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Heimtextil Trends 24/25: New Sensitivity

Heimtextil Trend Board approached their 24/25 textile trends differently: from trends being the driver to transformation being the driver.  The focus of Heimtextil’s 24/25 edition is addressing change at scale by presenting different transformative textile innovations under the headline New Sensitivity.

New Sensitivity transforms broadly and deeply and invites us to consider what we bring into the world and how it can contribute to a balanced nexus with the hope to inspire, leave an impact, and thus accelerate the fundamental transformation for the home textiles industry.

Sensitivity often relates to touch, sensation, and spirituality, but it is also about showing consideration, empathy and respect. In this context, sensitivity means considering the impact when making a decision or creating a product. Understanding how natural ecosystems work and prioritizing balance as the default are key to maintaining a sensitive way of working. Another underlying aspect to understanding New Sensitivity is solidarity. This solidarity means considering our relationship with each other, technology, and nature as linked and functioning as a nexus. The three areas – nature, technology, and people – are undergoing significant transformation, and each affect and reinforces the other.  New Sensitivity, encourages the textile community to address the future thoughtfully and with consideration and to embrace New Sensitivity in home textiles.

Specifically, we are seeing this shift occur across three different approaches to a more sensitive world of textiles: bioengineered, plant-based and technological. All three directions show different pathways. The bioengineered way leverages the power of nature by engineering natural ingredients for use in the textile world while maintaining a close relationship with nature’s atomic origins. The plant-based process showcases new ways of creating textiles from sustainable and resilient plants or by-products of plant growth. Meanwhile, the technological method illustrates how technology can support the transformation of textiles in more circular ways, reduce environmental impact and improve human well-being.

COLOR

A sensitive approach to coloring methods is expressed by a dynamic yet subtle color palette created through natural pigments deriving from the earth, as traditional coloring processes are brought to the next level through innovative bioengineering technology. In pursuit of creating colors that evoke emotions in our senses while at the same time respecting our values in protecting the environment. This New Sensitivity includes acceptance of natural color flows, as colors may fade with time or morph into new colorways.

 

Bio Engineering

To a certain degree, bio-engineered textiles represent a fusion of plant-based and technological textiles. Bio-engineering bridges nature and technology and transforms the way textiles are made. They can be divided into two directions: fully bio-engineered and biodegradable textiles. In the production of fully bio-engineered textiles nature-inspired strategies are adopted. Instead of growing plants and extracting their fibers, textiles are made from the protein, carbohydrates, or bacteria in corn, grass, and cane sugar. Manufacturing involves a bio-molecular process that creates filaments which are made into yarn. The sustainable advantage of bio-engineered textiles is that they can have some of the same functionalities as synthetically produced textiles, while still being biodegradable because of their natural origin.

Technology and Textiles

Technology can support the transformation of textiles through the use of different methods: upcycling and recycling of textiles, textile construction, and textile design. Due to decades of production, textiles are now a material we have in abundance. Developing technologies for recycling textile waste and methods for upcycling textiles increases the circular usage of existing textiles and thus reduces the need for virgin production. Furthermore, old textile construction techniques also offer pathways to sustainable solutions: For instance, using knitting technology instead of weaving for furniture upholstery produces less fabric waste.  Alternatively, weaving allows the creation of several colors using only a few colored yarns. Textile Design Thinking is another method that addresses critical issues such as energy usage and durability of natural fibers and enhances these through technological textile advancement.

Plant Based Textiles

Plant-based textiles mean that the fibers are derived from something that grows rather than being produced. The sustainable advantage of plant-based textiles is that their origin is natural and, therefore, more able to recirculate in existing ecosystems. They can be divided into two groups. The first group of textiles are made from plant crops. New resilient crops like cactus, hemp, abaca, seaweed, and rubber offer new sustainable textile solutions. Because of mechanical extraction, they can grow despite climate changes and require fewer chemicals in their development. The second group consists of textiles made of plant by-products which are leftover raw materials from production such as banana, olive, persimmon and hemp.

Future Materials

We are beginning to look beyond sustainability to regenerative design – but what does this really
mean and how do we define regenerative textiles and materials? With human activities already causing major harm to the planet, current efforts around sustainability don’t go far enough to tackle the environmental crisis we are facing. Regenerative design is committed to putting back better – creating holistic creative practices that restore or renew resources, leave a positive environmental impact and help communities thrive.
For Heimtextil 2024, design futures consultancy FranklinTill is curating a global showcase of cutting-edge textiles and materials to illustrate the principles of regenerative design. By celebrating pioneering designers, producers and manufacturers at the forefront of regenerative design, we can facilitate and accelerate change, enabling both people and the planet to flourish.

Where to Buy the Best French Beauty Products

Wondering where to shop for beauty? Here’s a guide to the best beauty stores in Paris.  Susan and I make a point to visit one or more French pharmacies to stock up on our favorite products. It’s a must do!

The Galerie Lafayette

The Galerie Lafayette is an upmarket French department store chain. Its flagship store is on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris but it now operates in a number of other locations in France and other countries. Aside from their impressive clothing selection Galeries Lafayette has one of the largest arrays of cosmetics and perfume into their famous ground floor atrium. Ornate golden fixtures adorn the traditional Parisian architecture to create the ultimate shopping location. From Chanel to Nuxe, there’s something for everyone and every budget. Added bonus, the store is also home to an incredible rooftop terrasse and several in-store restaurants. Galerie Lafayette, 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris.

Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche

Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche is the oldest department store on the Left Bank. It offers customers a unique shopping experience: preferential services, attentive advisors, and personalized assistance. La Petite Epicerie de la Beaute is the beauty department located on the ground and first floor. (I purchase my favorite perfume here.) “Our little ‘beauty deli’ always has new things on the counters with special events and surprises to showcase seasonal fashion products. The Petite Epicerie de la Beauté also offers lots of smart services to suit modern lifestyles.”Finally, Le Bon Marche offers beauty services such as make-up lessons, beauty treatments for hands and feet, and skincare treatments. Le Bon Marche, 24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris. 24S

Buly 1803

Buly 1803 is a sort of apothecary heaven. There are two shops in Paris: one in the trendy Le Marais neighborhood and one on Rue Bonaparte, right across the Seine from the Louvre. Both shops have little elegant bottles of lotions, soaps, and oils lining their dark-wooded walls, with prices that reflect the quality of the products but that won’t break your travel budget, either. Buly 1803 is one of the most perfect beauty shops in Paris if you’re looking for a truly unique French souvenir.

 

Check out the monogramed lip balm, Baume des Muses. Made only with natural ingredients, its chock-full of moisturizing, repairing and protective organic ingredients.  Buly 1803, 45 rue de Saintonge, 75003 Paris.

 

 

 

 

Oh My Cream

Oh My Cream is the best beauty store in Paris that focuses on clean and natural beauty products. For me, Oh My Cream is the Sezane of beauty or the French version of SpaceNK. This French beauty store offers a curated selection of beauty products based on products’ ingredients and efficiency. Oh My Cream offers local labels like Esthederm, Joelle Ciocco, Leonor Greyl alongside international brands like Aurelia Probiotics, Antipodes, Dermalogica. They also have a selection of their own products that adhere to their company’s three-step skincare routine. Free skin diagnosis, masterclass, and skin treatments are available at the Parisian boutique. Oh My Cream, 17 rue Debelleyme, 75003. en.ohmycream.com

Joelle Ciocco

Joëlle Ciocco is an internationally recognized French beauty expert who shares the best French beauty tips for flawless and healthy skin. She’s the creator of the Centre de Soins Joëlle Ciocco in Paris. You can consult her about beauty advice and any kind of skin concerns. She formulates beauty products with customized solutions to meet the needs of each unique skin type. She’s an epidemiologist –expert of the skin-, a biochemist and she is working closely with L’Oréal Group as a Global Facial Expert. Centre de Soins Epidermologue®, 8 Place de la Madeleine 75008 Paris. joelle-ciocco.com

Biologique Recherche

Biologique Recherche is a French beauty brand founded 40 years ago by a biologist, a physiotherapist, and a doctor. The goal of the brand was to develop formulations for professionals who have been dissatisfied with existing products. Biologique Recherche skincare products are formulated with a high concentration in botanical, marine and biological extracts, and without artificial fragrances. You might have heard of Biologique Recherche for its well-known P50 Lotion. If worths going to the Biologique Recherche Spa located on the Champs-Élysées. Biologique Recherche, 32 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris. biologique-recherche.com

La Maison Guerlain

The Guerlain House located on one of the most famous avenues in the world -the Champs-Elysees- is the ultimate luxury beauty shop in Paris. The construction of the Guerlain House took place in 1914, led by the architect Charles Mewès, who was also the architect of the Ritz in Paris and the Carlton in London. I think the Guerlain House is the best place to explore the brand. In the same place, customers can visit a fragrance gallery, a luxurious spa, and an exceptional restaurant led by Michelin-starred chef Guy Martin. La Maison Guerlain, 68 avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris.

City Pharma  ( near our hotel!)

It could seem strange to add a pharmacy to the list of the best beauty stores in Paris. In France, pharmacies are the ultimate health and beauty destination where you can find a full range of affordable and effective beauty products. If there are pharmacies in every street of Paris, the biggest and the least expensive of all is City Pharma. In this beauty store, you can find all the French beauty products that are either unavailable or way more expensive abroad: Bioderma, Caudalie, Avene, La Roche-Posay, and more. Make sure to have a list ready, and be prepared to queue. City Pharma, 26 rue du Four, 75006. Metro: St-Germain-des-Prés. pharmacie-citypharma.fr

Needlepoint and Quilting Shops

For Devotees of Needlepoint and Quilting – Two Terrific Shops

By Diane Stamm   Via Bonjour Paris

When the average person walks into a shop, they see the merchandise displayed and the people behind the counter. Little do they know of the lifetime of experience, talent, devotion, and sheer hard work that have gone into making the shop a success. There are two shops around the corner from each other just off the Quai de Montebello on the Left Bank in the Paris 5th whose founders fit that mold. The first is Tapisseries de la Bûcherie, located at 2, rue du Haut Pavé, which is devoted to needlepoint; and the second is Le Rouvray, located at 6, rue des Grands Degrès, which is devoted to patchwork and quilting. Both shops were founded by women who are recognized as among the best in their respective métiers.

Tapisseries de la Bûcherie is owned and run by Madame Dominique Siegler-Lathrop. The shop derives its name from its first location on rue de la Bûcherie, where it was opened in 1990. It moved to its current location in 1995. Madame Siegler-Lathrop designs many of the needlepoint patterns for sale in her shop, and hires artists to paint her designs on canvas. She currently has over 2,000 designs in her catalogue. Madame Siegler-Lathrop, who was born in France, lived in the United States for 42 years and speaks English like a native. She thinks that needlepoint in the United States is different from the needlepoint she creates; in the United States, needlepoint is more a craft, whereas she considers her canvases more painterly and artistic. In fact, she considers needlepoint “painting with wool,” and the execution of the design is of the highest artistry and quality, as is the all-important wool she sells in her shop – 450 colors in all. It is made in Aubusson, the French town famously known for tapestry manufacture in the 17th and 18th centuries. Madame Siegler-Lathrop has authored two books on needlepoint. Her first, Les Secrets de la tapisserie à l’aiguille (The Secrets of Needlepoint: Techniques and Stitches), is unfortunately out of print in English, but her second, Tons et Textures (Tones and Textures), coauthored with Jeanne Mougenot, is due out in January. The text will be in both French and English. The website provides information on the decorative styles of the patterns the shop carries, which include French Medieval, Louis XIII through Louis XVI, Empire, and modern. Motifs include people, animals, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. The kits the shop sells contain everything needed to complete a needlepoint project – canvas, wool, needles, and explanations of stitches. All are also available on the website. Madame Siegler-Lathrop gives lessons, which can be arranged by contacting the shop, and the website contains several instruction videos that will help beginners get started and more advanced needlepointers complete their projects. Classes include the necessary materials – frame, painted canvas, wool, needles – and instruction. The class that teaches the French technique of needlepoint is 200 euros, and will give the student a solid foundation for making cushions, pillows, chair covers, and footstools. The class that teaches the Gobelin and Hungarian stitches is 150 euros, and will enable the student to needlepoint smaller items such as box covers, book covers, panels, and purses.

Le Rouvray is owned and run by Madame Diane de Obaldia, who is American but who has lived in France most of her adult life. The name of the shop is derived from the name of a farm she lived near in Normandy – Le Rouvray – which itself is derived from the medieval French word, rouvré, which means oak. Madame de Obaldia grew up in Michigan and learned sewing from her mother, and from her grandmother in Tennessee she learned patchwork, which entails sewing “patches” or pieces of fabric together to make a larger project, and quilting, which is sewing the quilt layers together. She also modeled at Chanel, Pierre Cardin, and Dior. She had never dreamed of opening a patchwork and quilting shop, but life sometimes has a way of showing us what it wants us to do, and through a series of circumstances and luck, which you can read about on the shop’s website, Madame de Obaldia ended up not only opening such a shop – forty years ago – but also becoming one of the catalysts of widespread interest in patchwork and quilting in France. Le Rouvray carries several hundred high-quality French, American, English, and Japanese fabrics, including a number designed by Madame de Obaldia. They are all 100 percent cotton and come in various weights that can be used for curtains, clothing, furniture, handbags and, of course, quilting. The price is 18 euros (about $23) per meter (39 inches), and widths vary from 45 to 60 inches. Besides fabric, the shop sells kits for quilts, at 150 euros (about $188 dollars), and handbags, at 26 euros (about $33), and other decorative objects. All are available via email or telephone. Madame Obaldia works with several designers, and articles about them all appeared this spring in three quilting magazines – “Quilt Mania: Le Magazine du Patchwork,” “Les Nouvelle: Patchwork et Création Textile,” and “Magic Patch.” Because of the location of these shops – on the Left Bank just across the Seine from the southern flank of Notre Dame – both Tapisseries de la Bûcherie and Le Rouvray receive visitors from all over the world, testament to the worldwide interest in needlepoint and quilting. Because of the reputation of these shops among aficionados, many people make the shops a destination on their visit to Paris. Whether you are a beginner or expert needlepointer or quilter, or just looking for a unique gift for someone who is, these shops should be on your Paris itinerary. Tapisseries de la Bûcherie 2, rue du Haut Pavé, 5th In France: 01 40 46 87 69 06 03 47 80 87 International: + (33) (0) 1 40 46 87 69 + (33) (0) 6 03 47 80 87 Metero: Maubert Mutualité (Line 10), Saint Michel Notre-Dame (Line 4), Cité (Line 4) Bus: 24, 47, 63, 86 Open: Mon–Sat 2pm–7 pm Call or email for special appointments Website (in both French and English) Le Rouvray 6, rue des Grands Degrès, 5th In France: 01 43 25 00 45 International: + (33) (0) 1 43 25 00 45 Metero: Maubert Mutualité (Line 10), Saint Michel Notre-Dame (Line 4), Cité (Line 4) Bus: 24, 47, 63, 86 Open: Tues–Fri 1pm–7 pm; Sat 2pm–6 pm

 

Let’s Talk Textiles

As you explore Paris on your free time during our Paris 2023 trip don’t overlook the fabulous fabric shops near the Montmartre and Sentier.

If you are heading for Montmartre and Sacré Coeur leave the Metro at Anvers, and walk through a maze of little streets towards the Basilica. Here you can do a little shopping in the many discount fabric stores in the area. The fabric district in Paris is called Marche St. Pierre, and is at the foot of Montmartre (below the Sacre Coeur Basilica). The textile stores are marked on the map, and their names appear below – I’ll be printing this page and sending it to you so you can take it on our trip to Paris.

The Marché St. Pierre is housed in a building at the foot of Sacré Coeur gardens on rue Charles Nodier and is devoted entirely to fabrics. Closed all day Sunday and on Mondays until 2 pm, there are apparently some real bargains to be had. The Marche itself is an experience, a bustle that reminds one of the Halles when they were still in Paris, something straight out of a Balzac novel. For a more sedate experience with still a lot of choices, try Reine across the street, which is particularly good for a leisurely perusal of all the good European patterns. Be aware that these stores run entirely on fabric closeouts – what you see is the last of what anyone can get, so don’t come back the next day having made up your mind and expect to find anything you saw before, half the stock can rotate in an afternoon.

The smaller stores that crowd the neighborhood also have great bargains, but come armed with matches and be prepared for extensive burn tests, because nobody will be held to any labeling, much less any oral description. Some bargaining might however be possible, depending on the circumstances.

A             Tissus Reine

5, Place St Pierre, 75018 Paris, France

La Mercerie : Haberdashery : buttons etc

A             Anvers Tissus

6, Rue Steinkerque, 75018 Paris, France

C             Tissus d’Orsel

25, Rue Orsel, 75018 Paris, France

D             Marché Saint Pierre (Dreyfus Déballage)

2 rue Charles Nodier, 75018 Paris, France

Category: Magasins de vente au détail – Tissus et fournitures de couture

E              Tissus Lionel

5, Rue Seveste, 75018 Paris, France

F              Tassangoro Africa Tissus

39, Rue Doudeauville, 75018 Paris, France

G             Tissus Charles SARL

8, Rue Pierre Picard, 75018 Paris, France

H             Tissus Butte Montmartre SARL

5, Rue Pierre Picard, 75018 Paris, France

I               Sarl Tissus

10, Rue Seveste, 75018 Paris, France

J              Tissus Jef

9, Rue Seveste, 75018 Paris, France

Tissus Moline

1, Place Saint-Pierre 75018 Paris, France – and

1-3-5-7 et 2-4-6 rue Livingstone 75018 Paris

Sentier is the oldest textile district in Paris where abundant fabric shops and clothing stores line rue du Sentier and rue St-Denis.

Within easy walking distance of Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Centre Pompidou and the Marais, is the Sentier. Le sentier is the oldest textile neighborhood in Paris, north of the 3e near Reaumur-Sebastopol. le-sentier-paris.com Most of the stores do wholesale only (‘vente en gros’), and aren’t kidding about it. But a smattering indicate in the window that they do retail (‘vente au detail’), and you’ll get some of the most fashionable items on the planet, hot off the press. In any case, it’s worth strolling through for both the historical value and the fashion preview combined. It’s definitely one of the best places for shoe fetishists. It’s also right next to the oldest Jewish neighborhood in Paris (rue des Rosiers), and the newest gay one (rue St Croix de la Bretonnerie), so you can roll several interests into one afternoon. We recommend the rue des Rosiers for the mandatory post-shopping pastry.

Tissu Market

18, rue du Sentier 75002 Paris

Take care not to stray too far north into the 10th Arrondissement where the Boulevard St. Martin and parts of rue du Faubourg-St Denis can be unsafe at any time of day.

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Paris Taste Treats: Macarons

First, to my mind there are no two more French treats than macarons and pâte des fruits. First, for those who might not yet be familiar with these ah-may-zing delectables, a little info.

I mean, how pretty are these? And soooo good with a café au lait.

 

A French macaron consists of a layer of buttercream, ganache or jam spread between two meringue disks. The inventor of this pretty little taste treat is generally considered to be Pierre Desfontaines, a distant cousin of Louis Ernest Ladurée, founder of the famed pâtisserie. And for nearly 100 years the classic flavors of vanilla, chocolate, coffee and almond defined the universe of macarons. But in in the 1990s Ladurée began to work with Pierre Hermé, a pastry master, who developed a range of modern flavor combinations–lime and basil, olive oil vanilla, black current and roasted chestnut—that got the attention of tout Paris.

Fortunately for my addiction Ladurée now has multiple locations. And both the St. Germain (only a couple of blocks from our hotel!) and the Rue Royale branches of Ladurée are amazing to visit for their beautiful settings, and the macarons are worth buying for the packaging alone. (Seriously, you don’t want to know how many different versions of their pretty boxes I’ve collected!) But the stores are also worth a visit for the other items in the display case, in particular the scented candles, in elegant porcelain holders that make a wonderful gift. I especially love the brioche candle.

But Ladurée doesn’t have the macaron market all to itself. Today Pierre Hermé has his own pâtisseries (check out the one near our hotel at 72 rue Bonaparte) where he continues to develop amazing flavors, for example, he’s one of the chefs credited with started the salted caramel craze with his macaron buerre salé. If you decide macarons aren’t your thing, he’s also regarded as one of Paris’ premiere chocolatiers. (But chocolate? That’s a whole ‘nother post, or two, or more…)

Other macaron stops you might consider:

Carette: one of the oldest and most old-guard of the salons, Carette also offers news flavors each season. 4 Pl. au Trocadero in the 16th.

Macarons & Chocolat: Here experimental ingredients (lily of the valley anyone?) are lined up next to the classics. Chef/owner Arnaud Larher received a best-of-Paris award for his macarons not so long ago. His pistachio-cherry is a signature flavor. 57, rue Ramrémont in the 18th. So if you’re up near Montmartre…

Pâtisserie Sadaharu Aoki: “Traditional in recipe and modern in the Japanese touch” according to chef Aoki. Among the more unique flavors you’ll find salted cherry flower, yuzu and sansho, a type of Japanese pepper. 35 rue de Vaugirard in the 6th

Dalloyau: The ancestors of this company served Louis XIV at Versailles, but they’ve kept up with modern times. Dalloyau is actually a bit more comparable with Fauchon, a full service prepared food purveyor including salads, sandwiches, patés and pâtisserie. And while their macarons are very tasty indeed, I personally stop by Dalloyau to buy an assortment of pâtes des fruit, the sugar-coated jellied fruit squares that one (ex-) boyfriend jokingly referred to as “expensive jujubes.” They are absolutely NOTHING like that! The best pâtes des fruit (and I consider Dalloyau’s the best) capture the essence of fruit in one sweet little nibble. The main store is at 101 rue du Faubourg St.-Honoré but there’s also an outpost near the Grand Magasins at 35 blvd. Haussmann.

If you can’t find time to get to all these places individually, fortunately the food hall at Galeries Lafayette has outposts of almost all of these…and it’s also one of my favorite places to visit. 40, Blvd Haussmann. But Food Hall Nirvana is the Bon Marche’s Le Grand Epicerie across the street from Bon Marche, 24 rue des Sevres, and close to our hotel. Shop for souvenirs, specialties- spices, moutarde, foie gras, pate and wine grab a sandwich or sit down at any of the gourmet counters. (We love the Iberian ham and cheese spot.)

 

 

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Paris Markets: Round 1

First-time travelers to Paris are always urged to visit the famed flea market–and for most that means the Puces Saint-Ouen with its permanent halls, stands and stalls filled with an overwhelming variety of covetable goods. My first visits to Saint-Ouen (also known as Clignancourt) were just about learning to navigate the rather grotty route from the Clignancourt metro station (end of #4 line) to rue des Rosiers, where the good stuff can finally be found.

This was one my very first shots taken at Saint-Ouen and I was so excited to begin exploring…

It wasn’t like any flea market I’d ever been to…

It was beautiful, inspiring and filled with treasures…

I’ve returned several times to Saint-Ouen, awed, envious and inspired with every visit. Some of the permanent stands are amazing in terms of their displays and no matter what your interest–jewelry, fabrics, lighting, mirrors, seating and more, more, more–there’s always so much to discover. I know Grace returned several times to a vintage jewelry dealer, who specializes in costume jewelry from the 1950s, and has a few smaller chandeliers she found from another dealer now installed throughout her house. Deb is partial to a few dealers where she’s priced vintage posters, another where she scooped up a few original Van Cleef & Arpels gouaches, and yet another where she looks for vintage decorating books and illustrations. But me? I never bought a thing. It was all a little bit too pricy for the things I fell in love with and well, it just didn’t feel like a real flea market. Too settled, too permanent.

If you look long enough, you can find almost anything…

And believe me, I looked, l loved, but I never bought…

I’ve used Saint-Ouen more for visual inspiration, because some of the traders there have aah-may-zing display and presentation ideas!

From Deb: There are several favorite textile booths at Clignacourt that I always make a stop at. We’ll share more stops with you in your travel packet and on our webinar.

FOOD MARKETS

Instead I started spending my early mornings discovering some of the many fabulous food markets to be found within walking distance of my Left Bank hotels. There’s the Marché Rue de Buci, open daily starting at about 7:00 am and winding down around 2:00 pm. For our September 2o23 trip, if you only visit one open-air food market, this should be the one, as it’s only a 5 minute walk from our hotel!

I’ve always wanted to rent an apartment for a Paris trip, simply as an excuse to finally cook with some of the fantastic fresh seafood, shellfish and meats you can find at these markets.

The next market I explored was Marché Mouffetard, a bit of a longer walk, as it’s over in the 5th (metro Censier-Daubenton) It’s open every day except Monday and weekend mornings are especially lively as the many bakeries and cafés that line the street service both the vendors and their visitors.

Instead, I “settle” for trying delicious cheeses–hard and firm or super soft to runny, my goal is to try them all!

If you’re at Mouffetard on a Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, just a bit of extra walking will get you to Marché Place Monge. This is a smaller market than most of the others, but if you’re in the area, why not stop? From Place Monge, it’s not far but a bit of a wandering route to get back to the Luxembourg B station for the train up to the show.

Most markets also sell fresh flowers, plus jams, honeys and other condiments, and wonderful “french-milled” soaps. So think of stopping off at one for a wonderful souvenir!

Back in the 6th, try Marché Bd Raspail, between rue du Cherche-Midi and rue des Rennes. It’s open Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, with Sunday being a “bio” market, and if you can ID any French celebrities, this Sunday market is supposedly a celebrity draw. Also, famed French bakery Poliâne is nearby at 8 rue Cherche-Midi, and yes, it’s open on Sunday mornings.

Hey, now you know for sure that the sausage is fresh, or at least freshly cured. And if you get to market early enough, the bread is still warm.

If you’re up for a slightly longer walk in the morning before heading to the show, try taking the Pont Neuf and keep going straight all the way through the pedestrian mall of Les Halles. On the other side of Les Halles is the Marché Montorgueil, open Tuesday-Saturday 8am-1 pm and Sunday 9 am – 1 pm. Bonus points for stopping at 51 rue Montorgueil, Pâtisserie Stohrer, to pick up a lovely treat to have with your afternoon café! Then backtrack to Les Halles to pick up the B train to Parc des Expositions.

Finally, I suggest a trip to the Marché d’Aligre, over in the 12th. There’s no super easy way to get there from our hotel (my suggestion: walk to Metro Hotel de Ville, take the 1 to Bastille, transfer at Bastille to Ledru Rollin and walk the few blocks from there) but it has a old covered market, plus over a mile of food vendors as well as a rather tatty flea market set up right in Place d’Aligre.

The Marché Beauvau is a covered market at one edge of Place d’Aligre. There’s a fishmonger, several cheese counters, several different butchers, regional specialities (Italian, Asian, etc.) a flower market and a couple of counters to have a café and croissant.

But for me, in the winter time, the best part of a trip to Marché d’Aligre is a crisp vin blanc and plate of incredibly fresh-from-the-Atlantic-earlier-that-morning huîtres (oysters) at the hugely popular bar au vin Baron Rouge. I “heart” oysters! (Oh, and I could do a whole other post on just the some of the few bars au vin I managed to find!)

An old-fashioned neighborhood wine bar, Baron Rouge services locals by filling up their empty jugs from huge barrels of the house wines; a once-familiar process that is now rarely found in Paris.

As charming and cozy as the interior of Baron Rouge may be, even on chilly winter days, much of the action takes place outside, where post-market visitors balance glasses of wine and plates of paté and cheese on a few barrels and many car hoods!

But the super-fresh, still tasting of the sea oysters are what I crave every January.

There are several other marchés in all different arrondissments, so if you’re off exploring other neighborhoods, check out this handy list.

Why make the extra effort to hit one of these markets before the start of our day? Because when you pull out your petit baguette or brioche, your wonderful fromage, a lovely piece of fruit and perhaps a bit of sausage or a delicious pastry at the show, you’re having a tastier meal than you’d be able to purchase up there, as well as experiencing just another little bit of Paris!

 

à beintôt!

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Why Textiles Matter

Appropriate fabric selection is vital when designing custom window treatments, so understanding textiles isn’t just advantageous, it’s essential. As you know I am a huge fab-ri-holic, that’s why I am so excited to chat with LuAnn Niagara about “Why Textiles Matter” on the Window Treatments for Profit podcast.  LuAnn and I talked all things fabrics and I shared what’s coming up in my world – including my annual virtual Textile Week filled with demos,  webinars, tutorials and more. Listen HERE.

One Design Project Becomes a Labor of Love

Its been a year since a longtime client reached out and asked me if I was interested in helping her with a small project at the local museum. The house has quite history. First, home to one of the town’s founding families, prominent during of the Gilded Age who made their money from lumber, electricity and paper. Then when they left for sunny CA, later founding Dean Witter Reynolds, it was gifted to the city as the library. In the 70’s it was purchased again and became a museum as part of the South Wood County Historical Society.Even though the project was small and 250 miles away, it meant working at the living museum in the town where I grew up- Wisconsin Rapids. I have fond memories of sitting on the fire escape of this house and reading Nancy Drew; feeling like a Princess when I walked up the grand staircase and the summer ice cream socials on the lawn as part of the reading program. The building meant a lot to me- so I said YES!

So what started out as a small refresh – a little paint and maybe wallpaper for the bathroom- became a full blown restoration project transforming the first floor of the Witter House to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the South Wood County Historical Society. During my first walk thru I could see the potential and asked the Board if I could do a presentation that spoke to the bigger picture- after all it was an important anniversary . When the renovation was first presented to the Board, they immediately saw the vision- a project not to just refresh or renovate, but to leave a living legacy for the community. More than a house or a museum, the Board wanted to merge the two with a restoration project that respected the house’s past while moving it into the 21st century to create an exceptional visitor experience. Over the 10 months of the project, this vision has guided all our decisions. Committee members spent countless hours with me dedicated to making sure the renovation was a resounding success.  Not to mention the volunteers giving of their time and expertise, the talented craftsmen, tradespeople, and artisans and of course our generous donors. The results are stunning (if I do say so myself), a testament to the Witter House as a shining example of the rich history of Wisconsin Rapids and now it’s ready for the next 50 years.

So, Welcome to Shadowlawn, or as many might know it-the Witter House.  Come along as I give you a short tour of the house, highlighting all that has been done.

On the site of Isaac’s boyhood home, Anton Billmeyer built Shadowlawn for Isaac and Charlotte Witter in 1907. The house was built on grounds consisting of 230 feet of frontage on Third Street and 230 feet on the Wisconsin River. The house was built in the neoclassical style, consisted of 23 rooms, not including the large ballroom, and even had a central vacuum system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Witter House’s Neoclassical, or Classic Revival style was one of the most common architectural styles in the early 20th century. Similar to the Colonial Revival style, Classical Revival style was more formal and monumental in its design. Classical Revival style buildings often have massive columns with classical Corinthian capitals, topped by a front facing pediment and featured a full height rounded, columned front portico. The arrangement of windows and doors is formal and symmetrical, with the front door flanked by side lights and capped with a rounded fanlight. Before we even enter the house, note the new lantern light above the front door punctuating the architecture – a non negotiable project item- as they had unsuccessfully searched for a light for a decade. 

The color scheme and interior decoration was inspired by Charlotte’s love of bold color, chinoiserie, and French classical stylings. Originally decorated in the 20th Century Revival Style, popular in early 20th century, the style draws on multiple past decorative arts periods; taking certain design elements and combining them in a variety of ways, creating many subtypes. The good news  was that the individual Museum rooms already took on hallmarks of different periods; allowing us to mix furnishings and use what was in inventory to create more dynamic spaces. Each room seems to have its own personality and style from Neoclassical to Arts and Craft, Art Nouveau and Colonial Revival. This house‘s interiors cover it all.

With the help of the original blueprints, and a highly detailed appraisal that included literally every finish, every measurement, every piece of furniture, even down to the china, that was counted, described and inventoried, we embarked on breathing new life into this jewel. The appraisal and blueprints were invaluable tools to discovering what the Witter’s intent and inspiration was as well as served as a guide to replicating décor.   

The fun stuff is always the paint, wallpaper, flooring, fixtures, etc. but before we could get started, an important part of the project was bringing the infrastructure into the 21st century- electrical was reworked, flooring was restored, repaired, walls plastered or opened up, mahogany trim replaced and detailed.  The biggest piece was removing the 1940’s linoleum tile leftover from the Library’s tenure, including asbestos removal; then repairing, sanding and refinishing all the floors including the mahogany stair treads.

Entry Hall Before

 

As you enter through the arched vestibule with leaded glass fanlights and sidelights, the Front Hall is a textbook example of Colonial Revival style.  Shoulder high wainscoting, deep colonial paneled trim and stair railings were painted Capital White as a nod to the classic revival inspiration. Walls were painted a soft, creamy white (Dimity by Farrow and Ball) all the way up to second floor landing.  The Front Hall’s gilt wood/ plaster chandelier, originally in the Witter’s dining room was cleaned and refurbished. Matching wall scones found in storage now illuminate each side of the Front Gallery entrance. The sweeping staircase I so fondly re,member has been brought back to its former glory. It’s now ready for those wedding or Prom pictures at the top in front of the magnificent leaded glass palladium window.

Asbestos Remediated!

During Reno

During Renovations- flooring and electrical done, painting begins

Scones found

Chandelier

 

The staircase on its way back to glory

Staircase after- decorated for Christmas 2022

Off the entrance hall is a completely renovated bathroom- the room that started it all. Art Nouveau wallpaper in charcoal, golds, and silver sets off new pedestal sink.  A champagne pearlized radiator matches the cove ceiling. Classic turn of the century inspired black and white bordered hex tile is on the floor. Polished chrome light fixtures from the inventory with frosted and etched glass globes flank the mirror.

Before- the sink was literally held up by shelf brackets

Champagne ceiling

  Yarrow Wallpaper

Almost finished

 

To your right is the Witter Library. When I first saw this room, it was the office filled with desks, computers, filing cabinets with no storage or organization. I knew it could be so much more. This room was the impetus to expand the project and when I knew I really wanted to embark on the project. The room’s perfect proportions enhance the 13-foot diameter domed ceiling, now hand gilded to set off the new period alabaster bowl fixture. The gilding’s subtle luster is enhanced by the ceiling being painted Roycroft Red. Hand painted, period correct wallpaper by Bradbury and Bradbury in rich jewel tones and classical starburst and Greek Key patterns show off the library’s Arts and Crafts bones. Smoked oak floors shine. Leaded glass front bookcases in quarter sawn oak hold limited editions and works of Shakespeare. The fireplace’s new copper porcelain tile hearth enhances the original rosso marble surround. After the holidays we’ll see to Edwardian arm chairs reupholstered in needlepoint and velvet  on a Sarouk rug and a refinished vitrine library table under the front window.  Cabernet Wool Sateen Roman shades with Greek Key embroidery coming soon!

Before

During Reno

Wallpaper

During Reno

Witter Library After- Christmas 2022

To your left is the now Front Gallery, originally the living room. Early in the process, the committee decided to restore the original floor plan, which meant uncovering the fireplace alcove that had been boarded up in the 80’s and to reopen the entrance between the living room (Front Gallery) and dining room (Buehler Gallery).  The trim was painted Linen White and the walls are Hay by Farrow and Ball. We found the original scones used in the room in storage and had them brought back to their original state. These 3 arm sconces of cast bronze and brass were custom made in Europe and are meticulously constructed down to  each part being numbered. We found 10 3 arm scones and 2 matching 2 arm scones in Rubbermaid tubs in the basement. The appraisal helped us verify their provenance. They were cleaned, rewired, polished and refurbished and mounted back on the pilasters on either side of the fireplace and hallway entrance.

Before 1990’s

Before 2022- fireplace boarded up

 

Scone Before

Sconce After

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The piece de resistance in the Front Gallery is the mahogany fireplace and Louis Comfort Tiffany surround. Early on we demoed the fireplace alcove between the pilasters and found the original fireplace with a surround similar to the Library’s. They had even saved the mantelpiece and tucked it behind the studs. Our original plan was to reconstruct the fireplace, but as designers know, serendipity can take hold of a design project and lead you down an more exciting path.

The Tiffany fireplace which now has a place of honor in the room was originally built for one of the mansions in Louisville, Kentucky about 1910. The home was owned by one of the prominent families there but was torn down in the 60’s or 70’s to make way for the interstate highway that runs through Louisville. It was saved by Bob Brown. Bob has had it in storage for at least 40 years, thinking he could find a place for it.  It was just by chance that a committee member mentioned to Bob one day that we were about to expose a fireplace in the Museum that had been walled in about 30 years ago to give more wall display space. He said…”Oh!…….do I have something for you!”…….and that’s how this amazing donation came about. The glass mosaic surround is a stunner featuring heraldic crests overlaid onto iridescent green tiles mimicking foliage against a backdrop of creamy white pearlescent mosaics. The gold mosaics were probably made by melting down gold coins and adding to molten glass which was common practice then. The mahogany hand carved mantle has been rejuvenated coincidentally has the same “egg and dart” design as well as the leaf foliage motif found on the Museum’s pilasters that frame the installation.

Fireplace in Front Gallery After Christmas 2022

Ceiling treatments are a common thread throughout the house. Because it is still a museum we had to be cognizant that is is a public space and always keep in mind how it will be used- remembering that there could  be exhibits in most of the rooms. The walls should provide a backdrop for artifacts, painting and exhibits, but the ceilings were amazing and fair game! Inspired by the Chicago Board of Trade room in the Art Institute, the front gallery features coffered beams. We painted the trim and beams Linen White ( to hide the track spotlights) and coffer crown molding in a warm terracotta ( Sunglow). The ceiling was papered in a hand printed Bradbury and Bradbury star trellis wallpaper reflecting the interior’s color scheme and inspired by the neoclassical style in the room.

After Christmas 2022

Moving thru to the dining room, now the Buehler Gallery, its floors are now a warm golden hue that sets off the wainscoting, green walls (Secret Garden) and beams and pays homage to the Arts and Crafts period. Reopening the wall between the living an dining room made a huge difference, light streams to the back of the house now and the traffic pattern for visitors makes more sense. The brick stepped fireplace seems to be inspired by Morris’ Red House. The bay window is the perfect place for a mahogany library table refinished by a board member. Brass Mission chandeliers and scones with colonial baguette prisms illuminate the room. The permanent exhibit cases have been freshened up and lighted. Furnishing and rugs will go into place after the first of the year.

Before 1990’s

During Reno

As I mentioned,  with all projects serendipity creates some of the best results. Throughout the project the committee explored the house’s nooks and crannies to inventory the house’s treasures. That’s when we discovered the original mahogany and glass French doors complete with transoms that opened up on to the porch. In great condition, local craftsman restored them to their rightful place.

What once was the kitchen and pantry and later held a permanent exhibit has seen some big changes. The museum office has been moved to the maid’s room and the kitchen is now the boardroom ready for local organizations and clubs to meet, complete with an updated kitchenette. The conference table, originally Nekoosa Edwards Paper Co.’s conference table was refinished and is surrounded by Amish crafted chairs and underfoot an original Sarouk from the Mead family.

Finally, we enter the sun parlor. This was originally the back porch and was extended and closed in as a sunroom in the 1920’s when tuberculous was top of mind.

Before

Before- How about those swags!?

Before Sunroom

Before-Back entry Sunroom

After

The original linoleum was first meant to be saved, and color schemes and themes were first chosen around the brown, black and grey Armstrong imitation marble diamond pattern. I even found a Ladies Home Journal ad for the exact linoleum on the floor. It was in bad shape and the flooring underneath was not meant to be seen, so the committee decided to remove it. ( We saved a section for the archives)

That opened up new possibilities. Inspired by a French encaustic glazed tile from the 20’s; we replaced the linoleum with custom handmade 8″encaustic tile whose custom colorway was inspired by the museum’s early 20th century palette. Verdant green, greige, black and gold -make up a vine pattern that sets the tone for the room. I worked with the manufacturer to design and color the tile and it was handcrafted in Mexico. Tiffany blue ceilings (Green Blue by Farrow and Ball), Linen White trim and windows, white plaster light fixtures and a Wm Morris Co. wallpaper from the period( Standen Slate) finish the room. Custom perimeter seating was crafted locally.  A combination of seating and radiator covers under the windows reproduce the original metal work façade from the radiators and are topped with velvet cushions for comfy seating. The insert on the French door is a scaled reproduction of the vestibule sidelights crafted by Tableaux.

1920’s Inspiration Tile

This room’s best feature are the views of the sweeping lawn and river that gave the house its name, Shadowlawn. Charlotte wrote a poem immortalizing it and can be seen in this room next to the sideboard.

 

 

 

This project’s story is almost finished. The museum officially opens in February with new exhibits, but fingers crossed I am already planting the seeds for a second floor reno and would love to get my hands on the third floor ballroom which is a storage room right now. Imagine the possibilities!