Chic in Paris: Dries Van Noten Men's Store

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I would like to think that if Diana Vreeland was alive today, she would greatly approve of the new Dries Van Noten men's store in Paris.  The shop, located at 9 quai Malaquais, is two doors away from his gorgeous women's boutique and was until recently an art gallery.  What I love the most is that Dries and his architect Gert Voorjans kept the original red/rust colored lacquer from the 1970's and replicated it the back of the store which was once an office.  Even though the space is now devoted to men's clothing, the designer has also filled it back up with carefully chosen art, antiques and furnishings from every time period and style.  A metal Italian coffee table by Gabriells Crespi coexists with a Jean Cocteau drawing and an Anthony van Dyck painting that hangs on a wood panel from the 1960's that was bought in Brussels.  Oh, and the clothes aren't too shabby either. 

A Royal Residence

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Since some of the Duchess of Windsor's jewels are up for auction again tomorrow at Sotheby's, I thought it might be fun to take a look at one of The Windsor homes.  Continuing our French theme, we will first look at 24, boulevard Souchet.  It was a large four story house located in the Sixteenth Arrondissement where they made their home after the abdication.  These photos were all taken in 1939 and I found the description of the home in The Duchess of Windsor: The Uncommon Life of Wallis Simpson.

They leased the home that included a small garden until 1949.  They then rented a house at 85, rue de la Faisanderie in Paris from 1949-1953.

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

The entrance hall with black and white Carrara marble floor and caryatids wearing crowns of candles. "A Louis XVI clock, whose face was set within the center of a gilded sunburst, hung above an antique gilt console on which stood red and gold visitor's books."

A sketch of the banquette room by Alexandre Serebriakoff.

The Duchess of Windsor consulted Stephane Boudin of Maison Jansen and often hunted for antiques with him.

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor in the banquette room.

"The banquette room reflected a whimsical side of Wallis's character. The walls were formal, painted white with elegant boiserie, but the carpet was green and white lattice pattern, and the furniture was clearly different: Against one wall stood a large green velvet banquette covered with white and green pillow.  A sofa and matching chairs, also covered in green velvet, stood facing the antique mantelpiece, dominated by an Italian Renaissance clock."

A detail of a desk in the banquette room.

The Chinese lacquered desk in the banquette room.

The white and gold salon.

The walls of the dining room were "painted cream, with the delicate boiserie picked out in gilt, and pierced by arched windows draped with crimson curtains tied back and hung with enormous gold tasseled cords at two levels.  Each window was fitted with matching mirrored shutters on the inside that could be pulled closed to magnify the candlelight on formal occasions - an effect heightened by the immense mirrors that cloaked the doors, stood above the fireplace, and filled the alcove against one wall in which stood the carved and gilded rococo sideboard."

The Duchess of Windsor at her desk in the upstairs sitting room.

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor in the second floor sitting room.

"A large sitting room, decorated with overstuffed modern sofas and chairs covered in bright English chintzes, a Chippendale table, and a crescent-shaped desk used by the Duchess separated the Windsors' rooms.  It was used for informal, private entertaining; on occasions when the Duke and Duchess were alone in the evening, the dined here at the small table."

Unfortunately, I didn't find photos of their bedrooms but there is a cute photos of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor with their terriers.  You can tell this was early on since they don't have their famous pugs yet.

Photos by William Vandivert

Pierre's New Lair

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A pilgrimage to the Pierre Hardy boutique in the Palais Royal is a part of every fashion girl's trip to Paris.  Now according to Style.com, the trip only requires a cab since Pierre Hardy is opening an eponymous store at 30 Jane Street this Wednesday, December 8th.  An old garage was turned into a chic shop with the help of David Mann of MR Architecture + Decor.  While the shoes are fabulous, I have my eye on one of the signature bags.  I might have to amend my Christmas list in light of this recent development!

Fashionably Chic: Marcel Marongiu

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While I was leafing through Dressing the Home this week, another home stopped me in my tracks.  It belonged to French fashion designer Marcel Marongiu.  The designer studied in Sweden and also has a Swedish mother which accounts for his the slightly Gustavian look to his Paris apartment and Normandy farmhouse. Both are filled with pieces with patina in a neutral palette with hits of black. Even his black dog coordinates with his homes.

These first five photos are of the Paris apartment which is about 645 square feet.  It doesn't look that small and also has a terrace which is also a plus in a small space.

There is a video tour of the apartment from Interieurs in French but you can get a better sense of the layout and "non-color" of which the designer is fond.  In the video, it looks like he's painted some of the walls dark grey too.

I think he might have said the dining chairs were from his grandmother in the video.  Maybe one of you who are fluent in French can confirm.  Update: Thanks to Pierre in Montreal who confirmed that the chairs belonged to Marcel's Swedish grandparents.  He also let me know that the chandelier was wired but he removed them to allow for candles instead.  There is nothing better chicer than dining by candlelight!

The screen divides the living room from the bedroom and adds texture.  Even though the space is neutral, every piece has a lovely patina or interesting detail that make it anything but boring.

Here you can see the grey paint that is visible in the video.  It makes the lighter upholstered pices pop in the room.

The artwork above the bed draws your upward so that you don't even notice that the bed sits directly on the floor.

The small size of the Paris apartment probably doesn't bother the designer since he can get away to his farmhouse in Normandy for a little more space.

The designer was creative from a young age and said it started with painting.  After that came fashion and interior design.  "There is no limit to creativity.  I have shaped a world in order to surround myself with an environment in which I feel good," he said.

"Interior decoration must not stifle the people who live in it.  For me, the setting is always in equilibrium, in harmony with the people who live in it." The designer says he likes to mix "eighteenth-century, the Nordic style of the 1950's and 60's, Scandinavian design and a little touch of ethnic, often from North Africa or India."

His favorite material is "old wood or wood that has acquired a patina through time, together with silver; a very natural, unvarnished side combined with a refined touch, but one that ages with the years.  Always, this idea of time."

Marcel Marongiu had his own line but the link to his website doesn't work so I'm not sure if he still designs under his own name.  He does design for the house of Guy Laroche in Paris.  It's nice to know he has such a gorgeous place to get away from it all and recharge his creative batteries.  I wonder if he likes visitors!  

Photos from Dressing the Home and Marie Claire Maison

Joyeux Bastille Day!

> One of the main reasons that Stefan and I visited Paris last year was to make a pilgrimage to Versailles. It is one of the most gorgeous places on earth and definitely worth the trip. Although I posted many photos of Paris, I never actually posted any of my photos from Versailles. It was so special that part of me wanted to save them for myself and since I took over 1000 photos that day, organizing them was a bit overwhelming. But seeing as it's Bastille Day, I thought it might be a good time to post some of them. All of these photos were taken outside of the chateau and illustrate the breathtaking beauty of the architecture. One of the things I missed after returning to New York were all of the amazing sculptures and carvings on the buildings. Everywhere you look is something special and unique. Hope you enjoy them!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic