A Few Cute Apartments In Paris

 

A typical Chez Vous apartment, designed by Myra Hoefer.  Chez Nous has the best looking apartments for tourist rental.

 

There are so many furnished apartments available for short time lease in Paris, one wonders are there any apartments left for the Parisians?   Myself, I love staying in a hotel – the more stars the better, but the ability to do that does depend on how good business is that month!    There’s nothing better than room service, high thread count sheets, marble bathrooms, and newly refurbished décor (unless you are talking about NYC with its bedbug infestation!  Yuck!!!)     Still, apparently lots of tourists prefer to stay in apartments while visiting Paris.   The reasons vary but mostly, you feel like you actually live in the city as opposed to being an obnoxious tourist.   Prices for the better apartments aren’t necessarily cheaper than a hotel, but room service charges can add up quickly, turning a reasonable hotel rate into one that rivals the national debt.   Staying in an apartment alleviates that problem.

I love looking at the available apartments, there are so many that you can quickly kill an entire day fantasizing about which apartment would be the one you would choose.  Some are fabulously beautiful.   The rental company, Chez Vous, has without a doubt the prettiest ones – decorated by San Francisco interior designer Myra Hoefer – their apartments are cuter than most of our houses with their flowing, luscious taffeta curtains and clean, slipcovered sofas.   Go here to pick out your favorite  Chez Vous home away from home.

Other good sources are Paris Perfect, Paris Prime Rentals, Paris Luxe Apartments, and Alacarte Paris Apartments.    While there are thousands of available furnished apartments for tourists – beware, most are not fabulous or even pretty!   The furnishings in many are awful, old, and just not appealing - they are desirable solely because they are in Paris.  Just like looking at real estate listings in the states, you have to wade through much ugliness to find the good Parisian apartment listings.    . 

Despite looking at a lot of mediocre rentals,  I did find quite a few I loved.  Unfortunately, most I liked had photos that are too small or blurry to show here, but I did find a nice selection with larger images.   Below are some of those apartments that made me want to go pack my bags and fly over this weekend.   Enjoy!

 

APARTMENT 1:

Yes!  I love the icy blue/gray interiors in this grand apartment with its beautiful hardwood floors and elegant moldings.  This listing is from Haven in Paris, which has quite a few luxury listings.

I love the beautiful taffeta curtains.  Three bedrooms and bathrooms – at just 5,ooo Euros a week.

Lots of white washed furniture – you can tell it was recently remodeled.  I love the grand entry hall.

I guess someone could sleep on the day bed too?

One of the three bedrooms.  

APARTMENT 2:

This studio apartment is located on Ile Saint Louis, an island in the middle of Paris.   Special Apartments has the listing. 

The building is 18th century (my favorite!) and the stairs make me wonder if there is not an elevator?  Many buildings do not have elevators, so if that is a concern, be sure to check that detail.    Other important details to confirm – washer dryer, dishwasher, WiFi connection, and television.

This is a really cute studio which was remodeled a few years ago.   The wall between the bedroom and living room is open. 

I love the original stone walls and the windows are beautiful.   Notice the niche shelf in the stone wall.    The sofa is a sleeper.

Nice for a couple or a single person traveling alone.  

APARTMENT 3:

Remodeled by an architect/decorator, this one caught my eye because it seems so authentic looking.  Listing HERE.

 

The building in on the Right Bank and is 17th century!  The décor is really attractive.

 

 

Beautiful taffeta curtains and antiques, such as the armoire.   Love the fireplace.

 

There is only one bedroom, but the sofa is a sleeper and there are two bathrooms.

 

The courtyard. 

 

 

APARTMENT 4:

This is actually not an apartment, but a private hotel!  Located in a 15th century house, it sleeps 10 people – so bring the whole family.   If not, the bedrooms can be individually rented.  Totally refurbished and restored,  the house is filled with French antiques.  It is located on Rue de Montmorency in the Marais district. 

 

 

That fireplace!   I love all the antiques!  A chef comes with house, as does WiFi.

 

Beautiful tapestry.   Notice the old marble floor. 

The iron bannister is beautiful.

 

Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Another bedroom.

 

There are a total of five bedrooms in the house.

 

 

Another bedroom with antique rugs and venetian styled wallpaper.

 

One of the modernized bathrooms.  For more information, go HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  APARTMENT 5:

This apartment is located in a 17th century house that was once owned by a noble family and is now an historical monument.  Listing is HERE.

 

Gorgeous stairs with marble floors.  The apartment is on the nobile floor – or the 2nd floor.

 

It is filled with French antiques and is very elegant, not trendy at all.   There is no gray painted furniture found here.

 

This is what I think of when I imagine how a French family lives. 

 

A glimpse into the bedroom through the open doors.  Love the chilled champagne waiting!

 

There are three bedrooms.  This is probably truly the dining room.

 

The other two bedrooms are in a loft area – not quite as grand, but still charming.

 

 

Wow.  The view of the River Seine from one of the smaller bedrooms.   Does it get any better than this???

 

 

 

 

APARTMENT 6:

Many of the apartments are furnished with trendy painted faux antiques –  furniture from Blanc d’Ivoire for example.  This apartment has recently been decorated with the trendiest of the trendy.  Still, it is very cute!

 

The apartment is located on the Left Bank.  There is one bedroom and elevator access.

The kitchen opens to the living area. 

It is all very tastefully done and is very clean looking.    When looking at pictures, be sure to check if there is carpet rather than flooring.  Carpet tends to get dirty looking quickly.

The bathroom is incredible with its curved, tiled wall.

 

Breakfast outside!  More information is HERE.

 

APARTMENT 7:

Are all the views in Paris this good?  It seems like it!!!

 

This elegant apartment is large.  A third bedroom can be rented as a studio. 

This apartment is located on the Ile Saint Louis and is surrounded by the Seine.   It has been recently updated. 

 

Overlooking the elegant dining room.

 

I love how all the dining rooms have fireplaces – so romantic.   This is so French looking!

 

One of the large bedrooms.   Gah.  Sooooo pretty.

 

A fireplace in the bathroom!  Wow.

 

 

This bedroom can be rented alone as a studio. 

 

  I could be happy with just this room!   Notice the balcony over looking the Seine.   The link to this apartment is HERE.

  

 

And finally, last July, I showed you this apartment for rent in Paris HERE.

Filled with antiques and gray  painted faux antiques, the apartment is charmingly decorated.   A few weeks ago, I got an email from a reader who actually rented this apartment after reading about it here.   She and her mother went to Paris – and she was kind enough to send me photos from their trip.

 

The reader took this picture of the café right near the apartment.

The nearby flower shop she and her mother visited.  

A snapshot of the bedroom in the apartment.   Thank you so much for sharing these!!

If you happen to book one of the apartments shown here, please send your photos – I would love to see them.

Suzanne Rheinstein: Our Guest!

 

We’re back!   The Skirted Roundtable took a long  Christmas break, but just before we left we welcomed Suzanne Rheinstein as our guest.  Yes!  THE Suzanne Rheinstein.   She was in NYC at the time, visiting her daughter and staying in her fabulous apartment that is featured on the cover of her new book:  At Home.   What a way to start the new year with a guest like Suzanne.   She’s such a southern lady – born and raised in New Orleans - she is all about genteel manners and living a wonderful, full life surrounded by family and friends and beautiful things.  And believe me, she knows beautiful things.  Her NYC apartment and her Los Angeles house are both gorgeous, filled with beautiful 18th century antiques and wonderful art and accessories.   She believes in buying good things one at a time rather than just filling up a space with cheap copies.    Her houses certainly reflect this philosophy.  She and her husband have spent a lifetime collecting, editing,  and upgrading.    Each piece is exquisite, not an ashtray out of place.  It’s all so lovely, yet  tastefully understated.    Her house in L.A. is welcoming and inviting, not stuffy or precious, while her NYC apartment is sophisticated cool and calm, an oasis above the noisy city. 

I’ve been in love with Suzanne’s aesthetic for years and years.  Her L.A.  house appeals to me – in all its versions.  Over the years it has changed and evolved and at each stage it just gets better and better.    On the Roundtable, we talked with Suzanne about her homes, both of which are featured in her newly released book.   For me, At Home is one of the better décor books released this season.   It’s filled with her best projects, some of which have never been seen before.   Some of the houses that have been previously published are shown recently updated, including  her own L.A. house and the Virginian farm whose publication first put Suzanne on the map.    But, it’s her NYC apartment that is the standout of the book.  Seriously, it is the most gorgeous place I’ve seen in a long time.   The luscious grisaille mural in the living room, which was painted by Bob Christian is nothing if not mouthwatering.   During the interview,  Suzanne talks about that mural and Bob’s work and the apartment in general.   Without a doubt, it’s her finest work to date. 

If you have the time, be sure to click over to the Skirted Roundtable HERE and listen to the discussion!

 

I love watching the evolution of Suzanne’s L.A. house.   For instance, in the early 80s, her living room had persimmon walls and green curtains with pink striped upholstery.

 

 

Today, wearing its summer slips in blue and white stripes, the room is now painted a soft green.   All the furniture is the same, moved from room to room.  Much came from her and her husband’s family.  Design is generational in both families.   Suzanne learned about decorating and gardening from her mother and grandmother.    Her husband shares her love of art and antiques and their vacations are spent looking at both.  (Sorry this is such a poor scan!)

 

And here, without the slips. 

 

 

Another big change is in her bedroom – here in the 80s and 90s, her bedroom was all English chintz to perfection.

 

 

As it is today shown in At Home:  it’s more French, soft and romantic with a painted floor by Bob Christian.  

 

 

 

Another view of her bedroom today.  Something tells me that fur is not from Pottery Barn!!!!   It’s gorgeous.

 

 

The Virginian farm:  over the years Suzanne has remodeled the house, but the master bedroom always remained the same.  Why mess with perfection?    So, it  was a surprise to see the room completely redone in At Home.

 

 

The newly refurnished master bedroom with twin canopies.

 

 

Another surprise in At Home:  the Virginian master bathroom, never seen before.  Notice the Bob Christian mural behind the gorgeous urn.  And notice the faucet coming out of the pedestal.  That tub!!!  

 

In At Home, another never seen before interior:   The “Garden Office” located in a small cottage on the Virginian property.  Notice the striped floors.  And I love how Suzanne put the urns on the table and not on the columns.  I love the French library ladder.  Doesn’t every garden office need one?

 

The living room in Suzanne’s NYC new apartment – seen both in At Home and Elle Décor.  The heart stopping grisaille mural was painted by Bob Christian.  Isn’t it beautiful????  You will never find anything trendy in Suzanne’s decorating.   I love this quote of hers, talking about Axel Vervoordt:  “The man has the most amazing sense of art and style. I believe his influence will endure long after the flood of China-made Belgian-esque furniture has ruined that look for many people.”  Hear that Restoration Hardware?

 

 

Christian also painted the floor in the foyer.   The Swedish sofa is to die for!  I love the blush peach pillow against the taupe fabric.  Those sconces!!!!

 

 

A corner of the living room with inherited chairs. 

 

 

 

The library.   Notice how beautiful the fireplace mantel is!  I love the touch of peach. 

 

Twin canopy beds are the focal point in the master bedroom which moves from the mushroom color to peach.   I love how she uses the French chair as a book stand!

 

To listen to the Suzanne Rheinstein interview on The Skirted Roundtable, go HERE.

 

To purchase At Home, click on the book’s title below:

 

At Home: A Style for Today with Things from the Past