Opéra-Concorde-Etoile: The Champs open their treasures to you
Published on 5 September 2022
Near the Champs-Elysées, luxury décor is taking over the neighborhood, just as big names in fashion have done.
Paris is a celebration, and when Paris celebrates design, the Champs-Elysées is decked out in the colors of Paris Design Week. In this traditional home for luxury brands, the world of décor is right in tune. On Avenue George V, Luxury Living creates ultra-glam home worlds for Versace and Dolce & Gabbana. At the start of the avenue, around the Rond-Point, auction house Artcurial is preparing to sell off an exceptional collection of Brazilian design, worthy of the greatest museums, on Tuesday, September 13. An anonymous European collection assembled major pieces over 15 years from Zanine Caldas, Joaquim Tenreiro, Jorge Zalszupin, and Oscar Niemeyer, dating from the 1950s through the 1970s. The exhibition will be open to the public starting on Saturday, September 10 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hôtel Marcel Dassault.
More contemporary, yet just as exotic, flooring maker Consentino, along with Maison Marcoux Mexico, will be exhibiting the creations of designer Raul de la Cerda. His Héritage collection, where each piece will be produced in a limited edition of 8, is made from red clay by artisans in the Mexican region of Oaxaca.
At the top of the Champs-Elysées, the Place de l’Etoile is encircled with private mansions built in the 19th century under Napoléon III. It’s in one of these “Hôtels des Maréchaux” (The Marshals’ Mansions) that you’ll find luxury furniture brand JNL, on rue de Presbourg. This Belgian design producer, which is yet to open a showroom in Paris, will install five different decorative settings within this typically Parisian building, with a view over the Arc de Triomphe.
Luxury Living
On rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, you’ll find Savoir Beds, the ultimate in British chic for bedding. Their “Model #2”, created for the Savoy Hotel, is legendary, as is the craftsmanship of its artisans, who only work on bespoke projects. Here, the mattress toppers are made of horsehair, sheep’s wool, pure cashmere, and even Mongolian Yak hair, if needed. When you visit this institution, you’ll discover their latest creation to date: the Marble bed, with its headboard upholstered in midnight-blue Rubelli velvet, trimmed in Carrara marble, and including integrated brass nightstands and sconces…
Still dealing with exclusives, THG, the French bath-fittings maker and a Living Heritage Enterprise, presents their latest bathroom collection by Charles Zana, Boulevard Haussmann: The Hamptons. This architect was inspired by New York skyscrapers such as the Chrysler Building for their well-built chromed taps. THG also has collections in Lalique crystal, where gold-stamped swallows take flight, as well as signature names such as Gilles et Boissier or Stéphanie Coutas, who took part in this stylistic exercise.
In the category of very French national treasures, you must visit Féau Boiseries on rue Laugier at least once in your life. In a cinematic setting, the Féau family collects and preserves wood paneling from every era starting from the 17th century. For the second year running, Féau is partnering with The Invisible Collection to exhibit contemporary designs within its legendary warehouse. It’s architect Aline Asmar d'Amman, of Lebanese descent, who will be showing off her latest creations.
Another national treasure is the Galeries Lafayette! Built in 1893 at 40 Boulevard Haussmann, the building possesses extraordinary Art Nouveau staircases. These have just been decorated by artists Gaëlle Gabillet and Stéphane Villard from Studio GGSV. “Stairway to Heavens” is an installation of dreamlike panoramas built to last, enhanced with custom lighting fixtures in poetic shapes.