Guest Picks: The Paris Apartment of Your Dreams
Years ago on a tree-lined street in Paris, for a few short weeks I lived someone else's life. I left my small children in the care of their grandparents and ran away with a man to the City of Lights. While he attended business meetings all day long, I explored the city. While he worked, I played. Pretending I lived in that glorious city, each morning I practically skipped out the door to explore what Paris had to offer. Lunchtime required a stop at a nearby boulangerie and patisserie, where I grabbed a few morsels for my picnic lunch in the Jardin des Tuileries. I savored each bite as I watched the locals stroll through the park. People often asked me for directions, mistaking me for a local. Using what little French I knew, I would politely tell them I hadn't a clue what they were saying. They often looked as if they wanted to pat me on the head like a small child or dog, but they didn't. Shaking their heads they would walk off, freeing me to focus my attention on my happy pursuits that involved French bread, cheese, pastries and people watching.
Afternoons were spent in the Musée d'Orsay, Notre Dame or whatever struck my fancy. As the shadows lengthened and the day began to wind down, my thoughts turned again to French cuisine. After a short rest, my companion and I changed for dinner and met up with friends at a small yet charming place off the beaten path, far from tourists. Each glorious evening meal surpassed the one from the night before. I'm not sure if it was the wine, the Parisian lights or the French accents, but I felt like I was living a dream. My partner for the adventure was romantic and exciting; I had to remind myself it was the same person I had been married to for the previous 14 years. After our leisurely meal, which often stretched on for hours, we would end the day back at our hotel room and fall into bed exhausted but smiling.
I often dream of what it would be like to live in Paris, even down to the furnishings of my compact apartment. Here I've curated a list of items that I would use in my space to give it a young, vibrant French feel. It has a mix of old and new, lots of silver and gold, and just the right amount of chippy paint. Close your eyes — well, not until you finish reading this — and picture a Parisian apartment with soaring ceilings and creamy paint on heavily detailed paneled walls with lots of scrolls and curves. There are 8-foot French doors on either side of the exterior living room wall facing the street. Swing open the doors to reveal a very tiny balcony, but ooh la la, the view! You can see the breadth of the long boulevard as Parisians practically float by below, the ladies' scarves gently waving in the breeze. The sun is low on the horizon, and you can hear the sound of children playing in the distance. You consider heading to the Champs-Élysées to grab a crepe from a street vendor, but instead you whip up something yourself so you can enjoy a meal at your home furnished with these goodies. — Anita from Cedar Hill Ranch
Modern Green Velvet Love Seat - $999 I love the tufting on the back of this settee. A small apartment might not have room for a full-size sofa, so this piece is definitely the way to go. Pair two of them together for double the fun.
Peacock Paige Round-Back Dining Chairs - $399.98 "Yum" is the best way to describe this French round-back chair. It's curvy in all the right places, but the color — oh my — adds drama and a sense of fun. How could you not have a great time sitting in this chair while having a lively chat with friends?
Teal and Calla Green Scottish Mist Lumbar Pillow - $29.99 I love bringing in a pattern that ties together the predominant colors in the room. This is an old Celtic design that really captured my attention, and it combines the turquoise and the sage green of the two pieces above.
Jade Embellishment Pillow - $34.95 I like to echo colors already in the room, and this blue adds depth to the turquoise. I love how the pattern adds a sense of drama.
Courbe Storage Ottoman, Timur Seafoam - $387 Parisian apartments are known for being quite tiny, with very little storage, so this ottoman can do double duty as storage and seating.
Green Flounce Pillow - $29.95 Texture, color and fun combine to make this pillow the perfect complement to the settee and chair, à mon avis (in my opinion).
Turquoise Plush Pillow - $19.95 Placing a few of these pillows on the settee will bring in some more blue, repeating the blue from the French chairs. All of these bright colors will keep the apartment from feeling dreary in the winter.
Faux Fur Throw, Mongolian Lamb - $119 If the apartment is drafty, a throw will come in handy — and why not make a statement while you're at it? I would love to be curled up under this throw by the fire, perusing Houzz on my iPad. What, did you think I was going to say Proust?
Arched Cathedral Table With Tin Top - $3,052.50 I love, love this console. It looks like it was made form bits of an ancient church. I think I could design an entire room around this glorious piece. It just looks like Paris to me.
Wine Jug Vases - $295 These fun demijohn bottles with French graphics would add a cool factor to any room. They convey a sense of age, but the gold lettering is fresh.
Golden Harp Table Lamp - $385 This lamp evokes the feeling of a very old architectural element. I love the look of the linen shade too.
Palais Sconce - $225 I'm thinking lots of glam and glitz, so when I saw this sconce, I knew it would be perfect in the living room. I'll take two, please!
Royal Silver Urn - $199 Considering how dark it can be in a Paris apartment during winter, I think some sparkle is in order. This piece will do the trick nicely. Filled with green pears or apples, it not only would hold an afternoon snack, but would bring in a bit more green to the room.
San Marcello Blue Glaze Lamp - $292.60 It's another lamp, I know, but I think I'll need it. My dream Paris apartment is old, with very little overhead lighting. Besides, I prefer table-lamp light anyway. It's so much cozier, don't you think?
Merino Chest - $1,599 My friends know me for my love of chippy, rusty, crusty things, and this French Bombay chest has just the right amount of chippiness. With great lines and extra storage, it would work beautifully in this Paris apartment.
Eloquence One-of-a-Kind Antique Mirror, Square, Deep Gilt - $1,760 You can't furnish a Paris apartment without a fabulous French mirror — all Paris apartments seem to have at least one large French mirror that stops traffic. This oversize antique is definitely my splurge piece.
Celine Side Table - $329 The lightness of this end table would help keep the small room feeling open and airy. The shelf provides much-needed storage, and the gold tone would add richness to the room.
NM Exclusive Ethiopian Tabletop Crosses - $175 These stylized crosses appeal to me for their beauty and charm. Sitting on a console, they would garner attention as guests enter the apartment.
Savois Side Table - $199 The small scale of this table works perfectly with the small apartment. It would provide a place where I could set down my evening glass of wine or morning cappuccino.
Metal Magazine Holder - $99 When I am not looking at Houzz, I love to peruse design magazines. I think this would be the perfect place to store my stash by the settee near the fireplace. Now, where are my slippers?
Tufted Linen French Bench - $449 I'm not sure where this will fit in the room — but where there's a will, there's a way. The tufting, the curve of the seat and the gorgeous legs make this bench the pièce de résistance.
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