Tuesday 25 March 2014

Les Puces!

Les Puces! I've been dying to check this out for ages, so I was beyond excited to head there whilst in Paris the other week.  I had a great time rummaging through New York's Chelsea market when I lived there, but I wasn't sure what to expect at this upmarket version!

What I found was stunning antique furniture from most, if not all eras.   Stunning in beauty.. And price! Maybe three times as pricey as London. And Habitat had a concept vintage store there... Where everything was vintage and more expensive than u would have originally paid... Seriously. Ridiculous.

You will be able to find everything and anything here, just make sure you bring your credit card!  For example, the antique keys in the photo below... were €8 Each.  













Elephant Paname

A new museum opened in Paris recently, the Elephant Paname. The building is a mansion built in the time of Napoleon III by Russia's ambassador to France.  It has been painstakingly refurbished and features beautiful exposed plaster work reminiscent of a past era and a faceted Corten Steel lift, making it's way up the building.  I'm still not sure if it was too clunky an intervention, but I like it anyway!

The exhibition we went to see there was all about Jean Marais, actor, sculptor, ceramicist... And lover of Jean Cocteau . A good place to practice my French as there was no English! Well worth the visit.








Cou cou! Paris!

Having not been to Paris in a couple of years, it now seems a bit sacrilegious, to not visit such an inspiring place all the time! Beautiful buildings everywhere, and great design. Getting shown around by a local designer does help too, but I think it's impossible to go to Paris and not be inspired.



We checked out the concept shops on Avenue Montagne. Gucci, Chloe, Celine ... and our top pick, Givenchy. The mix of the old plaster work exposed on the ceiling, contrasting with felt and brass, with beautiful lighting and marble shelves, it was a real treat. Not allowed to take pics, but google images has a good selection.