Madison Beard is proud to trade in what her European friends fondly call ‘grandma furniture’.

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When working as an interior designer in her native Australia, Madison would struggle to get her hands on the 1950s mirrors and 1960s lighting that she desired for her projects. “I love mixing old and new, but back home, the vintage offering is limited,” she says. “I’d find cool pieces online, but they’d always be in Europe, or belonging to an elderly lady selling off her knick-knacks with no idea how to ship abroad, so I was always coming up against the same roadblock.”

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Enter the solution to this very particular problem, Madison’s brand: Petite Motif. The designer had long been drawn to Murano glass, bamboo, and rattan pieces in particular, and Spain is renowned for its midcentury production of the latter. So, in 2021, newly married to Tom, a DJ, the pair set off for a fresh start in Barcelona.

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From her studio in Montjuic, Madison breathes new life into her handpicked inventory before sending it out to new homes around the world. Life in the Mediterranean city perfectly embodies her aesthetic and outlook: “It’s eclectic and filled with colors, patterns, natural materials, old furniture, uneven surfaces... It’s such a hub for architecture and interiors,” she enthuses. Here, she explains what makes the cut from a provincial flea market to The Expert.

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Give us a quick background story…

When we moved to Barcelona, I always knew I would source vintage pieces. I started buying things, taking photos, sharing them on Instagram, and slowly building my website. Petit Motif was a headline I’d seen in a design magazine that had stuck with me. I thought it would make a good name, but I added an ‘e’ because ‘petit’ is masculine. I know that grammatically it’s incorrect, but as my husband pointed out, it makes people look twice because they think it’s a spelling error!

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What do you love most about vintage pieces?

I love the story behind each piece and uncovering its past life: like the rattan shell sconces salvaged from an old hotel in Paris, or the crochet pendant sourced from a casa in Ibiza. For me, it’s also about the imperfections, which give pieces their personality, catch your eye, and allow you to wallow in their beauty.

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Where do you hunt for treasure?

I scour flea markets all around Barcelona and hunt online. Also: people’s houses! Some of my local friends invite me to their grandma’s or parents’ house to see what I can find. I love observing the way they live and taking in all their furniture trinkets from over the years.

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What differentiates your curation from the rest?

Petite Motif is me down to the core. It’s explicitly what I’m drawn to. I don’t follow trends or source based on what I think people will buy. Old stuff from the ‘50s and ‘60s is commonly referred to as ‘grandma furniture’ here—there’s zero interest in it. Being able to connect interior designers throughout America, Australia, and Europe with these finds was one of my driving forces. Though admittedly it can be difficult to let go of things!

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Your advice for adding vintage to a room…

Don't be afraid. Vintage pieces make spaces feel unique, so if you see something and can't stop thinking about it, just get it. There’s no formula—it’s surprising how these items lend themselves to all interiors.

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What made you want to partner with The Expert?

To sit alongside all the other amazing makers and designers is wonderful. There is such talent, and it’s seriously cool to be part of it. Also, doing this completely on my own, it’s validating to know that people are paying attention.

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Your brand’s biggest “pinch-me” moment?

It actually happens on a day-to-day basis, when I receive photos or I’m tagged in pictures showing Petite Motif lamps in their new spaces. Seeing the pieces I found in a market, that I restored and then shipped across the world being enjoyed in someone’s powder room or bedroom is such a nice moment.

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What’s your idea of luxury?

Interior-wise, it has to be comfort. When you have mood lighting or custom joinery so that your space is optimized for the way you live and spend your time, that’s the ultimate luxury.

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What’s next for your brand?

I'm bringing to life my own collection of Petite Motif lighting, designing sconces in stitched parchment paper and jute. They’re handmade here in Barcelona. It’s so interesting to work with local craftspeople with decades-old techniques and traditions.

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