own a little piece of the crillon hotel

If you are in Paris this afternoon, or any day this week, you could find more boring things to do than to wander over to the Crillon hotel, Place de la Concorde, and raise your finger to bid on one of the many treasures being auctioned off from the hotel.

Built in 1785, bought by the Crillon family in 1787, the hotel closed its doors at the end of March to prepare itself for two years of renovation.

The hotel has changed hands, indeed it is technically no longer French.  In 2005 it was bought by a Prince from Saudi Arabia, but it is an American group that are running the place today and  they  are embarking on a restoration project that promises to be spectacular.

Using the finest craftsmen, they promise to bring the 18th century palace back to its original glory.  The re-opening is for 2015.

Over three centuries, the Hôtel de Crillon has acquired an extraordinary collection of decorative art. For this auction, the legendary Parisian hotel will share its magic with visitors.   Antique furniture, lamps, silver and porcelain, as well as fine wines and spirits, will be among the 3,500 lots for sale. The proceeds from the auction of certain custom-made works by French artists and fashion designers will be donated to charity.

There will be large pieces of furniture up for sale, but also hotel silver, chandeliers, bathrobes, curtains , ashtrays .... you can imagine how much treasure may be stashed away behind these walls.

I won't be able to get into Paris this week as things are rather busy here, but if you go I'd love to hear all about it!

a girl's flat in Paris

Now who would like to live in a sweet little duplex flat, with a view overlooking the grey zinc roofs of Paris?

Who would like to trail around the brocantes and flea markets, finding furniture and objects to furnish the new home?

Who would like to decorate that flat in soft pastel colours and make it into a comforting little nest?

Who would like to hear the rain patter down on the skylight window overhead, or see the sunshine streaming down the spiral staircase?

Who would like to sit on a Paris roof terrace, surrounded by pink pillows and share champagne with friends?

Loving this girly apartment, seen in this months edition of Art & Decoration ... tell me, could  you see yourself here?

all pictures by Charly Erwin for Art & Decoration

April in Paris - getting romantic

April in Paris .... remember that?!

What could be more romantic than a trip to Paris in the month full of blossoms and the promise of Spring.

Today, a couple of suggestions to enjoy in the capital next month ... on a romantic theme ....

First of all the romantic hideaway  ....  coming home to your own little apartment on the left bank is way more romantic than checking into a big hotel.  How about either of these love nests, beautifully furnished and rented out by my friends at Haven in Paris.

Just imagine padding around here in the morning,  taking your time, listening to Paris waking up ...

 The beauty of staying in an apartment is that you feel you are part of the neighbourhood; imagine yourself a true Parisian.  In the morning you slip out to buy fresh croissant from the boulangerie on the corner .... come back to the apartment, and plan your day comfortably over breakfast .... and at the end of the afternoon, you come 'home' to rest, shower, open some champagne ..... before going out to dinner

Now what to do with your romantic afternoon? .....  Paris is a city to walk around.  To soak up the atmosphere, to savour.  Of course you can take in a museum or the  Eiffel Tower, but more enjoyment may be had sticking to  St Germain and maybe picking out a painting to take home at one of the many little art galeries along the rue de Seine.

 and when you feel like a rest, then stop at a favourite Parisian café, La Palette, either sitting outside and watching Paris go by, or inside where you can admire the original artwork on the walls.

 

And finally,  the romantic place to dine?   It's hardly difficult to find a good restaurant in Paris, but if it were for a special and romantic occasion, then why not go to a very special Parisian address?

Lapérouse, a restaurant whose history dates back to the 18th century!  How could you not feel special as you walk through those doors?

Voilà ... just a few ideas, quickly put together for you.  Whatever you end up doing, I know you'll enjoy your very own April in Paris!

Watching our children grow - a family evening in Paris

Although I used to love those years when the children were little and we did everything as a family, and somehow life was more simple to organise ... I have to say that there is also a great pleasure in watching our 'little ones' grow, and become adult and find their own dreams and ambitions and then work out how to make those dreams come true.

I  never spread my family life over the pages of this blog, but suffice it to say that yesterday evening brought this home.

We all (except for one, "sorry honey , next time!")  met up in St Germain at our favourite Paris restaurant, and enjoyed a long, happy leisurely dinner, listening to them tell us about their projects.  Watching their eyes sparkle, feeling their excitement and I realised how good it felt to let go a little and see that yes, they can fly on their own, and actually they'll probably end up flying higher and further than we ever have!

I'm sure you know what I mean.  I'm sure you've felt that moment when you say to yourself "wow!  I never thought that one of my children would pull off something like that!!"

One of those very good family moments ....

What I am more than happy to share with you is this excellent address in Paris.  Le Monteverdi, I have mentioned it before, but I'm happy to do it again.  The boss, Claudio is Italian.  He's worked in his restaurant for over 40 years.  When my husband and I first started eating there, (long before we had any children)  Claudio had his mamma working with him ... this is a family affair.

This is not a tourist spot, it is essentially Parisian.   Good food, wonderful cosy decor, great service, excellent wine, and if you are lucky as we were yesterday, you may have a beautiful pianist playing the grand piano quietly in the corner of the restaurant.

If you get there be sure to say hello to Claudio for me!

Le Monteverdi

5 - 7 rue Guisarde  ▪  St. Germain des Pres  ▪  Paris  75006

next month in Paris - Eugène Boudin

I know that many of my readers travel to Paris during the year, so today I am starting a new series 'next month in Paris'.    Each month I'll endeavour to highlight an upcoming exhibition or show that you may like to include in your itinerary.

Today I want to tell you about the Eugène Boudin exhibition starting third week of March.  This is a show that is in my diary, I plan to go with a friend in early  April.

Eugène Boudin was born in normandy, and was one of the first painters to grab his easel and leave the atelier to paint 'en plein air'.   He didn't stick to the Normandy coastline though, and he was seen with his easel painting through Europe.

He is known for his breathtaking skies, and it is said that Claude Monet admired his work and considered Boudin his master teacher.

The charm of this exhibition is that so many of these paintings no longer live in France.  Boudin was a popular artist with the american clientele from the word go, and many of his canvases have never been shown in France before now.

Eugène Boudin

22 March - 22 July

Musée Jacquemart André, Paris

a parisian gift for you

Here is a pretty thing to dream about ..............

You receive a letter from a notary in France,  how mysterious ..........

a cousin of your father has passed away, leaving no children, no wife,
and has bequeathed to you a property in Paris ...........

"in need of renovation" warns the notary's letter ..........

"has not been maintained for years" ....

"high ceilings, the heating alone will be astronomical" ...........

undeterred by the dour notary, you jump on a plane and set out to find the address, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris ....

you follow instructions to find the concierge to the building, and with your  high school  French, manage to make her understand that you need help swinging open the heavy door to the appartment...

"mais madame,  that apartment is completely empty for years now" .....

she walks in with you and pulls back the dusty curtains, and opens the shutters to let the light stream in revealing bare plaster walls, acres of beautiful wooden floor boards, and the occasional chair ......

you hand her a folded note, generous but not ridiculous,  to thank her for her kindness and assure yourself of her assistance in the future , and accompany her back to the door.   As she leaves, you push the door too... and swing round to squeal for joy ....

all this is yours!

so tell me where do you start?

do you move in straight away and start buying furniture?  is this the longed for 

opportunity for a new start in life?

do you play safe;  furnish it a little and hand it over to an agent to rent it out for you,

 then take the first plane home?

do you invite everyone you know for a party in this beautiful and empty space?

do you call in an interior designer, or would you have your own ideas on decorating?

come on now, let your imagination run riot, tell me please, what would you do?

all photos found here , this flat is available for photo shoots

so cold in Paris

I was up in Paris today for meetings and  taking pictures of a 'stylish girlfriend' that I'll be introducing you to next week.  On my way to meet her, I had intended taking zillions of pictures of Paris but Oh My Goodness was it cold!  So all my good photographic intentions were forgotten as I hunted around desperately for a hot chocolate to warm me in between appointments!

So here are a few of a moment in my day, Place des Vosges in the Marais, and also of my favourite umbrella and glove shop in the world, on boulevard st germain.!

Thank you for reading me!

paris in the snow

We are heading for a cold and white weekend here,  snow is flurrying, so to put you in the atmosphere of our French  winter, I am simply sharing pictures of Paris,  so beautiful clad in white

these wonderful photos are found here, here and here

a favourite Paris address

If you are to be in Paris some time soon, and looking for  a good address for some shopping, in particular if you want to take a gift home for a child, then I can recommend no better place than Pain d'Epice, a most traditional toy and craft shop in the heart of Paris.

The Passage Jouffroy is one of those special places.   Not far from the big department stores in the 9th arrondissement, not far from the largest Paris auction house yet actually in a world of its own.

Along the Passage there is a little hotel called the Hotel Chopin;  a rather wonderful chocolate and pastry shop where you can stop for tea;  the wax musuem known as Muée Grevin and there is Pain d'Epice.

In Pain d'Epice you step back in time as you ooh and aah over the choice of old fashioned stationery; beautiful hand crafted dolls as well as kits for making toys

 and most famous of all,  their collection of dolls houses, miniatures and every imaginable accessory.

When my girls were younger, we spent hours in this shop picking out furniture and lighting for their dolls houses ....

miniature suitcases to store over tiny wardrobes

little watering cans to stand in front of kitchen doors

 toys for their toys, or

  the smallest farmyard animals you have ever seen ...

And if you do get there, after you've shopped to your heart's content, you can simply pop across the passage for a tea and pastry at Le Valentin

...and wonder how many people have peered in though the windows

 of the pretty arcade boutiques since the Passage was first opened in 1876.

 

photos thanks to Bee Girl and Google images