Where to Go in Paris Besides the Maison & Objet Exhibition?

The International interior design, décor and gift fair Maison & Objet will take place in Paris from January 19 to 23, 2018. For professionals, this is one of the most important events. Where to stay and what to do in your free time? We found out from Olga Shapovalova.

Olga Shapovalova is a designer and graduate of the 'Details' school, founder of O-Deco Studio. My choice is Le Roch Hôtel & Spa Paris, designed by fashion designer and experienced interior designer Sarah Lavuane. The hotel is located not far from Tuileries Garden. The exact address is 28 rue Saint Roch, 1st arr.

All 37 rooms are styled as 'typical French apartments'. The focus is on a rich color palette. In some rooms, caramel shades and geometric prints dominate.

In others – all attention is drawn to the stunningly fashionable color Le Bleu Sarah by Sarah Lavuane. Queues form at Parisian paint stores for this color. Sarah herself describes it as 'vibrant, fresh and calming at the same time'.

Where to visit? Head to the new Louis Vuitton store on Place Vendôme (2 Place Vendôme), in a building restored and renovated by architect Peter Marino!

The interior concept references the first house store, which opened in 1854. Skillfully weaving together old and new, Peter Marino recreated all the room interiors using historical craftsmanship techniques and French architectural materials, integrating them gently with ultra-modern design.

The floors here are XVIII century restored flooring, the ceilings are five-meter high, the façade is historical, designed by architect Jules Ardouin Mansard of Versailles Palace.

Historical finishes are complemented by a large amount of glass, light-toned stone and wall cladding executed according to traditional methods.

Also, make sure to visit the Yves Saint Laurent Museum (5 avenue Marceau), which opened in September 2017.

Pay attention to the master's personal studio – everything looks as if the couturier took a moment break and will return soon.

The ideal place for shopping is the FLEUX store. Here you can find original gifts, home décor and designer furniture.

Spending the evening ideally at Experimental Cocktail Club (37 Rue Saint-Sauveur) – one of the best bars in Paris. It's not just easy to find, but a small sign on the door will indicate you've arrived. This ultra-modern place has few tourists, yet here you can meet progressive local residents.

The dazzling interior was designed by Dorothée Meilichzon – designer of the year according to Maison & Objet in 2015.

I suggest having dinner at LOULOU restaurant (107 Rue de Rivoli), located in the Museum of Decorative Arts. Just make sure to book a table in advance! By the way, the restaurant was designed by architect Joseph Diran.

What can't be missed in Paris? Of course, the five-meter sculptures by renowned architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers in front of the Pompidou Centre, created by Xavier Veilhan.

The artist's works are spectacular and vibrant, made from stainless steel with polished surfaces. The artworks are painted in green tones to reflect the color scheme of the Pompidou Centre during its construction.

Must-see – the exhibition Irvine Penn at the Grand Palais in Paris (254/256 rue de Bercy), opened to celebrate the centenary of the photographer’s birth. All photographs presented at the exhibition are original prints made by Penn himself.

Finally, take a walk through Le Bon Marché (24 Rue de Sèvres). The department store invited Argentine artist Leandro Erlich to create several installations, the most striking of which is the famous escalator that looks like a croissant.

By the way, January is sales season, don’t forget to leave some space in your suitcase when packing for Paris.

Also read:

• 6 Tips for First-Time Visitors to Maison & Object
  
• Design Guide to Winter Amsterdam
  
• Paris: Interesting Design Places to Remember