The first thing you should know about Antoine Proulx is that there is not, in fact, an Antoine Proulx.

The company name actually comes from that of Marc and Richard Desplaines' grandmother, Antoinette Proulx. At the turn of the century, Antoinette's father was a builder of fine homes in New England.

A century later, in 1993, Marc Desplaines founded the Antoine Proulx collection of handcrafted furniture when he became frustrated at not being able to find a dresser. He designed one, and asked his brother, Richard Desplaines, who was already established as a master furniture maker, to make it for him. A design-build partnership was born.

Antoine Proulx is an extensive collection of finely crafted furniture such as armoires, beds, benches, desks, and tables. Balance is a key component, and is often achieved through asymmetry and cantilevering.

The furniture is inspired by a wide array of subjects: early 20th century modernism, the paintings of Francis Bacon and René Magritte, the ceramics and architectural facades of the Czech Cubists, and the architecture of French architect Pierre Chareau, who embraced the idea of contrasting wood's warm tones with metal's cold feel.

Antoine Proulx's award-winning collection of tables and case goods has been featured in Interior Design, Progressive Architecture, I.D., and The New York Times.

Based in Phoenix, Antoine Proulx is available to the trade, through showrooms nationwide.