Project: La Maison Champs Elysées Hotel
Designed by Maison Martin Margiela
Client: La Maison Champs Elysées Hotel
Location: Paris, France
Website: www.maisonmartinmargiela.com
The famed fashion house Maison Martin Margiela takes part in redesigning La Maison Champs Elysées hotel in Paris, each of the rooms in this design hotel has a unique look.
Gilded Lounge
Artistic pretence is given perfect expression in this suite, whose walls are covered with wallpaper made from black and white photographs of the gilded lounge on the second floor. The perspectives and ornamental richness of the Napoleon III style are thereby reproduced in trompe-l’œil fashion throughout the suite. In the bedroom, a large bookcase filled with books covers the wall above the bed. In a continuation of the library theme, the walls of the WC are lined with a vast array of magazines.
Lost Mouldings
These three suites, with their wooden mouldings that start and finish at random, like a work in progress, offer various shades of white, from very light grey to light beige. A large central space with sliding side doors separates the lounge from the bedroom, enhancing the feeling of privacy. The luxurious, modern bathrooms have a bath and Italian style shower, the mirror above a large double basin is lit by a series of light bulbs, like a dressing room.
Curiosity Case
Like a carbon cube, the walls are painted black and the parquet oak floor has been stained black. In the lounge, a wall is devoted to a curiosities case that displays various objects and texts. The dominance of black in this suite creates a delightful atmosphere that manages to be hushed and voluptuous at the same time.
White Cover
The lower part of the classic Haussmann walls with picture rails, surrounds and plinths breaks with the upper part which consists of large panels of stretched white cotton. The pictures, objects and furnishings are delicately covered with white cotton. A series of Ural alabaster lights on the bedroom ceiling become visible in the evening and frame a broad mirror, creating a magical setting.
Junior Couture
Works of art, the five Junior Couture Suites, one of which is on two levels, open the doors to a wonderful world where time seems to stand still. Skilfully decorated in subtle "trompe-l’œil", their paintings lend an audacious touch of modern design, creating volume and light.
The small duplex is split over two levels, giving it an unusual character and exceptional charm. The entrance includes a large dressing room and opens onto a staircase that goes down to the bedroom. Opposite the bed, a large imaginary landscape has been specially printed on the wallpaper and is reflected on the entirely mirrored wall opposite. The fineness of the materials and clever use of space make this charming suite a wonderful world that inspires the imagination.
Deluxe Couture
Decorated by fashion designer Martin Margiela, these six superb rooms are inspired by the art of trompe-l’œil. The light beige wool carpet is printed with a Persian rug in shades of red offering a delightful trompe-l’œil bedside rug. The wall above the bed is highlighted by three squares of painted light, giving the illusion of sunlight streaming in from the adjacent windows. A skilful balance between precious, natural materials and a graphic style create a magical atmosphere of light and immense calm.
The White Lounge
The lounge uses symmetry and artistic pretence to create a thoroughly designer atmosphere: a black and white trompe l'œil mirror effect is achieved with a woollen carpet that portrays a classical French ceiling while the ceiling has itself been covered with a wall paper printed with the same ceiling.
Cream-coloured traditional French panelling cover the walls, suggesting a non-existent past with traces of pictures and their lighting. Shimmering coffee tables imitate the Margiela 'Group' sofas, covered in white cotton and linen.
The Cigar Bar
This incredible space is a negative of the bar, in which white has become black. The traditional French panelling and very darkly stained oak parquet floor seem to have been burnt, giving the impression of a catastrophe. The gentle lighting is diffused by small ceiling lights and black bottle-lamps. Big dark brown leather armchairs blend perfectly with the black flooring to create a voluptuous, intimate atmosphere. Sink into one of them and savour a cigar in this typically English setting. (This space is exclusively for smoking cigars!)
The Patio
