Maison Jansen was a renowned French interior design firm founded in 1880 in Paris by Dutch-born designer Jean-Henri Jansen. It is widely considered the first global interior design firm and became synonymous with luxury, elegance, and historically inspired interiors.
From its earliest years, Maison Jansen specialized in creating richly appointed interiors that drew from classical European styles, including Louis XVI, Empire, and Neoclassical influences. The firm combined traditional craftsmanship with modern sensibilities, producing both interior schemes and custom furniture of exceptional quality.
Maison Jansen gained international prominence in the early 20th century, serving an elite clientele that included royalty, heads of state, and prominent families across Europe, the United States, and Latin America. Its projects ranged from private residences to embassies, hotels, and government buildings.
One of the firm’s most notable achievements was its role in the restoration and redecoration of the White House during the administration of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the early 1960s. Maison Jansen contributed historically accurate furnishings and design expertise that helped shape the White House’s refined and cohesive aesthetic.
Throughout the mid-20th century, Maison Jansen remained influential, helping to popularize a refined version of what would later be associated with Hollywood Regency style—blending classical elements with glamorous materials such as gilt bronze, lacquer, glass, and fine upholstery.
The firm continued operations into the late 20th century before eventually closing in 1989. Today, Maison Jansen furniture and interiors are highly collectible and valued for their craftsmanship, historical significance, and timeless elegance.
