Paris Trip Envy- Volume One!

Having never been abroad, I can only imagine what visiting Paris must be like...the food, the people, the scenery, the sights, the shopping...

This weekend I am living vicariously through Allison and Louis of Maison 24 as they make their way to this beautiful and enchanting city to attend the Maison et Objet show.

They've so far been sending me email updates on their travels. I don't know about you, but I love seeing pictures of people's trips- then you pair this with anything interiors related, and I'm completely mesmerized!

Here's their first hand account of "the city of lights"

Our first great find this trip is our hotel Villa D Estrees. An adorable boutique hotel in the 6th Arrondissement near the Blvd. St. Germain and a 2 minute walk to the St. Michele RER station which we take to the Maison et Objet exposition park.

The hotel has very spacious rooms, a cozy lobby where they serve continental breakfast (for 12 euro) and a great restaurant & bar across the street that serves from noon to midnight.

Our first stop is of course Colette - the place to see (& be seen) and check out all things on the hot list of fashion, music, and technology. The windows showcased a collection from Thom Browne and there is a new T.B. shop-in-shop that is cutting edge styling meets tennis club chic! The clothes are a collection of red, white, and blue stripes and solids emblazoned with tennis rackets and the shopping area is filled with shiny miniature trophies and faux grass to complete the effect.


A short walk up the block and Thom Browne's collection for Brooks Brothers is featured in their windows. This time an attention getting plaid suit with a skinny cropped pant & fitted jacket is on display. We love that within 2 city blocks Thom Browne has 2 distinct collections bridging the gap between cutting edge fashion and mainstream classics!

Here we are heading up the rue du Faubourg St. Honore where we find Flamant.
Flamant is a family-owned home furnishings store that is the practicality of Restoration Hardware combined with the chic minimalism of Catherine Memmi. Warm tones on the walls are a perfect backdrop for clean, stylish home furnishings mixed with a selection of accessories, paints, and fabrics all under one roof.

Next stop L'Eclaireur. When we were here in November the store was closed and the restaurant & bar were also closed for a private event.

Luckily this trip we were able to explore both. The shop is an over-the-top lifestyle boutique combining fashion, the largest collection of Fornasetti home furnishings in Europe and a fantastic bar & restaurant bedecked with Fornasetti furniture, wallpaper, & original drawings by Piero Fornasetti.

After drooling over all the fashion (like this stunning Oscar de la Renta gown), shoes, and jewelry and oohing and ahhing over the extensive Fornasetti offerings from stools to plates to trays to screens, we happily arrived at the bar for cocktail hour when they offer a delicious, endless, complimentary supply of tasty bar snacks on tiered cake stands (chips, finger sandwiches, cornichon, and cheese crackers so beautifully presented!) to accompany the wonderful selection of wine & champagne by the glass as well as fun cocktails.

The surreal Fornasetti furnishings & the special attention to the presentation of simple bar snacks come together to create a truly enjoyable, out of the ordinary experience. On any trip to Paris, L'Eclaireur is not to be missed.

Last stop of the day was Hermes.

The current windows are a silver & white Indian fantasy and an orange tinted dream scape. There is not much to add other than to give in to their extreme creativity, stylishness & escapism!

We can't wait to get to the show tomorrow to check out all the new design trends.

Greetings from Paris,
Allison & Louis

Ahhh sounds so fun- wish I was there!! Boyfriend, if you are listening....next trip- Paree perhaps?!