Today, let me take you inside a palace: Le Royal Monceau! It's not the most luxurious hotel that we have in Paris (yet?!) but the reason why I'm posting about it now, is that today (Thursday) all its furniture (including paintings, chandeliers, silverware, bathrobes...) will be auctioned by the famous French auction house Cornette de Saint Cyr. And guess who went there especially for you to take photos?! It was fun actually, even if it was really crowded (I had no idea so many people would be interested in the place). FYI, the Royal Monceau will be closed for more than a year after this, enough to let famous designer Philippe Starck turn it into the next hypest place to stay in Paris ;)
Le Royal Monceau. Now we know where the next PDP picnic will be. The Royal Suite should do nicely. Ha ha!
ReplyDeleteI agree Tall Gary, but perhaps for the post picnic party? Eric, who is this a portrait of, do you know? The interior of the building looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIncredible video tour of the building and objets d'art. Great music to accompany also. Makes one drool. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteEric, nice video and another interesting photo. Le Royal Monceau has a very elegant web site with some nice special effects. Rates area little on the OMG! side so I don't think I'll be staying there soon.
ReplyDeleteNo Kelly, I don't know about this lady. I just liked this painting and the place where they put it.
ReplyDeleteDavid. Yes, it's a palace, so it's expensive...
Is that 20 euros for an 1876 oil portrait with that lovely frame?
ReplyDeleteBuy that for me, please, Eric. And, at that price, I have enough left for the entire Art Nouveau entry to the hotel. Put in a bid for me, won't you? There's a good man.
The interior and furnishings are gorgeous. After looking at Phillippe Starck's site, I fear Le Royal Monceau is dead and will be resurrected as Los Angeles hipster. Time will tell.
I guess Guille will be very interested in this post.
ReplyDeleteHumm.. Philippe Starck, I am curious to see what he will turn this place into. I think he rocks!
PS: There will be a French Film Festival in Rio during the next week and guess where the ators and directors will be staying? There will be a press release here which I´ll have to help organize and actor Vincent Cassel will be there. Trop cool!!
LOL tall gary.
ReplyDelete(begin bitching here) I see that the first rooms start out at 460 Euros (about $12,000 US dollars by now?) but then if you add breakfast, it's another 32 Euro (for the cheapest breakfast). Wow. That's OK, by the time we're ready to go to the next picnic, it'll take just as much money to fill up a SMART's gas tank. (end bitching here)
I got $25 on the lady by the stairs. $25 going once, twice...
ReplyDeleteWhat did you bid on, Eric?? The interior of this palace looks like the interior of the Jacquemart-Andre. It has a very similar staircase - so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGuille is going to like this post. She told me once that she wanted to be an auctioneer.
ReplyDeleteOoh la la! This is my kind of shopping! But isn't it a little heartbreaking? I'm sure Starck will do something interesting, but I hope Jeff's prediction doesn't come true.
ReplyDeleteHaving seen some of the items up for auction I can't believe that the remodeling they will do could improve on the luxury offered. I just hope they don't they don't go too far in another direction.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw the photo I thought it was my own foyer....I'm kidding of course. My banister is pure gold, not wrought iron.
ReplyDeleteKisses to Eric!
Maison Zen is more my speed. Have any of you Paris-dwellers been there before?
ReplyDeleteSomehow I am sure your hotel's auction will yield far more interesting items than last week's yard sale at the Sheraton Yankee Trader's yard sale at the beach!
ReplyDeleteDo you have pictures, Ft. Lauderdale? I'd love to see it!
ReplyDeleteOoh. Oooh. How exciting. I love auctions. An auction in a palace? How positively perfect. I'll have the painting, the chandaliers, the dinner service, the marble steps look great too lol. The bathrobes? Well that depends who inhabited them before. Eeuuww. Maybe not those. Eric, did you buy anything? Did you stay for the duration? Were you wearing the grey suit? Ok, blush, that last question was naughty....sigh... :)
ReplyDeleteMe too, Lynn. Not too excited about the sheets.
ReplyDeleteOh Dear -- I hope Jeff isn't right -- but I fear Phillippe is going to Starck it to Le Royale Monceau.
ReplyDeleteThe painting looks familiar to me also. Anyone recognize it?
Another "ooh" moment when I first saw the photo, Eric. You are a breath of fresh spring Paris air in my day. Merci, merci.
Carrie..."but I fear Phillippe is going to Starck it to Le Royale Monceau." FUNNNNNNYYY!!!
ReplyDeleteHotels (or palaces like this) make me think of Vivien Leigh who said, "I need something truly beautiful to look at in hotel rooms." Of course, in a Groucho-does-Rhett-Butler-kind-of-way we might hear,"Frankly my dear I don't give a euro. I'd have to give all that I got to stay here." However, I do like elegance in a hotel, but I don't like the elegant prices that go with them. But it's always nice to maybe consider a weekend stay. In any case, I think it's going to be an apartment next time I'm across the pond. I didn't realize Guille was into auctions. Is she a fffffast ttttalker? Anyone? :-)
Eric -- wonderful post, beautifully composed photo, and a whole assortment of interesting links! If you ever ask yourself if it's worth the time and effort -- please ask no more. Laisse moi dire simplement: merci, merci, et encore merci.
ReplyDeletetall gary -- wow -- GF and the LOL-worthy comment of the day.
uselaine -- GREAT link!
Carrie -- re M. Starck: SO well put, and I hope not too.
coltrane -- you crack me up, comme toujours.
Tall Gary...GF! Wow! Way to go Big Guy!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool place!! I think it is gorgeous now! I hate it when a designer gives a place a "new look" and it turns out horribly wrong for the building that it is in, or the rest of the place doesn't even belong in the same city block! I really hope this lovely place will still be lovely when M. Starck is finished. I'll take a few of the smaller chandeliers, if at all possible! :)
ReplyDeletePS. We'd love to see pics when it is completed, Eric!
I could move into that Royal Suite and never leave! I adore the bathtub.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that they are auctioning all of those beautiful pieces. I hope you managed to buy at least something, Eric!
Pour ceux qui sont intéressés, Esther (de Jerusalem) a magnifiquement traduit l'article écit en hébreux paru dans Ynet.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you interested in knowing what the article published in Hebrew in Ynet says, Esther from Jerusalem made a superb translation (in French)
they don't offer free nights before closing ? Too bad I was in the mood to try the royal suite but not for 7000 $.
ReplyDeleteI am a little scared of the result of Stark's job on the hotel ! I like his job as a designer but knowing where the new customers come from (China, India, ...) I am anxious.
Eric, Guille et Corrine, ma réponse à vos commentaires sur le post d'hier.
Eric, the photo and write up are interesting - but that's only what's expected from you ;)
ReplyDeleteBut I really loved the word 'hypest' - and judging from the comments I guess that's the best word to predict M.Starck's work!
Save something for me!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat place and the photo and slideshow is,as always, the best. The music was a bit unexpected, I thought something baroque was coming up - but your choise is really good.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a bit sad to tear yhis place upside down. I think Philippe Starck is great BUT, as some of you mentioned, I can also have my fears that he will "ruin" the place.
But no doubt about it;it will be THE place in Paris afterwards.
Eric, merci beaucoup for another exquisite photo and wonderful video! I'm with Alexa -- I hope you have at least some idea of the joy your efforts bring to so many.
ReplyDeleteCount me in with those who find it difficult to imagine improving upon what looks like perfection in the hotel's current (well, until today, that is) state. It looked PLENTY luxurious for little ole me. :) And by Parc Monceau, no less!
I too love the word hypest, though i think this is an Eric word only! I wonder if he meant it would have a lot of hype around it, or whether he means it will be the hippest (trendiest) place to stay! Either way, i think we should get a room... lol.
ReplyDeletePieces like that don't have price. Great view of that classic painting !!
ReplyDeleteA big hug
Valery
Barcelona Daily Photo
Aaaaaaah this post is for me!! Thanks Eric!
ReplyDeleteThe auction will begin this evening, I'll probably have a look. No I won't buy. I prefer selling. Hehe.
Maître Cornette...too tight red pants and charming company hung to his arm (a preference for under 30 and beautiful women). He's a phenomenon.
Lois, yes I want to be an auctioneer and I already work in two different auctions, one in Paris, one in Reims. I had an auction art sale last sunday.
It definitely pleases me...
Jeff, unfortunaltely, "20" is not the price but the lot number... ;) I guess the prices are not affordable. The table (in the video) is amazingly decorated!
I find that it's a little bit sad to sell all the furniture, I just hope that Stark won't create something too modern, a "place to be".
Aaaaaaaaah (again!), Eric, I was far from the computer since yesterday afternoon and didn't see that you invited Marylène and I to drink a coffee at Porte de Vanves (yeah, soooo sexy LOL). I was free until now, I'm living home for university. It would have been great to see you and Corinne. I'm so disappointed. :(:(:(:(
ReplyDeleteI wish it could possible an other time.
And Marylène, sorry for the weather. ;)
You're leaving home for uni, Guille? Or do you mean leaving uni for home, for the holidays?
ReplyDeleteTall Gary, that link was pretty funny!
ReplyDeleteThank you Eric, I love this photo. I love all that it evokes. I want to go there right now with all of the PDP people and have a party before anything changes.
A girl can dream....LOL
She looks perfect in that spot.
ReplyDeleteYour news actually made me sad. Old world can be so much more charming and enchanting than anything modern.
A very nice pic ... you have followed all of the recommendations for great photography ... something to look at in each corner.
ReplyDeleteMerci, Mlle. Reine de Auction, for the correction. Ah, well, I have to settle for only the entry of the building.
ReplyDeleteMa Reine, tell us what you see after attending.
You captured the dismantling atmosphere very well, Eric!
ReplyDeleteIt must be a huge challenge for the designer to come up with something even more extraordinary than the one they are replacing...
ReplyDeleteGood luck to Philippe Starck!
Tomate Farcie
I loved your bitching ;)
Esther, I have really enjoyed reading your traduction in French of the article. Thank you VERY much and congratulations too to Kinneret, the author, who made a superb report of her meeting with Eric. No doubt she was well-advised ;). A good job by you three!
ReplyDeleteConcerning today post, for sure it must be very interesting to see that!
But Philippe Starck's site is worth seeing too! So creative and apparently still free. A famous French not born 200 hundred years ago! Pretty noticeable!
Guille et Marylène, on vous a regrettées mais ce n'est que partie remise!
Tall Gary, congrats on GF!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I just had the chance to go to the link. I disturbed all my colleagues 'cause I was laughing so loud.
I understand that perfecting the special balance and harmony of muted grays and environmental dirt took 5 years of transcontinental meetings with Brad Pitt, who was in charge of aesthetic development, and 780,000 euros to achieve. Worth every penny, I say.
Guille -- I am always so impressed with your English. So I have to be obnoxious and correct you. You said, "you invited marylene and I to drink a coffee ..."
ReplyDeleteIt should be Marylene and me -- because you wouldn't say "you invited I to drink a coffee" (ou "tu as invite je de boire un cafe" non plus).
People in America make this mistake all the time (I still can't understand why), but I don't want you to make it, because your English is just too good.
Sorry -- forgive me, but I really had to do that.
Autre sujet: How long have you been working as an auctioneer? (Again, impressed!)
Corrine, Guille et Eric, pas de regrets pour ma virée à Paris, sauf pour le café porte de Vanves (un must) et la météo, une belle pluie qui a fait tomber à l'eau (OK c'était facile) ma soirée en bords de Seine.
ReplyDeleteReine Guille devait être désunie!!!
Mais c'est vrai que l'été, ce n'est que demain, si... si... j'ai vérifié sur un calendrier !
Finalement, ce fut Cluny. A voir.
Je ne sais pas si c'est à cause de "Sagan" mais j'ai particulièrement aimé une statue en bois de St Florian qui m'a fait irrésistiblement penser à Jacques Chazot ! Si vous passez par là, j'aimerais connaître votre avis.
Guille, je suis tout à fait novice sur la formation et les compétences requises pour devenir commissaire-priseur. Est ce vrai que chacun a un peu sa spécialité ou bien doit tout connaître sur tout ?
ReplyDeletePerhaps I should refer to myself as tallergary today because my head is just a little bit bigger with the several kind compliments.
ReplyDeleteI can't help wondering if Starck's remake will be as timeless as what he will be replacing, or will it be merely a fast-fading spark in the dark, the brightest streak in haute couture for the fleetest of moments? Perhaps it will come down to whether or not they will use the finest materials and the highest-quality workmanship. Anything less will betray the hotel in time. Any shortcuts they use will be shortcuts to hell. That is unless they are aspiring to a more middle-brow ambience. "You'll have to carry your own bags. The escalator is over there. Oh, wait one moment Monsieur et Madame, I see that you are staying in one of our premier luxury suites. Here are two styrofoam cups. You will find a pot of stale coffee on a hot plate in your room from which we allow you as many as one free cup apiece."
Carrie, that's funny. Nine years ago I went to an exhibition of Liberty Style works that included the ""Brad Pitt Collection" at the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum.
Eric,
ReplyDeletej'vais pris contact avec vous en octobre alors que je lançais mon site de roman photos de street style à Paris
il a bien évolué et le vôtre continue de séduire plus que jamais
je serais heurex de lire votre opinion sur mon travail photo et mes valeurs humaniste puisque j'essaie d'humaniser l amode en montrant que les vrais gens sont plus beaux, plus stylés et plus généreux que ceux des podiums.
au plaisir de vous lire
Kamel
STYLE AND THE CITY - PARIS
Eric -- did you have your Batman costume on when you snapped this shot. Your shadow is clearly visible on the floor to the left of the painting.
ReplyDeleteC'mon masked man...fess up...that's how you get around so fast and get us so many great shots, isn't it!? :}
Last day of the shy spring we had to have this year. But each post on PDP has been a true sunny time for me.
ReplyDeleteToday, water may have been a Theme Day : Eric is "sous l'eau" et Marylène's evening plan is "tombé à l'eau"!!!! ;)
Well, time to go to bed for me now, before your posting Eric, which is pretty rare! Mais une fois n'est pas coutume... surtout pas! :)
Eric
ReplyDeleteYou have to start posting your pictures a little earlier. These late nights are killing me!
uselaine,
ReplyDeleteI liked the Maison Zen site. Close to Promenade plantée, Le Train Bleu in the Gare de Lyon which comes reecommended by Tomate so you know it's hot stuff, and uh, uh; hmm, you'll find things around.
The place itself? No idea. I did enjoy a day trip to the Zen Tassajara Hot Springs in the Carmel Valley, however
That's good to know, T Gary. It has that simple, clean, self-catering, unfashionable combo that my resources would require if, in fact, I could ever find my way to Paris. My Californian soul just might be able to blend in to the walls and observe safely without causing offense.
ReplyDeleteAll I know of Tassajara is their bread cook book. We do have the City of 10,000 Buddhas up here. The place used to be the State Mental Hospital at Talmadge.
The Gare de Lion is what I took to get to Vaux le Vicomte. It wasn't just the inspiration for Versailles, Louis the 14th imprisoned for life Nicolas Fouquet and seized, er, commissioned Fouquet's architect Louis La Vau, painter-decorator Charles Le Brun, and landscape architect André Le Nôtre. All of whom were instrumental in creating Versailles.
ReplyDeleteVaux le Vicomte has a fascinating, if not disturbing, story. And it's gorgeous.
I really should take this opportunity to put in a plug for Vichy Hot Springs while we're all here and pretending to yawn and go to sleep. It's the only carbonated hot mineral springs in America, according to their press. Was visited by Mark Twain and Jack London.
ReplyDeleteLynn, I was going to Uni, I had to meet one of my teacher who gave us the first marks (I get a 15,5/20 in Political Sciences yeaaaaah!).
ReplyDeleteJeff, I'll try to send you a link to show you the lots.
Alexa, don't feel bad to correct my mistakes, I NEED it! I think I know why I said that: I used it as if I used only "you and I".
I don't work as an auctioneer! I work during sales auctions, I take phone bids, orders bids (ordres d'achats?) and things like that for two years.
Eric, WAKE UP!! The post scheduling didn't work tonight!! Once again. ;) Mais comme dirait Corinne, une fois n'est pas coutume, n'est-ce pas?
You know, the Blogger post scheduler didn't work for me last night, and I don't know what triggers the problem. But manually hitting the publish button fixed it. Strange.
ReplyDeleteHey, where's the Camera Man? Don't blame him, really. If I were in Paris, I would be in some jazz club.
ReplyDeleteuselaine: Just bookmarked Vichy. Here's Tassajara.
ReplyDeleteGuille: It seems that art auctioneering would be a good way to combine law (contracts, insurance, liability, forgeries, stolen works, and the like) with your interest in art.
Just posted! 1:50 am... Gee!
ReplyDeleteAnd we love you for it Eric! We knew it was just a matter of time. 8^)
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