P is for Parisian Style
‘P’ is for Parisian Style is the latest instalment in my A-Z of Interior Trends, and, having just returned from a whistle stop tour of this fabulous city, what better time to explore this particular genre of interior design.
The purpose of my trip was to visit Maison and Objet – a huge international interiors and retail exhibition hosted twice a year, January and September, in Paris. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was huge as it was spread over seven halls for four whole days. It also incorporated #inthecity which is a network of open studios and showrooms which runs for the duration of the show.
Having not attended this particular trade show previously we did as much research as possible before catching an early morning Eurostar train from St. Pancras station to arrive at Gard Du Nord by 10.30am the day prior to the opening of M&O. The hotel we had chosen was in the 11th arrondissement, a short taxi ride from the station. From here it was easy to navigate the city, and transfer to the exhibition, on the local rail network. It was also a good base from which to explore the iconic Parisian sights.
Day 1 – a welcome walk
With luggage safely stowed at the hotel we headed off on foot to explore the local area. Armed with a map and detailed instructions from the hotel reception we headed for Marche des Enfants Rouges, the oldest covered market in the city. Sadly, what got lost in translation was that it was a fresh food and street eats market as opposed to a handmade craft market which is what we was expecting. Regardless, it was a place that exuded character and charm and to balance our disappointment one of the first #inthecity showrooms, the Merci Concept Store, was located just across the road.
Next on the (hotel’s) itinerary was the museum of 19th century author Victor Hugo. Set in close proximity to Place des Vosges, the oldest planned square in Paris, it was another landmark of #inthecity. With several thousand steps under our belts we decided it was time to stop for afternoon tea before exploring a ‘secret’ garden adjacent to Hotel de Sully.
Here there was another treat in the shape of a remarkable bookshop which had the most incredible ceiling, and not surprisingly, amazing range of books. [Just as an aside, according to Wikipedia The Place des Vosges, originally named the Royal Square, was a fashionable and expensive area to live during the 17th and 18th centuries and one of the main reasons for the chic nature of the Marais (district) amongst Parisian nobility.]
Day 2 – M&O + a disappointing evening
An early start was required to do the Maison and Objet show justice so, after a deliciously French hotel breakfast, we headed to the nearest Métro station. BIG MISTAKE! Unlike the London underground system you cannot ‘tap’ in and out (with a credit or debit card) and after scaling four flights of steps across two entrances to access the Métro we gave in and hailed a taxi. Around 40 minutes later we arrived safely at Villepinte and entered Hall 5A, Decor & Design.
We quickly realised that navigating it in an orderly fashion was not feasible as it was not laid out in a simple grid system. The next best option was to make a beeline for the most brightly coloured object and then bounce from stand to stand with our senses totally assaulted.
Once our adrenalin levels returned to near-normal we took a breath and realised that each of the seven halls were interconnected. This allowed us to apply a little more structure to our day and in a calm and measured fashion we visited the halls that, on the face of it, appeared to be of the utmost interest. Unfortunately, it was only towards the end of the day that we discovered the Signature & Projects exhibits spread across Halls 1 & 2. We also learned that there is a literal red thread (carpet), interspersed with aerial view maps, that leads you around the whole exhibition space.
Sadly, that was not the only disappointment that evening as, on the guidance of the hotel, we decided to finish the day by visiting the Montparnassé observatory to view the Eiffel Tower at night. Once again, not having bought a ticket in advance, it was a showstopper so once again we resorted to a hailing a cab to take us back to the 11th arrondissement.
Day 3 – the Eiffel Tour or bust
This trip was not the first occasion when I have visited Paris on business and I had learned from previous experience that the city is relatively easy to navigate on foot. With this in mind, my iPhone set to navigate, and a bucketful of determination we set-off to see the one landmark that I was most curious about, the Eiffel Tower. Our estimated time of arrival was around ninety minutes later. Clearly, the satnav had not taken into account the lovely iconic sights that we would pass on route; a street market, chic boutiques, the Louvre, the River Seine, the Arc de Triomphe and far off in the distance the Eiffel Tower.
Some three hours later, sated with tea, coffee and a divine light lunch, we arrived at our final destination. It was just there, as we turned a corner, in all of its industrial glory. We threaded our way past a whole host of people, their smart phones carefully poised on tripods, as they videoed themselves in close proximity to this incongruous icon. Not to be outdone we took some selfies before navigating the short queue through security to arrive beneath this 330m revolutionary piece of French architecture.
Not being the bravest of people we decided to give the lift a miss and instead spent time in the strategically placed gift shop before, yes, you’ve guessed it, we hailed another taxi. This time we asked to be driven to the Notre-Dame Cathedral via the Arc De Triomphe and the Champs Elysees. Once we arrived on the Île de la Cité we joined the relatively long, but quick moving queue, to enter the, now restored, cathedral. It didn’t disappoint and spurred on by our cultural experience we walked the balance of the journey back to our hotel.
Day 4 – Galeries Lafayette by train
It was our last day but we finally learned the secret of the Métro ticketing system. Once again, guided by the hotel, we learned that we were an equidistance between underground stations and that if only we had gone to the other one in the first instance we would have been able to purchase a ticket without any trouble whatsoever. With our new found freedom we headed straight to the underground, purchased two tickets, and jumped aboard the train to the shops. I should add that these weren’t any old shops as, within no time at all, we alighted at the Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann.
Famed for its designer merchandise and regular fashion shows this 70,000 square meter luxury shopping space is certainly worth a visit. Whilst we didn’t actually make a purchases we took time to absorb the ambience and to appreciate the stunning domed ceiling. It was the perfect way to end our city break before heading back to the station to catch our Eurostar train back to London.
A Little Bit About Me…
Prior to launching my Interior Design practice in 2021 I worked for an acoustic and design company which enabled me to work as part of a successful team which delivered projects the world over.
It also afforded me the opportunity to travel in Europe and the U.S.A. as well as enabling me to study and gain qualifications in Interior Design and Interior Styling.
I am now well and truly UK based with a modern design studio adjacent to my home. When I’m not working you will find me tending to my cottage garden or sitting at my sewing machine. Sustainability has always been important to me, and whilst I accept that there is always room for improvement, I’d like to think that these activities go some way to reducing my carbon footprint.
If you would like my help designing your home or office you can find a list of My Services and Prices here
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Thank you for reading this article – I hope you enjoyed it and that it’s been an inspiration to you. Cx
