When Sylvie Scott opened a tiny homewares boutique 32 years ago, she had no idea that Album de Famille would evolve into one of France’s most admired retail experiences and be named one of the best home goods retailers in the world.
Album de Famille was one of five retailers around the world named as a IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) Global Honoree for Retail Excellence at The Inspired Home Show in Chicago in March. The gia program is sponsored and organized by The Inspired Home Show and the International Housewares Association (IHA).
Album de Famille has three stores, including a breathtakingly beautiful 19th-century villa once owned by the Dior family that has been meticulously restored and transformed into a global innovator in retailing. Behind those villa doors is a decades-long journey of intuition, resilience and business-building rooted in dreams, heart and history.
“Thirty years ago, I could never have imagined that Album de Famille would become what it is today,” Sylvie says. “At the time, there were no décor or furniture boutiques—just traditional furniture and tableware stores.”
Back then, Sylvie was 18 years old, and at the beginning of a career in finance. However, when a friend who owned a décor store offered her a summer job, she took the offer and it quite literally changed the trajectory of her life.
“She saw my instinct for color and my creativity and helped me to believe in it,” Sylvie says. “Today, a blend of financial discipline and artistic soul is what makes Album de Famille work, and I cannot thank her enough.”
Leaving behind her career in finance, Sylvie launched a tiny 25-square-meter shop. From the beginning, she relied on her intuition to grow the concept of Album de Famille.
“I never copied anyone else. I studied the market and customer needs, always aiming for originality,” she says. “However, while working in that little store, I quickly realized that to truly inspire my customers, I needed larger spaces and theatrical settings.”
Saving the Dior Villa and Launching a Dream
Not willing to compromise, Sylvie searched for the right place for ten long years.
“I wanted somewhere with history that was also extraordinary,” she explains. “Somewhere where our staff and I could showcase our expertise and create an unforgettable customer experience.”
In May 2023, Sylvie found a magnificent property in Granville, in the Normandy region of northwestern France. Built in 1890, Maison du Calvaire was rich in history and potential, and was the former home of Lucien Dior, from the Dior fashion and perfumery empire.
“When we found it, the house was on the verge of collapse,” Sylvie says. “Developers wanted to tear it down and build apartments, and instead, we saved what we now call the Dior House.”
It was love at first sight: 440 square meters of incredible woodwork, original floor tiles, soaring 3.5-meter ceilings and a grand staircase. There were gardens on both sides, and it was across from the train station, making it an ideal destination.
“It was made for us!” Sylvie says.
A deal was struck, paperwork was done, renovations began and five months later, in April 2024, the new showroom opened. “The Dior House is our dream realized,” Sylvie says. “We kept the spirit alive, using Christian Dior’s color codes for the terraces, walls, paint and awnings. It’s magical. We brought a sleeping beauty back to life.”
Within this extraordinary space, Album de Famille operates as an innovative high-end brand for discerning clients, offering a complete home and garden décor experience with four artisan trades as pillars: upholstery, tailoring, color consulting and interior design.
“Everyone wears many hats—we’re not just retailers,” Sylvie says. “We’re interior designers, artisans. We’re creators. Our business is a full, living concept with a boutique, interior and exterior projects, artisan services and tailored customer care. And our team is everything.”
The team prides itself on hosting cocktail evenings and private events, creating a close-knit community with 30 to 40 guests at a time, with special experiences such as seafood grilled on barbecues by renowned chefs. “Our customers are our best ambassadors,” Sylvie says.
Brand and Spirit, and Becoming a gia Winner
For Sylvie, being awarded a gia was a deeply personal victory. “It was a moment of pride after 32 years of passionate work,” she says. “The greatest reward is setting an example for my children—showing them that hard work pays off. It’s also a huge tribute to the Album de Famille team, and to the amazing customers who’ve become our community. Winning the gia has truly elevated our brand and spirit.”
The gia expert jury loved that no detail ever goes unnoticed at Album de Famille, and that the staff bring endless other elements to Sylvie’s dream, turning retail into a magical experience. They agree that there is a fairytale-like story behind the store’s unique location and that it feels like a castle. “Being an appointment-only destination, it offers clients a complete, immersive experience,” they said.
For instance, the dedicated team of four at Granville prepare the terraces every morning to welcome clients with French coffee and pastries, co-creating personalized spaces indoors and in the gardens. They draft beautiful project proposals with text and photography, managing logistics, delivery and the styling of homes.
“They also take time to listen—really listen, and keep the showroom alive, inspiring and ever-changing,” Sylvie explains. “They also review daily figures and work on fine-tuning our business strategy.”
This business strategy is based upon three pillars that Sylvie stands by every day and puts Album de Famille in a league of its own: Team Spirit, Integrity and Excellence.
Connections, and a Perfect High Note
Personal connection is something that everyone at Album de Famille works hard to achieve. “Many of our project clients become friends,” Sylvie says. “First, they trust us with one room, then their whole home and then their gardens. Slowly, they collect candles, teas, tableware and linen from us too. I’ve even been invited to some of our clients’ homes for weekends and dinners, and this is a huge honor.”
Sylvie is sure that these special connections means that the future of retail is human. “People crave connection, not just digital transactions,” she says. “That’s why we create magical spaces. Places that feel like home. Coffee and croissants at sunrise, aperitifs at sunset. It’s about building emotion and memory, not just selling.”
Sylvie adds that running a small business for 32 years has also been an honor, but that it has also meant being good at many things: managing, organizing, creating, selling and leading. “I love the challenges of running a business,” she says. “Leaving finance behind was the best decision of my life, and finding and saving the Dior Villa was the perfect high note for me.”
And having started from a tiny store and building up to what her business is today, Sylvie has some sage advice for future entrepreneurs.
“Before you start, really think about the meaning you want your life to have,” she says. “Build a strong project and know your market. Secure the right financing and surround yourself with experience. Be prepared to make sacrifices, and master yourself and your stress levels. Anything is possible if you’re willing to work for it.”
After working so long on her dream, Sylvie would like to leave a legacy, and she hopes that one day, her grandchildren will be proud of their ‘nona’, and that Album de Famille will still be thriving fifty years from now.
To learn more about Album de Famille, visit lavilla-albumdefamille.fr.
Sponsored and organized by The Inspired Home Show and the International Housewares Association (IHA), IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) is the world’s leading awards program honoring overall excellence, business innovation and creative merchandising in home goods retailing. For more information about the gia retail program, the co-sponsors or participating in 2025-2026, contact Piritta Törrö at [email protected]. Additional information on gia is also available online at TheInspiredHomeShow.com/Awards/gia-Retailing.
For more information about The Inspired Home Show and to pre-register for the 2026 Show, taking place in Chicago on 10-12 March 2026, visit TheInspiredHomeShow.com.