The
"Salle de bain de maharadjah" (Maharadjah's Bathroom) by
Joseph Dirand was bigger than most studios in Paris and I would even say bigger than some one bedroom flats but it's always good to dream and this room is perfect for dreaming in that gigantic marble tub or on that méridienne.
A vintage Louis Vuitton grooming case displayed in the bathroom. Louis Vuiton was one of the sponsors of the AD showhouse and this particular room. AD magazine explained that Monsieur Dirand used 1930s Art Deco as inspiration for the bathroom which was eventually dedicated to Indian Maharadjas, Louis Vuitton's star clientele during the 30s.
Close-up of the marble tub lined in black mosaic tiles
Large Italian shower in what looks like Calacatta marble flanked by two mirrored x benches
Console in black iron
Close up of mirrored vase on console
Gorgeous méridienne by French furniture designer
Marc du Plantier, whose work can be found for sale on websites such as 1st Dibs. It was the only piece of furniture that brok off from the black and white color scheme although the structure echoed the gold fixtures in the shower and vanity sink.
Look at that beautiful upholstery work.
The attention to detail went right down to the baseboards and electrical plugs.
Vanity sink in marble with brass colored fixtures
The drainage on the vanity sink was very unique. I would be curious to see how well it actually functioned since there did not seem to be any visible incline on the vanity sink to allow easy drainage of water. Anyway, I realize that these shows are really an exerise in creativity for the designers and it is always fun to see what the designer conjure up. This was definitely one of the those cool looking design elements that make you wonder if it would translate well into daily usage. Has anyone seen this used before?
There was no mistaking that the
"salon en adobe" (adobe living room) by
François-Joseph Graf had a strong African influence with his use of lots of tribal graphics and patterns. A beige looking colored wall coloring (reminded of the color on carboard boxes) was used to tone down the classic architectural proportions of the room but you can still see the classical influece in the symetrical layout of the furniture. It's not my aesthetic but I have to admit that the room was beautiful and the furniture made me want to sit down and hang out for a while.
In addition to the color scheme, the lighting really set the mood in this room. It was really well thought out.
Double door using symbolism from the Maasai community. The red shape is very similar to the shield used by Massai warriors but can also be found in other tribal cultures such as the Zulu although I'm no expert so don't quote me on that.
There were two window benches like this that flanked the console with the statue that can be seen in the next picture.
Great use of pattern and texture everywhere. This rug was beautiful.
Detailing on the back of the chairs surrounding the sofa.
Each the chair backing had a different finish and fabric pattern but it all fit well together because of the limited color scheme of the room and the dark colors used on the soft furnishings.
The dramatic entrance to
Rose Anne de Pampelonne's "Chambres d'éclipse" lent an exotic flair to her two rooms that actually exhibited a much stronger asian infleunce. However, I have to admit that it was the doorway that called my attention and lured me in to what is my second favorite rooms of the show. I'll show you my favorite in Part III.
The first room had a very masculine feel to it whereas the second room was more feminine.
Sculpture at the end of the small room but what really caught my eye was the window treatments. The fabric used for the curtains and shades was exquisite. Below a close up of the curtains. I would have loved to photograph the shades so you could see the work on it. It looked like cruppled carboard from far away.
I don't really know what you would call this piece of furniture, a daybed, but it was an amazing piece all in marble.
Another photo of this piece from the side to show you what is really spectacular about it. I cannot imagine what it took to get this thing upstairs. It must weigh a ton.
Spectacular mirror hung above the arch right before you entered the second room which had a more feminine vibe.
Another type of méridienne /daybed that Mrs. de Pampelonne explained to a woman standing next to me was created by an Irish designer whose name I didn't get. The wood was beautiful and the craftmanship on this piece was amazing. I believe that it was priced at approximately 85,000€ from what I heard. What a conversation piece. I also loved the graphic design on the rug.
The room had many interesting wall coverings and accessories that I would have loved to photograph but there were so many of us in there it was impossible to get a good shot. It's too bad because flanking the entrance to this door were two screens covered in mother of pearl.
The mantle of the fireplace dreassed up with another unique mirror. The walls were finished in a metallic wall treatment. I don't know if it's a wallpaper or if an actual wall treatment was applied. In any case it made me think of the texture of lava when it hardens and turns to stone.
I took a photo of this lamp because it was so unique. The three bulbs are encased in a glass bubble but you can't really tell until you get up close.
What I liked the most about de Pampelonne's rooms are her use of unique accessories like the mirrors and scuptures but also the richness of the colors and fabrics. Her rooms were modern but not cold. It's hard to put into words the style because it was so unique. I honestly don't think you could categorize what she created.
