it’s shocking, really
what an eye!
leave it to one of my brilliant blogging buds to discover something fascinating on the previous post. (thanks Houppette)!
she suspected that the second apartment was that of the legendary decorator, Madeline Castaigne, and as incredible as it may seem, she was right! although most of the apartment’s been redecorated, (how dare they)! this one architectural feature is too obvious to overlook. (the one element they should have redone. just kidding. sort of)!
you can’t miss it
how crazy is that? and it’s just been a wonderful past hour or so digging into this legend’s life, one i really didn’t know much about till tonight. i got sucked in to that time, that place…
she also had a store, Le magasin d’antiquités de Madeleine Castaing, (à l’angle des rues Bonaparte et Jacob)
Juin 1960, Roger-Viollet
it’s closed now but i still can’t wait to go by it, as a former shopkeeper it’s fun to see what it is now and just take in that corner. sotheby’s published a book is full of shots of tho idyllic days in paris, doing biz on rue jacob no less. guess i know what i’m putting on my wish list ;p
for other posts about this outrageously lovely lady visit these beauties:
Madame Madeleine Castaing’s Bath
visualvamp, the french woman’s bathroom
and for the pièce de résistance, one of my best re-discoveries of the night is this blog, aesthetes lament.
the author is an expert on everything and has great insight and gorgeous pics. all her other posts are amazing too, you will get lost if you go tho, so beware! i fell for the pics of the mirrored beds. (i was fool enough to manufacture them for a minute, so they fascinate me. guess i was channeling, in this case above, ruth cummings)! and this mirrored bed below belonged to dorothy paley. it’s easy to get distracted over there…
anyway back to madeline’s…can’t we all chip in and stay there?
xo c
Charlie replied:
That is amazing! I love the photos, this book would be a great weekend escape, have to get it!
September 24, 2008 at 8:07 am. Permalink.
My Mélange replied:
I always love coming over here for some delicious Parisian eye candy in the morning :) Thanks for satiating my sweet tooth!!
September 24, 2008 at 11:51 am. Permalink.
Joy replied:
Yes. :) Send me my part of the bill! lol
September 24, 2008 at 4:34 pm. Permalink.
theparisapartment replied:
ok it’s official, 24 people at $500 each! looks like we could all fit if we go in shifts!
September 24, 2008 at 7:48 pm. Permalink.
betsy replied:
But I -love- the fireplace! And had they redone it, you would never know who had walked the floors of that flat so many years ago. I’m sure Madeleine would be so pleased that women still think she is fabulous after all this time. One never knows what impact one has on the furture.
September 24, 2008 at 7:59 pm. Permalink.
theparisapartment replied:
you’re so right, and i was totally kidding, i would have kept it exactly as it was. i think places like that should be preserved and revered, like chanel’s is. i wish yves st laurent’s places could stay as is too.
September 25, 2008 at 12:38 am. Permalink.
le petit cabinet de curiosites replied:
I’m a big fan of her work ! She was the queen of bon gout …
She is a wonderful source of inspiration , for me
September 25, 2008 at 9:22 am. Permalink.
Houppette replied:
Oh good grief! Look what we’ve missed!
http://www.artdaily.com/indexv5.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=22524
We can only hope that it will be shown again, somewhere, someday!
September 26, 2008 at 2:40 am. Permalink.
The Peak of Chic replied:
I adore Castaing, especially her fabrics. (I don’t know whether she actually designed the fabrics herself, or she used certain ones over and over, but regardless they’re gorgeous!). Emily Eerdmans is writing a book on Castaing that will be published by Rizzoli in 2010!!
September 29, 2008 at 2:48 pm. Permalink.