a girl can dream
can you believe this is a photo for an apartment for sale in the heart of paris?!
i’m cleaning off my desktop and these pics are from a great real estate site that can best be enjoyed when you have some time to play: lodgis.com/en/paris
what a coat of paint can do.
i could live with this much outdoor space
and only one window
if it had a view like this…
3 windows sure is nice! all of these apartments are on the website in the under 250k category (euros, actually)!
actually i can’t imagine the next two are that price but many of these here are even in the 100s!
have you ever wanted a pied-à-terre in paris?
anyway what’s more real than a dream? stop by the site for a fun diversion if you get a chance.
have a great night doing what you love!
decorating in paris: take two
hi guys! hope you’re enjoying a bit o’ RnR and watching your favorite guilty pleasure! you may remember about this time last year when i was asked to spruce up an apartment in paris. of course i was thrilled and when the owner said i should ask the bloggers for their opinions and naturally, i did just that. you also may recall that the owner got really offended by the suggestions. she thought we said she had bad taste and told me to %#@ off!
i was bummed of course for the misunderstanding but also cause it was a dream of a lifetime! well, another chance has come along. this particular client just purchased a two bedroom in the 5eme. we’re going to meet in the spring and decorate floor to ceiling in a week.
and (thank god) this one really does have good taste (these are before pics. i know you know but someone may not)!
she said: I really want to maintain the traditional style of the apartment. I have a good idea of how I’d like to furnish it. I’d like an elegant, cosmopolitan, warm, comfortably romantic Parisian apartment. I like a mix of old and new.
of course we’re shopping for it all at the fleamarket so everything’s right at our fingertips. (it’s almost cheating).
the kitchen and bath will get renovated before i get there.
but the bedrooms, living and dining rooms are ready to go.
ok, with this shot you may have to really use your imagination. oh, who am i kidding? i think we all see the potential here, even with this decor. more soon, bonne nuit!
hot fun in the summertime
hi everybody! hope all’s well in your world. is the summer flying by for you?
it sure is for me. i haven’t posted lately cause there’s been so much action here in miami beach it’s hard to keep up. my goal was to stay here for a good long time, enough time to get bored to death but it’s just not happening. not only do i have to leave soon for nyc, but i’m not close to being over this place.
i’m sorry’ve been so bad about visiting and responding but i vow to get over to say hi and check on you. i know you know how it is…everything starts to pile up if you take your eye off the ball. even blogging…from answering comments to resizing pics and recapping a full day it can become overwhelming and then you do nothing.
basically i just wanted to check in and send a little south beach your way. it’s truly heaven on earth and i thank god every day for letting me figure out i should live here. i’ve been on a crusade to tackle recycling cause tragically, they just don’t do it and no one enforces the law. it’s really a renegade city in so many ways which on one hand is a relief from the traffic cops and meter maids of nyc, but on the other hand, it’s a kind of a free for all that gets taken advantage of.
anyway in my spare time i’ve been checking out the luxe market here, the w just opened last week and i got a grand tour. they don’t like you taking pics but i got a couple. but you know me. i’m one of the renegades!
it was positively stunning from the lobby to the loggia, just wildly plush and every surface was exquisite.
not to mention the views. now if only i could get the 10 mil together for this penthouse. want to all pitch in?
this would be our view! well powerball is up to 75 mil. i don’t normally play but as they say you gotta play to win!
well, i better get back to it. i have lots of visiting to do. thanks for all your incredible comments on the last post. you’re making me want to open up shop again… maybe a very posh coconut stand!
oh and before i go wanted to thank melissa of reverie daydream (reverie-daydream.blogspot.com). she sent me this gorgeous candle as a thank you gift. she’s a fabulous fellow blogger who if you don’t know, now you know. she’s living a dreamy reverie with her beautiful family. thank you mel! have a great night everyone!
waking up in haven
good morning! it’s my first in this glorious apartment. i honestly feel like a princess, it’s so bright and open and just gorgeous!
the mouldings, the doors, every detail has been considered from the colors to the furniture, marble baths, parquet floors, technology, and the linens!
did i mention the linens? the closet is full of the softest sheets, fluffy towels and down comforters.
i haven’t met the owners but their collection of art, books, cd’s and music is incredible. there’s everything from art books and guides to jean moreau films and all sorts of series.
this is definitely an apartment that can satisfy both a man and a woman’s taste. i took tons of photos and will add some more later as i have a bunch of meetings all day.
outside it’s a new hood for me, the 2e. it’s one of the more understated areas but has so much going on.
this apartment is on an absolutely silent street but the house colette lived in is right around the corner.
there’s a pedestrian area right nearby and you can see the old and new converging seamlessly.
even though i walked for miles yesterday i’ve only touched the surface of course.
i’m headed out now for something to eat. there’s a fantastic passage down the rue called Vivienne. it was full of life last night but i was too tired to enjoy it. now i’m about to meet with audrey and anthony to talk about photographing the apartments, starting with this one. this book is an enormous undertaking but i’m up for the challenge.
rue montregrueil
passage vivienne
park around the corner
this is what i mean about mixing the old and the new. i love the sense of humor and efficiency of these window boxes! ok well i have to get ready, so more to come! i’ll bid adieu for now!
what am i doing here?
when i should be working? saying a quick hello. hello!
hey guys! i’ve had guests for a few days so it’s been beyond hectic. in those four days everyone’s changed their travel plans!
trying to book this trip has kept me on my toes to say the least.
at first the search was for a 4 bedroom, then 3
truth is i was worried more about the other people’s accommodations than my own!
so now i’m the one without a home in paris yet. how typical is that. i’m like the cobbler cliché.
well these are a couple of contenders but it’s still up in the air. with april in paris still so popular, i’ll probably still have to switch apartments. that part i don’t mind.
i don’t mind any of it, the search, the book research, the pics! but it is cutting it close and i do have the rest of my life to live.
oooh i get weak over turquoise as you know!
these are some more of the apartments we’re going to shoot for the book.
this is the one i’ll most likely get, god willing:
don’t ask me why but i love this room. i’ll get linens at the flea.
this wonderful site is one i’ve recommended over the years on my shopping page. they’re going to be selling the apartments so i’m not sure how much longer this will be up.
going through the pics tonight reminded me how beautiful this place is.
well, i just wanted to check in and share some pretty pics of my cyber excursions.
the days are passing quickly so it’s back to work on itineraries, the sample chapter, arranging the girl project and countless other chores on my self imposed to do list including finding something to wear!
if you’re free to kick back and surf, have a great night and happy sunday!
keys to the castle
castle, chateau, crib, call it what you will but the good news is we’re going in! tomorrow night hgtv is going to air a new season of ‘keys to the castle‘ where they take us inside these living fairytales.
this is one they feature, i don’t know how many we’ll tour per episode but it looks like pure bliss
check out more of the gardens here (this shot from perseverando on flickr)
below is chateau brissac, another fantasy come to life
how exciting to get to go inside!
of course i got off the track researching this endlessly inspiring topic. below is chateau d’ usse, said to have inspired Jean Perreau to write fairytale “Sleeping Beauty”. i didn’t see this one listed on the series but got pulled into it anyway.
and i just fell in love with this picture of chenonceau castle by eric rousset on flickr
maybe we weren’t the lucky ones born to live in these beauties, but staying in one is closer than you may think. for a special occasion, visit castles for rent and maybe live the dream yourself one day!
ps: special thanks to bonnie for all your help on this post with links and pics! ok back to reality in sunny san fran!
kitten confidential
hi all! just rushing out but wanted to say hey! i’m a bit scarce cause of dealing with an eviction notice left on my door last night (after coming home early from Paris to make a damn deal)! and trying to be sure i stave off the sheriff. my pittbull instincts are in full effect.
there’s a million other things closing in, including a deadline for producing a pair of chests that have to be sheer perfection for a certain ‘design star’ judge, tomorrow. *suddenly develops a twitch*
anyway it’s been hairy, thank god for this little creature with gummy bear paws who makes it all ok.
xoc
life in a photo op
no matter where i go
there’s something happening
every detail
has been considered
the fleamarkets are full of history
the shops can’t help themselves, they’re just classic
doors
window displays
and the windows themselves
we’ve been up one side and crossed the other but haven’t even skimmed the surface. tomorrow we’re going to look at some real estate
just for fun. what else is there in paree but fun?
and then it happened
i admit it’s been a charmed life down here but truth is i’m a realist and know that eventually the same stuff happens to all of us. still i never really believed someone would knock on my door this morning and tell me the house i’m renting has been foreclosed on…and i have to get out toute de suite with 5 days till Paree! Honestly it was a few hours ago so i’ve had time to think about it and thank god i have options and friends. but what about everyone who doesn’t? has anything happened to you or friends of yours? quel nightmare!
love what you’ve done with the place
how cool is this couple? they bought an apartment in paris and just renovated it, doing what they wanted and having a ball even though it wasn’t all easy…now that’s a dream come true!
here’s another cutie i found tonite: cobblestay.com/trinite.
i’m going through all pics on my laptop cause i have way to much stuff! turns out i’m storing almost 20,000 images. it made me realize that i could keep and share them at the same time thanks to the blog. so in no particular order i’ll be throwing out some random stuff each day. this is a book i’ve been wanting to look through. all the pics were taken with polaroid cameras and i think none of the rooms had been styled.
this beauty is just the opposite and leafing thru the book online is just as much fun as in person. well, almost
love the colors of these rooms…tangerine and marmalade chairs
some of the pics are so refreshing
it sure doesn’t take much to have a lot!
