About Me
My Background
Au Courant Interiors
Au Courant Interiors
In 2013, from a humble South Carolina basement, I - DeLorean Johnson, initiated a journey towards creativity and entrepreneurship, birthing Au Courant Interiors. What began as a small venture has, over the years, blossomed into a vanguard in the realm of interior design, thanks to a blend of my innate eye for aesthetics and a penchant f
In 2013, from a humble South Carolina basement, I - DeLorean Johnson, initiated a journey towards creativity and entrepreneurship, birthing Au Courant Interiors. What began as a small venture has, over the years, blossomed into a vanguard in the realm of interior design, thanks to a blend of my innate eye for aesthetics and a penchant for innovation. The journey, though, was more than a business endeavor, it was a spiritual odyssey of self-realization and bold aspirations.
Growing up in Europe, I was captivated by the diverse culture and mesmerizing beauty of the natural world. The memories of my whimsical life, especially my time by the coast, etched deeply into my psyche, reflecting a parallel to the dynamic, vibrant entrepreneur I envisioned becoming. This early life exposure played a vital role in nurturing my creativity, sowing the seeds of the conscientious craftsman I would later become.
My formal education may have been cut short, but that didn't deter me from learning the invaluable lessons life had to offer. I spent over two decades garnering experience in the world of accounting and finance, fortifying my skill set for management and planning - skills that would later prove indispensable in nurturing Au Courant Interiors.
The inception of Au Courant was no less than a testament to my commitment and belief in the idea. I made sacrifices, selling my car, emptying my 401(k), borrowing from family, and acquiring an SBA loan, all while maintaining a full-time job to meet my ends. My inspiration? A simple yet elegant chandelier, a luxury I couldn't afford, hence, I decided to create one myself. This journey of reverse engineering a chandelier sparked the ember of my creativity.
Two years of tireless efforts bore fruit in 2015, when Warner Bros. Studios entrusted me to create a chandelier for an episode of their Supergirl series. This marked a significant turning point for Au Courant, paving the way for the brand to evolve into a purveyor of luxury décor, furniture, and home accessories. This evolution was made possible by embracing a collaborative approach and expanding our product line.
Today, Au Courant Interiors and I have collaborated with renowned interior designers, retailers, hospitality professionals, artisans, and manufacturers from around the world. Our commitment to quality and sustainability has remained steadfast, sourcing diverse materials for our creations and championing upcycling and reclamation processes. We take pride in diverging from wasteful practices, often encountered in the lighting and furniture industries.
Frequently, Au Courant finds inspiration in my childhood memories of Europe, especially the unique French Empire-style chandeliers. From being a chandelier company, Au Courant has evolved under the master plan I laid out in 2013, transforming into a brand synonymous with chic, handcrafted, and beautiful creations. Our diligent design team promises a fresh bouquet of twenty new products every year.
From a basement startup to an expansive artisan factory in Greenville, Au Courant's journey has been monumental. We oversee all aspects of our production, right from creation to shipping, backed by a proficient in-house team handling accounting and order processing.
The Au Courant ethos reflects the values of a conscientious craftsman. We believe in uniqueness, mirroring the individuality of every person in our handcrafted furniture and lighting. Our beaded chandeliers, known for their distinct design and detail, encourage people to explore their identity and rethink their surroundings.
Under my stewardship, Au Courant represents a fusion of American ingenuity and European flair. Each piece resonates with sophistication and a dash of personality, challenging the homogeneity in interior design. We invite you to add a touch of humanity to your living spaces with our mindful creations, symbolizing the journey of a conscientious craftsman from a personal blog website to a world of artistry and balance. With Au Courant, your home can be more - and so can you.
Au Courant Interiors
Au Courant Interiors
Au Courant Interiors
At Au Courant Interiors, we stand as a beacon in the realm of interior decor, illuminating homes with our distinctive designs that blend radiance, beauty, and comfort in each piece. Our journey as a conscientious craftsman has been manifested in our exclusive collection of chandeliers, furniture, and home accessories. On this personal blo
At Au Courant Interiors, we stand as a beacon in the realm of interior decor, illuminating homes with our distinctive designs that blend radiance, beauty, and comfort in each piece. Our journey as a conscientious craftsman has been manifested in our exclusive collection of chandeliers, furniture, and home accessories. On this personal blog website, we frequently introduce fresh concepts, always aiming to elevate the industry standards with luxury styles and intricate crafting techniques.
We've carved a niche for Au Courant in the world of lighting, furniture, and home accessories since our inception in 2013. This hasn't been achieved in isolation but through fostering strategic alliances with innovative designers, retailers, hospitality experts, and skilled artisans and manufacturers. Our portfolio is enriched by sourcing superior materials like leather, iron, brass, bronze, nickel, wood, gemstones, sea glass, recycled glass, ceramic, and porcelain, all converging to create our distinctive path.
Our clientele, spanning the globe, recognizes the uniqueness of what we offer. They understand that we provide more than just products; we offer a mindful journey into the realm of art and craftsmanship. Drawing inspiration from original French Empire-style chandeliers, we emphasize sustainability with our commitment to upcycling and reclamation processes. We create beauty with a purpose, celebrating conscientious craftsmanship to foster a meaningful aesthetic experience.
Au Courant's humble beginnings in a South Carolina basement have blossomed into our work being showcased in prestigious Hollywood productions, such as Warner Bros. Studios' Supergirl. Our voyage has been filled with learning, growth, and development. We take immense pride in surpassing our clients' expectations with our meticulously crafted chandeliers, furniture, and accessories, imbued with our ideals of mindfulness and artistry.
Keep an eye out for our forthcoming mindfulness products and educational materials, extensions of our commitment to conscious, creative living. These offerings aim to further guide you in nurturing a balanced, beautiful, and art-filled environment at home. Join us on this inspiring journey, where we constantly push the boundaries of creativity and sustainability.
Media
Au Courant Interiors
Media
- Press: Warner Bros. Supergirl Series, 2015
- Award: Community Works, Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, 2016
- Article: Davis, A. "Lighting Her Path", The Greenville News, 2016
- Feature: Renda, K. "Vintage Bungalow", House Beautiful, 2018
- Recognition: MEDA's 22 semi-finalists for $1M challenge, 2019
- Panel Participation: QuickBooks Connect, "Fund
- Press: Warner Bros. Supergirl Series, 2015
- Award: Community Works, Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, 2016
- Article: Davis, A. "Lighting Her Path", The Greenville News, 2016
- Feature: Renda, K. "Vintage Bungalow", House Beautiful, 2018
- Recognition: MEDA's 22 semi-finalists for $1M challenge, 2019
- Panel Participation: QuickBooks Connect, "Funding Your Business" Panel, 2019
- Interview: Rhinehart, C. "Luxury Chandelier Entrepreneur", Black Enterprise, 2021
- Recognition: Named in Forbes Next 1000, 2021
- Panel Discussion: Dee Johnson joins the discussion on Black Entrepreneurs Day curated by Daymond John, 2022
- Interview: Dee Johnson founder of Au Courant Interiors talks to Daymond Johnson of The Shark Group and Sheldon Cummings DE&I, Inuit about creating a new business, bearing most of the risks and enjoying most of the rewards, 2022
- Media Opportunity: CNBC + Intuit QuickBooks, 2022
