I WAS in Paris! M&O Riviera Maison!!

First, the Imaginings of my previous four posts on Paris as you may have guessed,  were REAL.

Last time Robes and I were at M&O there was an attempted break in at the house in the back where the gate opens to accomodate a vehicle.   So while we were gone we tried to be incognito.

So here is one of my favorite places RIVIERA MAISON!!!!!!!!

I love their summer collection...... This company from Holland is cutting edge FUN.  It starts here at the bar with upholstered white tufted leather seats where you can get espresso, water, tea and Proseco

(Champagne Italian Style) Also serving cookies and chocolate truffles.

They should call this Riviera Beach as the white wood floor is covered in sand and shells.

They had two themes that cross over The Lake House and A Floridian Theme.

There is sand in this big glass cylinder in which there are champagne flutes that have pointed bottoms.

I love the "Je ne Sais Quoi" Sofa.. Nice mix of fabric and FUN.  Please take note:

See how they matched up the lettering on the two pillows??????? THAT is detail that isn't done

often.........

The coordinating chair.

Love the vespa, remember last time they had theVW beetle with the xmas tree and the suitcases?????

See it HERE.

Also love the Lake House denim pillow.

This was charming..... The pillows are in the shape of speed boats you would see on the lake. 

The boats are also on the check pillows.

Now they have a nice selection of bath products.  Making their stores a one stop shop.

On to Florida.......The starfish pillows and the Key West crates.

LOVE,LOVE  these "Coral Gables" chaises.  More Fun!

What would the beach be without surfboards???????

Loved this display of chrome lanterns...... And the wicker boxes with the year # on them.

This was a cadeaux from our friend Baudouin, thank you!  A coat hook with RM on the top.

The people here are so nice . Henk, the owner of the company is usually there, and, had his young son serving espresso...... Always a pleasure.....

 We look forward to when they make their appearance in the US.......

It 's all in the details...........

Plenty more to come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!;)

IF I WAS IN PARIS, Part One

If I was in Paris, I would stay in La Carrotte Apartement,

I would visit Maison et Object and see Arte Pura' s new spring collection

IF I WAS IN  PARIS...

To see La Carrotte go to my sidebar and click on La Carrotte 1.

Eiffel Tower image from sheexists.com

Clair de Reve Marionettes

This is a relatively new shop on Ile St Louis, Paris.... Clair de Reve.

As we were shopping for provisions for the apartement, mon ami from Californie, Charlotte, ( I call her Charlotte the Harlot ) and I stumbled across this little gem of a shop. 

It reminded me of the movie "LILI" starring Leslie Caron where puppets and marionettes were acting like people in small shows in the parks of Paris.......I could just hear the accordions..... 

Or, the Sound of Music when they did "The Lonely Goatherd" Yodaallaayydee!!!!!!

We admired these wonderful pieces of art.... Each with their own distinct personality.

They also offered other clever pieces......Don't ypu just love the Blue Deux Cheveaux in the back?

 CTH and I didn't make a purchase.  We figured they looked better just hanging than in our unpracticed hands.....

However, I wonder if they have the book "Marionettes for Dummies" on Amazon.....Hummmm.  Maybe a surprise xmas present for CTH. I think she'd kill me.

Paris, The High Rent District at M&O

Yes, it is all different here....In this building #7, the exihibitors pay a hefty sum to be with EACH OTHER.

It is evident by the Car (this Jaguar) in the entrance......

These are a series of pictures.... Some taken very quickly as they are not allowed unless you are "Le Presse".

So if some are blurry, my apologies...... If I had set up a tripod I'd be French Toast. 

Called Scenes d'Interieurs, the design showcase of Maison et Object in Paris houses some of the WOW, but not all of it.

Fun Chandeliers.... Something totally new.  Fabric with beads with a modern tweak.

This was a poster on the side of a Pavillion.......Don't you just love the basics?????

Haviland China has teamed up with Limoges...... Love this color blue.

All the glass in here is Limoges......As is the Dresser.... Yes Dresser... See the inlay.

Yup, Limoges in in furniture...Literally.

More Limoges furnishings......It feels wierd to say that.

This was also in the showroom.   The glass over the night tables is Limoges. 

Jeez I hope they are not doing bedding.......But this room was stunning.
More eye candy to come!

Reflection on Paris and France

This post will be different......

The first of a series on my trip to Paris, France. " Normalement", I go in January with Robes for market.... This time I went with one of my two best friends, Charlotte, from California.

January the gardens are bleak. This is Place De Vosges..... 

This was shot on Sunday Sept 11th... Our apartement is a block away.

You would think this be business as usual at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, it wasn't.

 I had heard there would be a requiem mass for the victims of 9/11.. 

And we were too late because I didn't know where it was.... It was OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!  Some friends of ours got in very early and were able to be there.  Rebecca Grace and her husband from the Cheeky Cognoscenti blog. Lucky them.

So as we were walking by we saw serious security.....

And the government cars......

Lots of them with no license plates....

Inside was President Sarkozy and his wife,

the pregnant Carla Bruni along with other French dignitaries....

I thought it fitting there was a full moon shining at dusk.This is a building behind the cathedral.

 There were memorial services all over France..At Omaha Beach, and another one in Paris where they did a 10 story mock up of the Twin Towers one with the names of the victims and one with hand written condolences from the French People.  I can't imagine how many other things like this were done on a community level all over the country.

So I am thinking, when Americans see what they saw on TV on Sept 11th, 

do they realize how many other countries are grieving with them???????

And when people say they won't eat "French Fries" how stupid is that?????

And when they say mistakenly, the French, especially Parisians, are snooty,do they remember that the big statue we call  Lady Liberty proudly protecting us in New York Harbor was, um, a gift to us by the FRENCH people?

I feel privileged to have been in France on Sept 11, 2011. 

It gave me a great perspective......

A Parisian Restaurant Renovation

Our favorite oyster bar....... on Rue St Jacques off  St Germain in the Cluny area of Paris in the 5th.

Simply named "the Oyster Bar"....

Under new ownership, we have eaten there a few times, and love the variety and the presentation.

The new interior is contemporary silver and grey with  neutral accents.

I loved the new light fixtures. 

Details, details.  And Presentation.....

The oysters come on a tall tray with dry ice spilling "smoke" out of it. 

Several different oysters, langoustines, crab, lobster, clams, are on the menu as well as many other seafood choices.

I love the way they serve, this is a flavored vinegar with fresh chopped shallots to dress the oysters. I also loved the rim of the plates.... Do you think it looks like Beluga Caviar????? If you are wondering why it was empty it is because it was very early in the evening and I wanted to get some shots of it with no people.

It is packed later in the evening. What did it look like before?

This.  Quite an improvement.....  But one thing has not changed, and that would be the

 way they pile up all of that seafood on mounds of ice on the corner outside......

How could any seafood lover resist this???  Dinner anyone???????
le bar a huitres, 33,Rue St Jacques, Paris in the 5th

"Fascinated" by Cherry Chau

In Paris in the Marais we stumbled upon this fabulous shop owned by designer Cherry Chau.

Yes, she makes the fascinator headpieces that Kate Middleton has made instantly popular. Cherry has been making couture bridal and wedding dresses and accessories for her upscale clients for years.

How's this for a nice little Oscar dress????? Maybe with...


This??????

We were lucky to meet Cherry and score some of her bracelets for the shop, which we brought back with us from Paris. This a wood and velvet with crystal bangle.

This little cuff is fabulous with the crystal.... It looks like space, with stars.

This is a generously sized leather bangle with leather, hide, and jet trim. We like our leather here in Texas especially when mixed with...You guessed it!

Bling! Here, a leather lined "Cherry" red hide cuff with gorgeous stones, that I thought went nicely with This....

This is a faux pony cape, lined with silk. It is fabulous.........Looks great on either side as it is reversible....... And drop dead gorgeous with either of those last two bracelets..... Think white, shirt, Jeans, boots.

A close up of the detail....

OOPS! Almost forgot this stretchy woven bangle accented with leather and brass. To see Cherry's Shop in the Marais, go to 30 Rue de Sevigne, say Hi to Natasha......

Cherry also has shops in Selfridges in the UK, a shop in Madrid....

If you decide you would like to purchase any of Cherry's pieces we brought back, just email us at the shop (beadboardupcountry@sbcglobal.net) for pricing and information.

Chau!