The Maison Rêve Journey: From a Dream to a Way of Life

The story of Maison Rêve began on an autumn day in October 2002, sparked by a simple yet life-changing idea. At the time, I was immersed in the fast-paced world of San Francisco’s booming startup scene. My dream of a California lifestyle—weekends at farmers' markets, beachside afternoons, and wine country escapes—felt distant, buried under the weight of 80-hour work weeks.

I moved to San Francisco in 1997 with a heart full of hope and a vision of a vibrant, fulfilling life. But reality painted a different picture. My apartment in the Cow Hollow neighborhood was more a workspace than a home, with unpacked boxes serving as makeshift tables for my laptop. The adorable pink oven I had been so excited about? It had been used exactly once—to bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

Something had to change.

Growing up in Montréal, my Suisse-French mother taught me the joys of a simple, beautiful life—one where a lovingly set table and vintage treasures told stories of their own. I longed to bring that way of living into my own life and share it with others. After years of chasing someone else’s dream, I knew it was time to chase my own.

When I finally purchased a cozy home in Mill Valley, just across the Golden Gate Bridge, my dream began to take shape. The 1,200-square-foot chalet was a blank canvas waiting for inspiration. As I unpacked boxes of vintage treasures and looked out at the tree outside my kitchen window, its leaves turning vibrant fall colors, I felt a pang of longing. Why was I holding back from transforming my life? Could I leave behind a successful career? Would I regret it?

Sipping a cappuccino that morning, I made my decision. It was time to leap.

Soon, I was spending weekends at flea markets, searching for unique finds to stock a home and garden shop that I had already named Maison Rêve—French for "Dream Home." Every step of the journey felt like coming home to myself. The shop, nestled in the heart of Mill Valley, quickly became more than a boutique. It was a community hub filled with orchard ladders, French canning jars, and endless inspiration. Moms stopped by after school drop-offs to chat, browse, and connect. Maison Rêve wasn’t just a shop; it was a lifestyle.

Over the next decade, Maison Rêve blossomed. We expanded to a larger downtown space, added sustainable home products, and hosted workshops, seasonal flea markets, and even trips to France. Our brand grew beyond the shop, with features in national magazines and memorable photo shoots at my 1893 Victorian home in Sausalito.

In 2012, life shifted again. With two toddlers, Finnegan and Delphine, it was time to embrace a new chapter—one where I could fully live the Maison Rêve values. I temporarily closed the shop, dedicating my time to teaching my kids to cook, exploring farmers’ markets together, and spending summers in France, where they could experience the French joie de vivre firsthand.

But the dream of Maison Rêve never faded.

When the kids reached middle school, and the world changed during COVID, I felt the pull to bring Maison Rêve back to life—this time in a new way. I pursued a lifelong interest and became a licensed real estate agent, earning a GREEN designation, which aligns with my commitment to sustainability. Helping clients find and create their dream homes felt like a natural extension of the Maison Rêve ethos.

Today, I bring the Maison Rêve design style into every listing, whether through staging with curated vintage pieces or refreshing homes to stand out in the market. The demand for our treasures has been so high that we reopened the Maison Rêve shop in November 2023, with an online store on the horizon.

Maison Rêve is more than a business—it’s a way of life. It’s about creating spaces that inspire, discovering beauty in the everyday, and sharing the joy of living authentically.

Follow us on Instagram sign up for our newsletter, Maison Rêve INSPIRE! to stay connected. From new vintage arrivals to creative workshops, we can’t wait to share what’s next with you.

After all, Maison Rêve still means Dream Home—and we wouldn’t have it any other way.