkar, owner of the recently opened interiors store Blanc D'Ivoire Dubai. Sukkar's father was the exclusive supplier of the British heritage brands Wedgwood and Royal Doulton in Amman, Jordan, when she was growing up, and the showroom became her second home. "We spent our days there, helping out, wrapping gifts and interacting with customers," she recalls.
Sukkar eventually joined the business and was eager to expand it, but her father had less ambitious plans. Plus, Sukkar and her husband had moved to Dubai, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to work remotely. So she decided to do her own thing.
The Blanc D’Ivoire Dubai store opened on Al Wasl Road this month. It is the exclusive distributor in Dubai of the French furniture brand, which was launched by Monic Fisher more than 20 years ago, and is already represented in 30 locations around the world, including St Tropez, Tokyo, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Dubai chapter is an endeavour heavily influenced by family: Sukkar’s husband, who is in the store when I visit and clearly very involved, albeit on an unofficial level; her father, of course, who offered Sukkar her first experiences of the world of homewares; and, last but not least, her mother, who, by all accounts, has exquisite taste in furniture. “She has a lot of passion for interiors as well,” Sukkar says. “She had her home furnished in Jordan, and I have to say, it’s a lovely home. And she bought most of her furniture from Blanc D’Ivoire. So when I said I wanted to open a showroom, she suggested that I go and check out this brand in Paris, and see if they were interested in working with a partner in Dubai. That’s how it all came about.”
But what was it about this particular brand that appealed? “Mainly the colours they use, along with the uniqueness of the designs and, most importantly, the prices. Everywhere you go in Dubai, you see a lot of the same dark colours, but I think people want something fresh and new. It’s also very hard to find something that’s reasonably priced and trendy. You have so many transient people in Dubai, who are just here for a few years and don’t want to spend a fortune on their furniture, but they still want something nice and fashionable. Something beyond Ikea. I love Ikea, but it can be very basic. That’s why I chose this brand – because of the colours, the uniqueness, the price point and the style.”
Sukkar cites the Angie sofa as a case in point. Characterised by its deep seats and solid frame, the sofa comes in a range of attractive shades, ranging from beige to sage. “The Angie is very comfortable and it’s also very reasonably priced – between Dh9,000 and Dh12,000. I made it a maximum of Dh12,000 on purpose; you won’t really find that anywhere else in Dubai. The minimum that I’ve found for that size is Dh15,000 and above. And the best thing about this sofa is you can remove all the covers and wash them and then put them back on easily. It’s very practical, particularly if you have kids.”
There is also a flexibility to the products that is well-suited to what Sukkar has identified as the two main types of customers to be found in Dubai. “You have two customers. People who live in apartments and need smaller items, and those who live in very big villas who need huge pieces.”
Blanc D’Ivoire’s dining tables, in particular, can comfortably cater to both groups, as they offer an inbuilt versatility that is rare to find, she continues. You have smaller tables that will easily fit into a less roomy Dubai Marina apartment, or larger models such as the Hubert, which can seat six, or be extended to cater to 10 or 12 people, if needs be. “It’s nice that you can extend it if you want to, or keep it smaller for a regular family dinner. This is one of the things that we found was unique with this brand.”
The new showroom is brimming with solid, dependable pieces that will comfortably slot into any design scheme, and offers beautifully grained woods, strong lines and practical fabrics in a range of striking shades. Beyond the versatile tables and comfy sofas, the space features carpets, chandeliers, outdoor furniture and smaller home accessories, ranging from mirrors and candles to frames and placemats, as well as a good selection of attractively priced tableware and bed linen. Many of the smaller accessories are by the boutique Dutch brand Rivièra Maison, which “complements Blanc D’Ivoire perfectly”, according to Sukkar. “Whatever Blanc D’Ivoire doesn’t offer, Rivièra Maison does, and in a different style that you won’t find anywhere else. The moment we came across this brand, we fell in love with it.”
In addition, Blanc D’Ivoire Dubai has partnered with Intercoil, which provides pillows and mattresses, as well as the paint company Kansai, which will have a display at the store where customers can explore different colour options. “We have painted all the walls in the showroom in different shades and textures so these will be showcased here. If you like a certain colour you can just use the touchscreen to book an appointment with Kansai and they can come in and help.”
Also on offer is a free design service for serious buyers. “Someone will come into your home, take the dimensions, look at your floor plan and if needs be, create a 3-D render of what it could potentially look like,” Sukkar explains.
The aim is to make things easy and offer a one-stop shop for all home-related needs. This is reflected in the store’s location – a villa in a part of Jumeirah that has traditionally been a residential district and has only recently been opened up for commercial use. “You come, you park your car and you are here. You don’t have to be driving around a mall car park struggling to find a spot. And then you don’t have to walk miles to get from the parking lot.
“We just need to get the word out that we are here. It’s a competitive market and everybody is used to certain brands. However, once we get past that stage, I’m sure we can be as competitive as the rest because of our pricing, our unique designs and unusual colours. Those are the things we are focusing on.”
sdenman@thenational.ae
