Store de force: Quatorze Juillet

"Ah yes, it is a special day for France, our national day, but July 14 is also my birthday."

"I decided to sell vintage items rather than fine antiquities because they are more accessible, more playful and more 'me'. I prefer to mix and match styles and periods to create a unique atmosphere."

"I usually call vintage either quite recent items, from the 1950s, say, or lower quality, more playful items. I'm aware that antiques are, legally, over 100 years in age. However, my pair of parrot light sconces from Bagues, for instance, are from the 50s but the very high quality of the material and craftsmanship and the prestigious name make me want to describe them as antique rather than vintage. Antique also conveys a sense of higher quality, of prestige, that certain pieces deserve."

"I have found Scandinavian and classic antiques here, as well as industrial pieces, but not so much of what I am importing to Hong Kong, which are elegant European pieces with character, bold pieces that catch the eye [and were] sourced in France. That includes furniture, lamps, vases and jewellery - although jewellery is difficult to find these days. I want to bring to Hong Kong items that people will fall in love with, things that are very different."

"I have small things, such as pâte de verre vases [made using a paste of glass applied to the surface of a mould and then fired. This allows for precise placement of glass colours], which start at around HK$1,000. The most expensive items I have at the moment are chinoiserie panels from the late 18th century, priced at HK$60,000."