Showing posts with label France. Show all posts
Showing posts with label France. Show all posts

Bon Appetit!

You must check out this fabulous website that I found via Di at Designer's Block (Di always finds such interesting things...)

Petrelle, a restaurant in France, has re-created the sights and sounds of their restaurant via their virtual website. Listen to the chef talking, the phone ringing, wine pouring, the cutlery & dishes clinking & clanking, slicing & dicing. And it seems to go on for awhile as if they just kept the audio going. Very atmospheric and some striking images.

Well don't dilly dally here. Go and check out Petrelle's site here. So much fun! And thanks Di for the 'head's up!'

The Grand Tome -- Goyard

Goyard, the luxurious Parisian luggage maker founded in 1853, is coming out with a limited edition book celebrating its history, and I am drooling....(sigh)

Each of the 233 numbered and limited edition books will be locked in a trunk almost entirely customizable.


Continuing the heritage of the prestigious collections from the 1920s, this extremely limited edition publication "resonates with and celebrates the golden age of luxury travel, from horse-drawn carriages to the great transatlantic ocean liners."

This magnificent art book uses traditional letterpress techniques for the text, features its own watermarks and is printed upon custom made vellum paper à la forme of Arches Mills.

From the New York Times-- "As the pages turn, with their deep-grain photographs and written passages, some are blank, except for subtle intaglio plate marks. In their natural whiteness, produced with a 500-year-old technique of hemp lightened with the petals of a desert flower, the hand-cut pages resonate with craftsmanship."

The Goyard Book features more than 200 pages featuring photographs and descriptions of all the greatest achievements by Goyard since starting in 1792.

This book took almost a decade to put together.

The book comes in a specially designed Goyard trunk available to order in any of Goyard’s standard colors.

This "work of art" retails for €6,000, and sale is by appointment only.

Now that's not too much to ask for, is it?

photo credits: Goyard

Musée Gustave Moreau and the Mystery Staircase

Do you recall my recent post about giving photo credits on blogs? Well, something interesting happened which led me to find the origin of the image I was fiercely searching to credit.

My friend Renee saw the photo of the spiral staircase on my blog and excitedly gave me a call. That gorgeous staircase stood out in her memory. She recalled her favorite museum in Paris, the Musée Gustave Moreau, and that staircase in the museum was one she would never forget.

So thanks to Renee, I did a little searching and voila! She was right!

Gustav Moreau was a prolific 19th Century French symbolist painter, sometimes considered to be one of the precursors of surrealist painting. As a professor at the Ecole des Beaux Arts one of his notable students was Matisse, and long before his death in 1892 he had already decided that a museum of his own work should be created.

He extended and converted the house that had belonged to his parents, creating giant workshops and display rooms. Even with the immense size of the rooms, there was not enough space to show all the accumulated works; Moreau left 4,800 drawings and 450 watercolors, many of which are in storage.

Huge room with filled to the brim with Moreau's work...

The monumental staircase leads you up to yet another floor above...

private living areas...


"Gustave Moreau collected his very dear souvenirs, relating to his parents and to Alexandrine Dureux, his "best and only friend..." Nothing has changed in a century."

Musée Gustave Moreau
14 rue de La Rochefoucauld
F-75009, Paris, France

photography: Hotel Paris Rive Gauche

Oh, and by the way...the photographer credited for the spiral staircase image is...

beBO on Flickr! Thanks beBo for the inspiring photo!

The Mystery of the Floating Bed

Much thanks to Roséline at This is Glamorous for identifying the talent behind the beautiful floating canopy bed image that I posted this past weekend. I had stumbled upon the image on the web, but was mystified as to who the photographer was. I searched and searched with no avail. No photo credit was given to this talented artist {that's a topic I'll cover later}. In any event, Roséline was a great help with my endless search.

The artist is Vincent Olinet. French, but of course. The work is titled, "Pas encore mon histoire," and is an installation piece from the Lauren Godin Gallery in Paris.

I've located a French design blog that details this unique installation and have done my best to translate it into English. Follow along and enjoy the lovely photos and story behind them!

"Pas encore mon histoire," 2007
Floating bed, installation by Vincent Olinet
Presented by Galerie Laurent Godin, Paris
2009 in the Tuileries

A bed canopy floats elegantly over the basin. As it sails delicately, the cushions call for a romantic girl. A fairytale that appeals to little girls who love stories about beautiful Princesses in danger to be rescued by a Prince Charming.

Upon closer inspection the seemingly pristine bed reveals its yellowed blue and white veils. There are slight tears in the muslin and gold swags from heavy rain. The wonderful yields to the blows of reality and the nightmare is not far. The bed is a crumbling fairytale. The Princess is missing and Prince Charming is not coming.


Vincent Olinet anchored his four-poster bed in the Exedra north of the Tuileries Gardens. Pushed by the wind, the ghost ship drifted a few inches into the basin. Ducks climbed onto the bypass or white sheets at the risk of soiling. The bed was flanked by statues inspired by classical Greek mythology: on one side, Venus Callipyge (Aphrodite), the other Apollo chasing Daphne.

The time for fairy tales are over. Visitors gazed at the facility with pleasure, attracted by the sweetness of the first installation.


French Arrivals at Paris Hotel Boutique!


At Paris Hotel Boutique we're celebrating all of our Dads & Grads with an eclectic assortment of new arrivals from France! Highlights include...

* Assorted Antique French Bottles

* French Luggage Tag Collections

* Early French Oil Paintings

* Flemish Leaf Awards

* c. 1900 French School Clock

* Mother of Pearl Accessories

* Deco Mirrored Table and more!

The Most Beautiful Chocolat.

You may remember an earlier post of mine raving about one of my favorite chocolatiers, Diane of Maison Bouche. Was I excited to see their new Spring line of chocolats! Divine!

Maison Bouche (literally translated as "house of the mouth") is named after the sumptuous kitchens at Versailles, and based here in the Bay Area. Maison Bouche's packaging is as divine as the scrumptious taste of their confections.

I asked Diane what inspired her for her new lines, and here's what she had to say...

"For 'Les Fleurs,' I've always admired Grandville, who was a celebrated artist of 19th century France. His "Court of Flora or Les Fleurs Animées" shows flowers personified. The collection is redolent of the spirit of French Romanticism."

"For 'Botanicals,' I wanted a spring collection with beautiful floral images. I found them in 19th century hand-painted Botanical prints. I'm constantly amazed at how wonderful flowers are and this is a homage to their loveliness."

"For 'Couture et Confections,' I love love love the fashions of 18th century France - the tall wigs, the attention to detail people put into their attire, the richness of the fabrics, the colors. It was so wonderful!"

"For 'Marriage a la Mode,' I wanted to recreate the lavishness of early 19th Century Royal weddings with the tiered cake, precious jewels given to the bride from all over Europe, the ornate invitation, the beautiful clothing and the fairy tale feeling surrounding it all. These items would have been printed for the world to see. But I also wanted the Collection to appeal to couples getting married today, because we still carry on the same traditions."

Beautiful, aren't they? With Lait and Noir chocolats and numerous flavors, the Maison Bouche bars and confections are available online and at these retailers.

BUT WAIT... there's more!!!

Stay tuned for a Maison Bouche giveaway tomorrow.....

photos: Maison Bouche

New Designs from the PHB Collection!

I'm excited to share our newest designs from the Paris Hotel Boutique Collection. The collection is made up of my favorite pieces of ephemera (paper) from my personal collection. They have been professionally copied and decoupaged on glass trays and paperweights. These are all made by hand in the USA.

I love the first tray (above), which is a copy of an early French menu with a wonderful caricature of a man. It reads, "Societe des Architectes," translated to "Society of Architects." I'm crazy over the font on this menu! And, it's a great size for holding most anything, measuring 6" by 10."

I purchased this fabulous "Club DeLisa" piece at a paper show. It's one of clubs where you would have your photo taken and they would insert it into a cardboard sleeve/program. I love the ladies in their fancy hats, and the bright pink-colored border. And, the best part, the bottom reads, "Breakfast Dance Every Monday Morning." Can you imagine dancing on a Monday morning?

This whimsical, colorful graphic menu from France features chefs juggling oversized Hors d' Oeuvres. It's dated 1909 and is completely handwritten in French.

Since it's only one-of-a-kind, and so special, I had it made into a 6" by 10" glass tray. The colors are a bit more brilliant in person than the photos depict.

It's been so much fun creating a collection from my own pieces of ephemera. If you want to see the entire Paris Hotel Boutique Collection, check it out here!


The Paris Issue


Every year I look forward to Romantic Home's April issue, which is fabulously French! I'm flattered to be included in the latest issue among these fabulous bloggers who have a love for all things French.



There is Mimi Charmante, whose blog is filled with the most beautiful eye-candy and interesting stories. Mimi's Etsy shop of "lovelies" offers vintage & handmade items, as well as her own beautiful photography.

Leeann of Fabulously French, is based in France (lucky girl), and takes you along on her journeys, from sharing stories of her shopping excursions, to just the simple pleasures of living in France. She also has an online shop, Fabulously French, which is fabulously French!



Tara Bradford of Paris Parfait is an American living in Paris who offers a romantic take on life from the City of Lights. It is one of the most informative, beautiful and interesting blogs for you Francophiles. A must read!

And the fabulous Vicki Archer of French Essence, who lives between London and Saint Remy de Provence in Southern France. You may know Vicki from her books, My French Life or French Essence. Her fascinating blog takes you on an awe-inspiring journey. Rather than me talking more about it, you should go visit for yourself!

What a thrill to be included among these wonderfully talented ladies. And special thanks to Jacqueline at Romantic Homes! There are many more fun features for you Francophiles, so be sure and pick up a copy of the April issue!

A bientôt!

Insanely Fun Pillows!


So... I'm reading The Bedlam of Beefy's blog (aka Uncle Beefy), and I stumble upon these whimsical pillows from Bonjour Mon Coussin. Stopped me in my tracks! Leave it to the French to create something so fun. Wish I had a spot for one.


You have the "yummy theme" series...
The "type theme" series...
The "vintage theme" series...
And so much more! Check out their site here for all of their designs...