A Chat with Ajiri Aki

We've got a special treat for you today! We're chatting with Ajiri Aki, founder of Madame de la Maison and author of the newly released book Joie.

After moving to Paris, Ajiri launched her lifestyle brand, where she plans events, sells antiques, and designs linens and home accessories. While in Paris, she began to absorb essential lessons from her new friends: treat yourself to fresh flowers just because, source the best baguette, and perhaps most importantly, enjoy être (just being).

Joie was released on April 18th, 2023, and we're excited to offer it at Les Fleurs! Filled with beautiful French photography, it's about learning the French way of life, from hosting the perfect apéro (happy hour) to lingering around town like a flâneur (loafer) or thrifting for antiques at the market. It serves as a reminder to reclaim your right to leisure and enjoy the spontaneous, joyful moments that happen every day. 

See details to order your copy of the book below!

Walk us through your journey and how it led you to France. Who was the New York City Ajiri Aki, and how did she find herself in Paris?  

After university, I moved from Texas to New York City to work in the fashion industry as an editor and stylist. It was fast-paced and full of interesting and creative people, traveling to new places, and going to over-the-top fabulous events. I was a work-a-holic and always feeling like I needed to “keep up.” I was constantly seeking happiness and fulfillment in the wrong things.

After about five years, I left the fashion industry to start a career in the museum world while getting a master’s degree in the decorative arts. My grad program took me to Paris for a few months for a class and thesis research. The city, the energy, and the challenge of trying to integrate into a new culture fueled me with inspiration and intrigue. Every single day felt like an adventure. I moved back after graduation and met my Swiss husband who was living in Paris. I suppose you could say that I found myself in Paris because life is slower there, and the culture is geared towards making sure that everyone finds their joie. I can exist and be a part of society, just as I am.

In Joie you share lessons on celebrating life à la française. What's the #1 lesson you want readers to take away from reading your book? 

You can always access joy no matter where you live, how much money you have, or what kind of place you are in your life. Even in the midst of a hard time or a challenging day, you can do something that brings you joy. Finding joy in simple, small, or big things should be our North Star and lead our decisions and choices.

We loved flipping through the pages and discovering all the interviews with winemakers, garden experts, etc. How has meeting with French artisans or Francophiles inspired your book or work with Madame de la Maison?

Meeting with other makers, fellow expats and locals has been the best way for me to learn and connect to French culture. This is essentially what inspired this book. It’s the lessons that I have learned from other people here [in France].

We share your love for beautiful antiques! Do you have a favorite brocante (flea market)? 

I love going to the ephemeral brocantes that change location every weekend in Paris. It forces me to explore different parts of the city while looking for treasures. I also really love driving to Chatou, right outside Paris, to shop and spend the day chatting with vendors, taking breaks to eat and have some rosé.

For anyone traveling to Paris this spring and summer, what is one of your “can’t-be-missed” recommendations?

Go buy some charcuterie, cheese, a baguette, and wine, then head down to find a spot on the Seine and just take it all in.

The French are known for their joie de vivre—celebrating the simple things—a philosophy that tastemaker Ajiri Aki embraced all of her American life.

We want to thank Ajiri for taking the time to chat with us, and hope that you found some inspiration in her way of life. If you’d like to learn more, see the link below for more details about her book Joie.

xoxo,
The Fleurettes

Photos by Jessica Atola copyright © 2023