FRANCIS COGNAUX : THE ART OF STONE AND FIRE

Only experience can teach us, and it can also construct, particularly in stone.  For five generations now, the name of Cognaux has been associated with stonework which has the highest respect for tradition.  The mastery of this noble material has led Francis Cognaux to become interested in another natural element: fire.  He and his son combine stone and fire with passion and skill for all types of interiors, based on the personalities which occupy them and in accordance with the atmosphere of each room.

In 2001, in the heart of the province of Luxembourg, near Libramont-Chevigny, Francis Cognaux set up his workshop, showroom and warehouse.  In the Recogne industrial estate, a simple 2500m² building, made of metal and glass, houses a sample of the skills of Francis Cognaux and his team in the front part.  They perfectly demonstrate ?The art of stone and fire?, the slogan representing the aspirations of the company's founder.  An ultra-modern mason's workshop holds all the equipment needed for stonework and manufacturing decorative fireplaces, because all the work is carried out in this workshop.  Here, apart from the raw materials, everything is 100% ?homemade?.  In this modern building, everyone works the stone with love, respecting family traditions.

There are many sources of stone, particularly for interior decor.  In a region where the cold reigns for several months a year, Francis Cognaux chose to create heat.  And he made a wide decision.  He anticipated the coming trend for decorative fireplaces and high-quality stoves.  An open fire in the fireplace is a perfect combination of aesthetics and efficiency.  Francis Cognaux chooses the most beautiful crystalline veined stones for their beauty.  They come from Belgium, like Soignies Blue Stone, from France, from Spain and from Italy, a country where marble reigns supreme, and from every corner of the world.  These many materials are shaped to your requirements, with different finishes, to create the fireplace of your dreams. In its place, showing off the fire, you can have either an open fireplace to enjoy the flames directly or a closed one for greater efficiency.

As well as decorative fireplaces, a speciality of the Centre-Ardenne, Francis Cognaux and his team create personalised decoration for a variety of stones: tables, desks, counters, shop fittings, storage furniture, bookshelves, TV-h-fi-video stands, kitchen worktops, bathrooms, sinks and basins, turned columns, stair coverings, tiling, paving, door frames, windowsills and frames, as well as many other types of classic finishing work, whether rough or refined, even aged.  Estimates and plans are free.

Whilst manufacture plays a leading role in the company, the commercial strength of Francis Cognaux has confidence in the firm to a long list of specialist stove brands.  These are mainly Belgian products by Bodart et Gonay, Stûv, Don Bar but also those by Ruegg, Polyflam, Tulikivi, Dan-Skan Rais, etc. This makes the company the unchallenged leader in fireplaces and heating appliances.  Whether made in the workshop or selected from these leading brands, the fireplaces fitted by Francis Cognaux aim to be functional, tailored to the personality of each home and its occupants.  They integrate safety features, excellent location, decoration and lighting, to fulfil requirements, and show good taste and harmony.

Since its establishment at Libramont, and the high investments, such as in stone, made to improve performance, the turnover of the Francis Cognaux workshop has continued to increase.  The team is divided into the internal manufacturing team and the team sent on-site for external fitting. Including Francis, his wife Annie and their son Anthony, there are over ten people working tirelessly to satisfy clients who are attracted by the skills of these professional stone workers.  Over the years the client base has grown and the reputation of Francis Cognaux has passed beyond the borders of the province of Luxembourg.  The neighbouring Grand Duchy, but France too, today having a growing position in the company's turnover.  And an increasing number of opportunities are emerging in these neighbouring European countries.